Foster Care Specialist - Bilingual

Brightpoint • Rockford, IL

12d • Hybrid

About The Position

Brightpoint is seeking a mission-driven Bilingual Foster Care Specialist to join their child welfare team. This role focuses on ensuring child safety and supporting families through comprehensive and trauma-informed case management services. The specialist will work with families involved in the child welfare system due to indicated abuse or neglect, aiming for safe reunification or alternative permanency plans. Responsibilities include assessing child and family needs, engaging biological families to strengthen parenting skills, supporting foster families, collaborating with service providers, monitoring family progress, and providing testimony in Juvenile Court. The position offers support for professional development, with opportunities for promotion to an Advanced Specialist role within 6-12 months of hire.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or a closely related field required.
• Child Welfare Employee License (CWEL), Child Endangerment Risk Assessment Protocol (CERAP), and Child Abuse and Neglect (CANS) certification required, or the ability to obtain within 90 days of hire.
• Ability to speak English and Spanish required.
• Ability to attend in-person meetings and events as needed required.
• Valid driver's license, insurance, and a reliable vehicle required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience providing collaborative, strength-based services to kids and families preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage a reduced caseload of families with children in the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) due to an indicated investigation of abuse or neglect.
• Partner with families to assess strengths, needs, and natural support systems.
• Collaborate with families and support networks to develop solutions that promote reunification, permanency, or ongoing family connections.
• Provide comprehensive and consistent engagement with family, including needs assessments, service planning, coordination, child safety monitoring, resource referrals, and progress tracking.
• Participate in required meetings with agencies, community providers, and other systems to support family goals.
• Prepare and present court reports, attend hearings, and testify on behalf of the child’s and family’s best interests.
• Plan home visits, including scheduled and unannounced visits, in alignment with best practices and policy.
• Address safety concerns and report suspected abuse or neglect to DCFS in compliance with the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
• Maintain accurate documentation, records, and billing in accordance with program requirements.

Benefits

• Medical/dental/vision insurance
• 3+ weeks paid time off in the first year including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day (PTO increases with tenure)
• 11 paid holidays
• Supplemental insurance options
• 401(k) with match
• Leadership development opportunities
• One-on-one mentorship
• Approved agency for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

What This Job Offers

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