Foster Care Caseworker

About Us:

• The Baby Fold is a leader in trauma-informed practices, employing the most effective treatment plans in every facet of our work. We focus on the physical and emotional safety of our families first, build on their strengths, and then guide them with skill and compassion to be their best selves. Our expert staff create a personal plan for each family to address their current situation and lead them to independent success in the future.

We take good care of our employees so they can take care of our community. Benefits for full time Child Welfare Specialists include:

• Health Insurance (choice of 3 medical plans)
• Dental & Vision Insurance
• Retirement plan with employer match
• No cost Life Insurance & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Flexible Spending Plan and Dependent Care Plan
• Paid Vacation, Personal time, Sick time, and Paid Holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program
• NEW - No fee, no credit check $1,500 Line of Credit for medical, mental health, & veterinary services
• NEW - Personalized assistance with the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
• Advancement opportunities
• Mentorship and professional development opportunities
• $2,000 CWEL BONUS for those with Child Welfare Employee License

CHILD WELFARE SPECIALIST SUMMARY:

• The Child Welfare Specialist (Foster Care Caseworker) is a Bachelor's Level position responsible for providing case management services to children and families served by The Baby Fold’s foster care program. Oversees the initial placement of children, maintains safety and welfare of placements, evaluates progress on service plans, and provides permanency planning, reunification and/or other permanency services, and related documentation and report writing. We provide paid training to earn your Child Welfare Employee License through DCFS.
• WORK HOURS: Must be available some evenings to meet needs of clients. Full-time, hourly/non-exempt, 37.5 hrs/wk with flexible scheduling with rotating on-call responsibilities.
• PAY: Hourly, $26.67/hour, equivalent to $52,000 /year, based on experience, certification, and education.
• CWEL BONUS: $2,000 for those with Child Welfare Employee Licences in IL
• OFFICE LOCATION: Normal, IL; also includes several hours spent in the field visiting clients' homes, communities, and attending court with your clients.

Typical duties of a Child Welfare Specialist include:

• Assessment: Interviews clients (children, parents, guardians, and foster parents) to assess their strengths and needs and determine services required, both initially and throughout the period of service provision.
• Service/Treatment Planning: Oversees the development, monitoring, review, and modification of service and treatment planning throughout period of service provision. Directs implementation of client services and treatment goals. Makes referrals to community service providers to address issues such as housing, mental health, substance abuse treatment, or domestic violence.
• Case Management, Advocacy, and Support: In accordance with the service/treatment goals, provides case management, advocacy, and support that will protect and promote permanency for children by:
  • Counseling individuals regarding issues including, but not limited to, parenting, unemployment, housing, substance abuse, domestic violence, trauma, child care, and/or medical care.
  • Serving as liaison between foster parents, biological parents, guardians, schools, service providers, courts, the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), and other contacts.
  • Facilitating family visitation and other services for children and families in the foster care triad.
  • Preserving and reuniting families when that is in the best interests of children.
  • Supporting children throughout the process of alternative permanency options such as adoption, guardianship, or independence.
• Recordkeeping and Reporting: Completes and maintains case notes, client records, reports and other required documentation according to agency guidelines for completeness, accuracy, and timeliness. Prepares necessary documentation for court hearings and provides testimony as needed.
• Travel and Transportation: Provides transportation for children and/or family members to family visits, approved activities, court and other appointments, as assigned. Regularly travels throughout Central Illinois, and occasionally the state, to perform job responsibilities.
• On-Call Responsibilities: Assumes on-call responsibilities (at paid premiums) in rotation with other foster care staff in order to provide round-the-clock triage and crisis intervention to clients either by phone or in person. Ensures that children’s needs are met and children are protected in crisis situations by following appropriate procedures and notifying appropriate personnel in emergencies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• *Bachelor’s Degree* in Social Work or a related human services field required
• Must have valid driver's license, adequate auto insurance, 21
• Direct care, casework, social work experience strongly preferred
• CWEL preferred but not required; must be able to obtain upon hire.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY, & INCLUSION STATEMENT: The Baby Fold is committed to fostering a culture of respect and inclusion, where each individual feels empowered and where our differences are celebrated. We encourage each other to engage in meaningful conversations, seek out different perspectives, and continually work to cultivate an environment where all ideas are valued.

Education

• Bachelors or better in Social Work or related field

Licenses & Certifications

• Child Welfare Employee