Child Welfare Specialist

LITTLE CITY FOUNDATION•Chicago, IL

3d•$54,000 - $58,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Child Welfare Specialist (CWS) initiates and performs casework related to foster care and adoption within Illinois’ child welfare system, ensuring the safety, well-being, and permanency of children on their caseload. The role serves a blended, weighted caseload of approximately 10 youth in foster homes, with an agency caseload ratio of 15:1 or less and approximately 25 or fewer visits per month. Youth served are ages 0–21, come from diverse backgrounds, and may have intellectual or developmental disabilities, autism, or behavioral and emotional disorders. The goal is to support reunification with biological or extended family, fictive kin, or another appropriate placement when family placement is not an option. The CWS assesses youth safety and well-being through regular in-person visits and contacts with families, foster parents, schools, medical providers, courts, and other community providers. The role includes assessment and treatment planning, parent and sibling visitation support, transportation, documentation and case-file maintenance, emergency on-call coverage, team meetings, court participation, educational advocacy, and compliance with DCFS requirements and applicable laws. The position also requires regular supervision, ongoing training, and collaboration with agency staff and external partners. The position is based in Chicago, Illinois. Clients reside within a 45-mile radius of the administrative office. Home visits commonly take place after school and during weekday evenings; some visits may occur on weekends. Emergency on-call coverage is required at least once every 6–8 weeks for a full week, including after-hours and weekends. This is a full-time position with a mixed schedule and a stated salary range of $54,000–$58,000 per year, depending on experience and education.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school.
Must be under the supervision of a qualified child welfare supervisor.
Must be licensed as a Child Welfare Employee (CWEL) in Illinois or eligible to obtain licensure within the first 90 days of employment.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Proficiency using a computer and entering case-related documentation into a centralized database.
Must have a personal vehicle and valid auto insurance.
Ability to perform CPR and CPI.
Ability to operate a motor vehicle.
Ability to assist with and lift up to 50 pounds, with varying levels of assistance, on a recurring basis.
Ability to meet the physical demands of sitting, walking, standing, grasping, lifting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling as described in the posting.
Corrected vision and hearing within normal range.

Nice To Haves

One year of relevant experience working with children with developmental, behavioral, and/or emotional challenges is preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage an approximately 10-client blended, weighted caseload of youth in foster homes.
Assess the ongoing safety and well-being of youth through three in-person contacts per month, including two visits in the foster home, and coordinate with community providers and collateral contacts.
Provide clinical support, monitor care and services, uphold policies and licensing standards, and help youth obtain needed services.
Complete assessments and treatment planning, including CANS assessments, service plans, administrative case reviews, and other applicable assessments and documentation.
Maintain contact with biological parents, provide counsel and training, support reunification goals, and provide services outlined in case plans.
Facilitate at least weekly parent-child visitation when applicable and provide transportation for parents and/or children as needed.
Ensure sibling visitation in accordance with DCFS procedures and provide transportation as needed.
Maintain child case files and required documentation in compliance with DCFS, federal, state, and agency requirements.
Complete comprehensive monthly case notes in SACWIS by the fifth of each month.
Provide emergency after-hours on-call coverage at least once every 6–8 weeks for a full week, including phone consultation and possible in-person intervention.
Participate in continuous quality improvement and maintain records in accordance with program, DCFS, and CARF requirements.
Follow DCFS policies and procedures and all applicable laws, rules, and agency policies.
Collaborate with Foster Care and Adoption Program staff, agency staff, DCFS, and community providers.
Schedule and facilitate quarterly Child and Family Team Meetings, document meeting minutes, and distribute them to participants.
Attend regular supervision, required program and agency meetings, and relevant external meetings with community partners.
Attend court hearings, represent the child’s best interests, provide accurate testimony, and submit court reports and supporting documentation as required.
Visit youth at school at least twice per year, attend IEP and disciplinary meetings, and advocate for appropriate educational services and protections.
Represent Little City Foundation professionally in internal and external interactions.
Follow workplace safety requirements and promptly report accidents and safety hazards.
Complete required Little City Foundation and DCFS CWEL training and retraining.
Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.