Permanency Achievement Specialist

Lutheran Social Services of Illinois • Nachusa, IL

2d • $58,000 - $61,000

About The Position

Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) is hiring a full-time Permanency Achievement Specialist to provide consultation and coordination on permanency issues for children awaiting reunification, adoption, or subsidized guardianship. The specialist identifies and removes barriers to permanency, helps secure appropriate placements, and monitors and advances cases toward finalization. The role connects caseworkers, recruitment resource specialists, adoption staff, and community providers to expedite the permanency process.

The specialist assists workers with community-resource linkages, service resources, adoption and guardianship documentation, subsidy packets, and interstate permanency documentation. The position is Monday through Friday and requires visits and transportation for clients to appointments.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or another related human service field.
• Ability to engage with families.
• Computer proficiency to complete required documentation.
• Valid Illinois driver’s license.
• Ability to pass a background check and the State of Illinois examination on Licensing Standards for Foster Family Homes (402), the Child Care Act.
• Excellent communication, organization, presentation, and computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and related software.
• Proof of automobile liability insurance, including Illinois statutory minimum coverage for bodily injury and property damage.
• Access to transportation for visits and to transport clients to and from appointments.

Nice To Haves

• CWEL.
• Experience working with children with special needs.
• Experience or training in reunification, adoption, and sub-guardianship.

Responsibilities

• Provide consultation regarding permanency issues and identify and remove barriers to permanency.
• Work to secure appropriate placements for children and monitor and take action to complete permanencies for children awaiting reunification, adoption, or subsidized guardianship.
• Connect caseworkers, recruitment resource specialists, adoption staff, and community providers to expedite and finalize permanency.
• Assist workers with community-resource linkages to prepare a parent's home.
• Assist workers with post-adoption and guardianship connections to the DCFS unit before finalization.
• Secure additional service resources in a timely manner to expedite permanency.
• When reunification is not possible, assist workers in listing children for adoption with Greenlight or the applicable adoption registry.
• Assist workers in completing required documentation and home studies to begin adoption or subsidized guardianship subsidy processes.
• Submit, monitor, and follow up on subsidy packets pending DCFS approval.
• Support workers with ICPC documentation to IDCFS for out-of-state permanency options involving relatives and licensed potential adoptive families, and work with the receiving state to eliminate barriers.
• Perform other related tasks as needed.

Benefits

• On-demand flexible paydays for earned wages through the Dayforce Wallet app.
• Competitive salary based on relevant education, experience, and licensure.
• Opportunity for advancement.
• Comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, including healthcare insurance, up to 26 days of paid time off per calendar year, 11 paid holidays, sick time, a 403(b) plan, and an Employee Assistance Program.
• Flexible hours.
• Paid training.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time