Foster Care Specialist in Street

Brightpoint invites you to join our team of mission-driven staff who share a common vision: an equitable world where all children and families thrive in strong communities. As a leader in the human services sector for 140 years, we aim to advance the well-being of children by investing in families and strengthening communities through data-informed, collaborative, and preventative solutions.

Position Overview

The Foster Care Specialist is a critical member of the region’s child welfare team, working collaboratively within and across programs to ensure a relentless focus on keeping children safe and supporting families, consistent with our agency's Blueprint of Impact, which includes replacing what we currently think of as child welfare services with what we know to be child, family, and community well-being solutions. As a Foster Care Specialist, you will gain experience in collaborating with families who have indicated reports of abuse or neglect to work toward a safe reunification or an alternative permanency plan to ensure the wellbeing of every child. Your daily routine will involve providing comprehensive and trauma-informed case management services to a reduced case load of families involved in the child welfare system and providing supplemental services to families assigned to Advanced and Lead Specialists.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a reduced caseload of families with children in the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) due to an indicated investigation of abuse or neglect.
• Partner with families to assess strengths, needs, and natural support systems.
• Collaborate with families and support networks to develop solutions that promote reunification, permanency, or ongoing family connections.
• Provide comprehensive and consistent engagement with family, including needs assessments, service planning, coordination, child safety monitoring, resource referrals, and progress tracking.
• Participate in required meetings with agencies, community providers, and other systems to support family goals.
• Prepare and present court reports, attend hearings, and testify on behalf of the child’s and family’s best interests.
• Plan home visits, including scheduled and unannounced visits, in alignment with best practices and policy.
• Address safety concerns and report suspected abuse or neglect to DCFS in compliance with the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act.
• Maintain accurate documentation, records, and billing in accordance with program requirements.

Candidate Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or a closely related field required.
• Child Welfare Employee License (CWEL), Child Endangerment Risk Assessment Protocol (CERAP), and Child Abuse and Neglect (CANS) certification required, or the ability to obtain within 90 days of hire.
• Experience providing collaborative, strength-based services to kids and families preferred.
• Ability to attend in-person meetings and events as needed required.
• Valid driver's license, insurance, and a reliable vehicle required.

Compensation and Benefits

• Compensation: $52,416 annual fixed salary ($57,416 annual fixed salary for qualified English/Spanish bilingual candidates).
• Additional Compensation: A $3,000 CWEL Stay Bonus payable in two installments: $1,500 after 6 months of consecutive employment and $1,500 after 12 months of consecutive employment.
• Opportunity for Promotion: Eligibility for promotion into an Advanced Specialist role within 6-12 months of hire which includes a salary increase.
• Location: Hybrid (remote/in office); majority of your time will be spent in Winnebago, Boone and surrounding counties completing home visits to foster homes or meeting with clients in an agency office or community setting.
• Schedule: Full-time, salaried; general business hours with some flexibility required for accommodating client’s schedules and special projects. On call responsibilities on a shared rotation.
• Benefits: Medical/dental/vision insurance, 3+ weeks paid time off in the first year including the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day; 11 paid holidays, supplemental insurance options, 401(k) with match.
• Student Loan Forgiveness: Brightpoint is an approved agency for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).