Adoption Social Worker - Chicago Metro Area

HOLT INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S SERVICES INC • Villa Park, IL

6d • $27 - $30 • Hybrid

About The Position

Holt International's Programs and Services Department serves over 1,000,000 children, family members, and individuals globally through family strengthening, orphan care, and adoption services. This department, managed by U.S. and in-country staff, collaborates with partner agencies, orphanages, government child welfare agencies, and local officials to expand and enhance program services while upholding quality and transparency for sustainable development and child welfare impact. The Adoption Social Worker role is crucial in finding and supporting permanent, loving families for children who are orphaned, abandoned, or at high risk of separation. This master's level social worker acts as Holt's community representative, ensuring successful child and family adjustment by conducting assessments and providing services throughout the adoption process. The role involves close cooperation with families, the Branch Office, and the Adoption Teams in Eugene, Oregon. This is primarily a home-based position requiring travel within the assigned area to fulfill essential functions.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in social work or a related field strongly preferred.
• Five years of experience in a social service setting.
• State license (where applicable).
• Proven clinical and assessment skills and experience in adoption services and processes.
• Ability to conduct a psycho-social assessment.
• Knowledge of family and group dynamics and adoption practices.
• Excellent writing and computer skills.
• Cross-cultural sensitivity.
• Ability to organize, set priorities, and work independently.
• Ability to analyze and interpret complex information from multiple sources and work through complex issues with families and children.
• Ability to express thoughts and feelings and facilitate that expression from others.
• Ability to establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship.
• Ability to work cooperatively with agency staff and collateral contacts in the community.
• Ability to return phone calls and emails in a timely and courteous manner.

Nice To Haves

• Current Child Welfare Employee License highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct pre-home study meetings, review and assess agency-requested information, evaluate family knowledge and perceptions of adoption, teach adoption education courses, and conduct psycho-social assessments of family members to determine their ability and capacity to parent an adopted child.
• Produce adoption home studies and post-placement reports that comply with guidelines and meet agency, state, country, and USCIS requirements.
• Provide support and case management for assigned families, maintaining quarterly contacts, communicating information, referring families to community support systems, and documenting all correspondence in Holt’s database.
• Prepare families for travel and assist with post-placement adjustment by providing training and identifying resources. Conduct required home visits, assist in early identification of problematic issues, and determine the stability and appropriateness of the placement.
• Provide counseling to the child and family, or arrange for external counseling, to ensure the child's physical and emotional well-being and ease family adjustment. Develop transition plans in case of adoption disruption or dissolution.
• Participate in Holt activities (picnics, parent groups), represent Holt at adoption meetings and coalitions, and perform other outreach activities to promote public knowledge and support for Holt programs.
• Maintain professional knowledge by attending seminars, staying informed about adoption and child-related issues, and maintaining licensure.
• Meet attendance and punctuality guidelines, pre-arrange time off, treat all people with dignity and respect, and exhibit good listening and comprehension skills.
• Work cooperatively with Branch and Eugene offices, respond to communication in a timely manner, provide back-up to colleagues, and support branch office objectives.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level