Permanency Specialist

HOW TO APPLY:

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Salary : $ 51106- $ 57000/ Year Depending on years of Experience

PURPOSE:
To initiate facilitate and perform a variety of casework related functions pertaining to youth served in Little Citys Foster Care and Adoption (FCAD) program with permanency goals of Substitute Care Pending Termination of Parental Rights Subsidized Guardianship and/or Adoption with the primary purpose of attaining permanency (exiting foster care to a permanent non-court-involved living situation). To perform all caseworker ensuring the safety well-bring and permanency of the children assigned to their caseload.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
This list of essential duties and responsibilities as outlined herein is intended to be representative of the tasks to be performed. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein as such duties as a logical assignment to the position.
1. Serve as team leader related to permanency attainment as defined as: Aiding youth to achieve a forever stable living arrangement with a family through reunification/return home; family finding/fictive kin placements; or the legal attainment of adoption or subsidized guardianship.
2. Complete Adoption and Guardianship Subsidies and all paperwork necessary to receive approval from DCFS for each adoption or guardianship subsidy within State- and program-set timelines.
3. Provide training to new and on-going staff and foster parents about the foster-to-adoption policies procedures and protocols including but not limited to legal screenings adoption subsidy preparation case closure to adoption the permanency process and the likes.
4. Liaise with foster parents/caregivers adoption/guardianship attorneys and DCFS Adoption Unit regarding Adoption Subsidy approval/case closure.
5. Assist in the supervision of interns upon mutual agreement of staff and his/her supervisor and program manager as eligible by accrediting body.
6. Will be a content expert on the subject of permanency as outlined in DCFS Procedure 315 and as detailed within LCFs FCAD program and will attend regular trainings to be kept abreast of new trends impacting practice.
7. Review/update the programs Adoption Handbook as necessary.
8. Provides consultation to department staff regarding permanency issues questions and concerns.
9. Assists the case worker to ensure that necessary community resources are in place to prepare the home of the caregiver for the minors long-term permanency or works to secure additional service resources in a timely manner to expedite permanency.
10. When reunification is not possible and a permanent home cannot be identified assists the case worker in listing children for adoption with Greenlight or the applicable Adoption registry.
11. Supports the case worker with completion of interstate documentation to IDCFS needed for out-of-state permanency options for children with relatives and licensed potential adoptive families and work with the receiving state to eliminate barriers.
12. Provide linkages between case workers recruitment resources specialists adoption staff and community providers to expedite and finalize the permanency process and ensure all necessary actions and reviews have taken place to facilitate positive permanency outcomes.
13. Assists the case worker with post-adoption/guardianship connection to the DCFS unit prior to permanency finalization.
14. Completes necessary case closing documentation once case closes to permanency and submits closing paperwork to DCFS.
15. Engages in regular supervision team meetings multidisciplinary team meetings and program staffings and meetings on a weekly and/or monthly basis.
16. Assures that all LCF and IDCFS policies and procedures and all applicable laws rules and policies are followed.
17. Writes reports correspondence and permanency summaries as necessary for proper case documentation and service delivery. Some of these reports may be required by Juvenile Court.

18. Work cooperatively with other staff in Foster Care Childrens Services DCFS and collateral services.
19. Acts as a professional representative of Little City during all interactions internally and externally.
20. Responsible for all safety activities in your workplace and immediately report all accidents and safety hazards to your supervisor.
21. Other duties as assigned by your supervisor.
22. Maintains annual Red Cross certification in First Aid and CPR.
23. Successfully completes Little City required training re-training and any additional training as required by Little City policies and practices or as assigned by his or her immediate supervisor.

Little City offers competitive salaries and benefits for eligible employees such as medical dental and vision insurance short-term and long-term disability 401(k) and Roth 401(k) retirement plans with employer match Flexible Spending Accounts ( FSA) life insurance critical illness hospital indemnity paid holidays paid time off (vacation personal and sick time) and an employee assistance program.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelors degree in social work or another human service-related field as approved per Illinois Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) standards for child welfare agencies required. A minimum of two years of experience within the child welfare field required. Masters degree in social work or another human service-related field and/or CWEL preferred. Must have excellent oral and written communication skills and attention to detail. Must be a team player with an ability to with multidisciplinary teams.

Regular proficient use of a computer required to complete all documentation including an ability to work within multiple databases including Microsoft Office platforms; including excel and word and DCFS case documentation system (SACWIS/IL Connect). Experience working with children with special needs preferred. Must have a valid Illinois Drivers License and reliable transportation. Must be able to pass a background check. This position is hybrid however some in-person office days will be required. This position is within the centralized department of the FCAD program within the Permanency Team and may report to FCAD office locations in Chicago Matteson and Joliet.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT:
While performing the duties of this job the employee is subject to sitting walking and standing for prolonged periods; frequently grasps lifts holds or feels objects; occasionally stoops kneels crouches or crawls. The employee frequently is required to use manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination when working with persons served and handling office medical or household equipment. The employee is subject to assist and lift up to 30 pounds with varying amounts of assistance on a reoccurring basis. The employee is required to have corrected vision and hearing within normal range and the ability to operate a motor vehicle. Must have the ability to perform CPR and CPI. Generally no occupational exposure to blood body fluids communicable diseases or other potentially infectious substances but may require performing unplanned Category III tasks (Category II). Typical office environment. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform successfully the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Disclaimer: The intent of this job description is to provide a representative level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.