FOSTER CARE CASE Worker- Spanish Speaking

Job Title

Foster Care Case Worker Spanish Speaking

Foster Care Supervisor and Foster Care Director

Hybrid - Shelter Youth & Family Services headquarters in Arlington Heights, IL

Shelter Youth & Family Services provides emergency housing, community-based services, and support for youth and families in crisis. Founded in 1975, we’ve grown into a leading voice for child welfare, human trafficking response, foster care innovation, and trauma‑informed care in Illinois. With a current budget of $10M and ambitious plans to grow to $15M, our mission is to end the cycle of abuse and neglect by providing safe, healthy, and stable lives for children and families.

Shelter Youth & Family Services is committed to providing safe, inclusive, and supportive resources for youth and families from all backgrounds and identities. We actively strive to create an environment that supports all employees, placing value in contributions from people from diverse backgrounds, and honoring all experiences, perspectives, and unique identities. Our mission is to protect children, strengthen families, and transform communities.

Joining us in this role will give you a chance to help fulfill that mission and help the community. Shelter and its facilities are drug and smoke‑free environments.

Learn more at shelter‑inc.org.

Shelter Youth and Family Services encourages the application of all bilingual applicants to work with our client community. Applicants who can successfully certify their skill level in reading, speaking, and writing in two languages with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services may receive an additional salary stipend. Certification testing is set by DCFS.

The Foster Care Case Worker Spanish Speaking is responsible for the provision of client services to Foster Care clients. This includes supervision of clients, assessment, referral, and coordination of services to high‑risk families in need of social services, and the maintenance of client services in compliance with the Department of Family Services’ rules and regulations. A applicant who speaks Spanish as well as English is preferred for this position.

• As part of a team, provide direct individual and family casework services to facilitate healing through trauma‑informed services and community‑based connections.
• Provide support and education to enhance parenting skills and to prepare youth for self‑sufficiency upon emancipation.
• Continuous assessment and service planning for assigned clients that adequately and appropriately address the client/family’s unique service needs.
• Implement client service plans, monitor service plan progress, and review progress with supervisor and DCFS as required.
• Demonstrate insight regarding client strengths and needs and incorporate this into service planning and assessment.
• Assess and monitor the safety of clients in current living arrangement and make any needed recommendations and referrals for appropriate placement.
• Assess permanency options; recommend permanency plan for clients; and implement plan to achieve permanency for clients.
• Develop a working knowledge of community resources and maintain a productive working relationship with these providers.
• Provide referrals and linkages to appropriate resources; secure all written agreements in accordance with DCFS guidelines.
• Respond in a timely manner to all written correspondence, email and phone call inquiries regarding clients.
• Contact courts, DCFS, and other service providers or community organizations to coordinate client services or to make referrals.
• Make frequent reports to supervisor on progress of client services, as well as required written reports.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and timely client records and data as required by DCFS and Shelter Youth and Family Services.
• Report client progress in court proceedings through clear written reports submitted as required, and through accurate verbal testimony.
• Report all possible critical incidents and unusual incidents to supervisor, management, or DCFS as required by DCFS and Shelter Youth and Family Services.
• Maintain client…