Child Welfare Specialist - Bilingual

Overview

Gain a meaningful career helping children and families thrive. If you have a desire to help others, this might be the place for you. Join our welcoming environment and make an impact!

The team at LCFS brings their best to the important work of strengthening families and building futures for children and parents. As a leading child welfare agency with 16 locations across Illinois, our mission is to nurture and strengthen children and families in need. Be a part of a team that is a leader in innovative best practice and strong child welfare outcomes!

Title: Child Welfare Specialist - Bilingual

Location: Mt. Vernon, IL

Job : 2063

Number of Openings: 2

Organization: Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois

Effective Date: March 1, 2024

Non-Management (Job Description)

• Full Time Employee Benefits
• Professional Development/ Training and Support
• Health and Wellness
• Work/Life Balance
• Life Insurance & Disability Insurance
• Employee Recognition/Staff Engagement
• Tuition Assistance/ Reimbursement Program (up to $3,000/year after first year of employment)
• Employer paid licensure for LCSW and LCPC
• University tuition discount available upon hire
• Chamberlain University: 10% discount
• Lewis University: 20% discount
• National Louis University: 10% discount
• Extensive Leadership Training and Professional Development Classes
• LGBTQ+ Training
• Supervisory support
• Public Loan Forgiveness Organization

LCFS is an equal opportunity employer and consideration for employment is made without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. EEOC Know Your Rights.

Salary: $52,416 - $57,416

Exempt/Non-exempt: EXEMPT

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's in a related human service field with 1 year of related experience in child welfare, case management, or a related role, with a demonstrated track record of expertise in specialized child and family services. A Child Welfare Employee License (CWEL) in IL is required. Proficiency in speaking, reading and writing in English and Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee children and families assigned to Lutheran Child and Family Services for providing child welfare services, including monitoring the child’s well-being, birth parents’ progress toward reunification, facilitating home visits, and communicating appropriate information to foster families. Transport child and parents in own vehicle. May work evenings and some weekends. May travel to high-risk communities. Provide on-call services as assigned.
• Exercise discretion and sound judgment in performance of duties in conformance with applicable policies, procedures, statutes, rules and regulations.
• Implement and refer individualized and targeted services for youth and families, such as counseling, respite, mentoring, educational support, case management, crisis intervention, and language to services to meet the specialized needs of children/families.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams and partners for continuous quality improvement, interventions, service delivery and program outcomes.
• Actively participate in System of Care and clinical/medical staffing as applicable.
• Participate in supervision, problem resolution, crisis response, and on-call support as needed.
• Assess and maintain knowledge of child welfare laws, policies and trends; recommend program adjustments to improve effectiveness.
• Achieve organizational performance outcomes on Key Performance Indicators towards safety, permanency, well-being and agency performance.
• Represent clients’ needs to referral sources, DCFS, the judicial system and governmental agencies.
• Prepare accurate, timely reports to court and collateral contacts; uphold confidentiality and handle crisis and complaints with supervisory guidance as appropriate.
• Comply with SACWIS and maintain up-to-date client files; support continuous quality improvement.
• Engage clients in assessing dynamics and establish a therapeutic alliance; teach effective parenting skills.
• Maintain knowledge of community resources and coordinate referrals and follow-up; establish collaborative…