GA Pre-Professional - Center Child Welfare & Adoption Studies - Fall

Title: GA Pre-Professional
- Center for Child Welfare & Adoption Studies
- Fall 2026 / Spring 2027
Division Name: Academic Affairs
Department: School of Social Work
Campus

Location:

Normal, IL

The Center for Child Welfare and Adoption Studies provides research, training, and community-based initiatives focused on improving outcomes for children and families involved with the child welfare system.

Key Center programs are:

• Illinois Permanency Enhancement Project engages community stakeholders and policy makers who jointly develop local policy and practice solutions aimed at reducing racial disparities and improving permanency outcomes for children within the Illinois foster care system.
• First Star Academy is a national college-preparation program supporting high school youth in foster care through academic mentoring, case management, life-skills development, caregiver engagement, enrichment, and a residential Summer Immersion Program at ISU, while preparing Scholars for higher education and successful transition to adulthood.
• The Child Protection Training Academy is a nationally recognized simulated learning program that provides hands‑on, real‑world training environments for frontline (i.e., investigation, intact, and permanency) child welfare professionals — better preparing them to protect Illinois’ most vulnerable children.

The Graduate Assistant (GA) will gain hands‑on experience in child welfare research, community engagement, policy and practice, youth programming, and professional development while collaborating with staff, community stakeholders, Scholars, caregivers, caseworkers, and partner agencies.

Job Responsibilities:

• Support community strategic planning and stakeholder engagement.
• Assist with proposal writing, research, data collection, analysis, literature reviews, and reporting.
• Design and co‑facilitate life‑skills, college‑preparation, and team‑building activities.
• Provide case management, documentation, and program support.
• Assist with administrative tasks and Center initiatives.
• Participate in staff training, meetings, supervision, programming and community events.
• Maintain compliance with Center and university policies.

$1,510 monthly stipend

• Eligible for appointment as per the requirements in the Graduate Assistant Handbook which can be found at (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..
• Must be a degree seeking graduate student at Illinois State University Social Work.
• Experience with research, community engagement, and group facilitation preferred.
• Child welfare experience preferred.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, leadership, and teamwork skills.
• Creative, reliable, adaptable, responsible, patient, enthusiastic, and willing to learn.
• Proficient in technology and able to take initiative and meet deadlines.
• Proficient in the English language with strong written and oral skills.

GAs are expected to work approximately 20 hours per week, some evening and weekend hours required for monthly Saturday Academies and community events.

September 2026

Resume
Cover Letter
Reference List

Benefits for Graduate Assistants can be found in the Graduate Assistant Handbook.

Note:

If you have not yet been assigned a University , but are interested in applying for this graduate assistantship, please proceed with the graduate assistant application process. For the first question regarding your University , simply enter in nine (9) zeros (e.g., ).

You must be eligible for employment in the United States and at Illinois State University and/or for the number of hours required for the position.

Illinois State University student employees are restricted to no more than 28 hours per week of on-campus employment for all positions held. International students are restricted by their visa status to no more than 20 hours per week of on-campus employment when the university is in session but may work up to 28 hours per week when the university is not in session.

Please contact the Office of International Student and Scholar Services for guidance on visa…