PURPOSE:
To initiate, facilitate, and perform a variety of casework-related functions pertaining to foster care and adoption within the child welfare system in Illinois. To perform all casework ensuring the safety, well-being and permanency of the children assigned to their caseload.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The list of essential duties and responsibilities, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the task to be performed. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein is such duties are a logical assignment to the position of Child Welfare Specialist (CWS).
1. Child Welfare Specialists (CWS) are responsible for a blended, weighted caseload of approximately 10 clients (with an agency caseload ratio of being 15:1 or less, and total number of visits being approximately 25 or less a month). Clients served by Little City as youth in the care of Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and have been determined to be abused, neglected or dependent by the State of IL, and reside in foster homes.
2. Foster care is intended to be short-term until the youth(s) may reunify with their families. Youth served by Little City Foster Care & Adoption Program are from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds; may identify as male, female, non-binary, or LGBTQIAP+, be between the ages of 0-21, and most youth have a diagnosed intellectual or developmental disability or autism, or a behavioral and emotional disorder. CWS work with the assigned youths and his/her/their immediate family members including siblings, parents, and the likes, to assess the ongoing safety and well-being of the individuals, with the goal of reunifying the youth with their biological immediate or extended family, fictive kin, or a non-relative placement option if placement with family is not an option.
3. Assesses the on-going safety and well-being of the child in his/her/their foster home through 3x/month in-person contacts with the youth, with two of the visits being within the home each month. Clients served by Little City’s Foster Care & Adoption Program clients reside within a 45-mile radius in all directions of the administrative office in Chicago. Home Visitation often occurs during the after-school and evening hours during week-days. Ongoing monitoring of safety and well-being also occurs through in-person visits and/or collateral contacts with community-based providers including the youth’s school, medical providers, day cares, Court, and more. On-going assessment includes clinical support, upholding policies and licensing standards, addressing issues regarding care of the youth in their home and monitoring and aiding in obtaining services.
4. Engages in assessment and treatment planning including CANS assessments, Service Plans and comprehensive case review documents required by Federally-mandated Administrative Case Reviews (ACR) updated 2x/year; completing Vineland, Ansell-Casey and other assessments as applicable; Social History/Integrated Assessment upon case opening; and other assessments and documentation as applicable.
5. Maintains regular, ongoing contacts with and provides counsel and training for biological parents of children in the foster care program in order to facilitate a successful reunification when applicable to the case per the Court-set goal. Provides assessment and services as outlined on the service plan, including a minimum of weekly parent-child visitation (visitation often occurs in the after-school, after-work and evening-hours.) CWS is oftentimes responsible for providing transportation for the parent(s) and/or children to/from visits. DCFS policy requires a minimum of 1x/month home visits to the parents’ residence as clinically appropriate.
6. As required and detailed in DCFS Procedure Aristotle P, CWS will ensure siblings visit 2x/month, and/or 1x/ a month for a minimum of four hours as clinically appropriate in order to maintain a relationship between the child and his/her/their biological siblings. CWS may be responsible for providing transportation for the children to/from visits. Visits typically occur after-school and in the early to evening hours, with occasional weekends on an exceptional basis.
7. Responsible for the upkeep of child’s files and including all essential documentation per DCFS Administrative Procedure 5 in order to comply with Federal, State and Agency Audits monthly, or as selected for audit. Critical documentation for inclusion in the case files includes securing required documentation for assessment and provision of services to youth(s) and biological family members such as medical, emotional, well-being documentation; school records; service planning and referral documentation; obtaining DCFS-approved consents for services; and more.
8. Child Welfare Specialists are responsible for completing comprehensive monthly case notes by the 5th of every month in the statewide computer database (SACWIS). SACWIS notes are audited by DCFS, are a part of a child’s case record, and may be used as parts of Court Hearings pertaining to a youth and family case in juvenile court. Documentation is reflective of all contacts pertaining to the case.
9. Emergency, After Hours On-Call responsibility once every 6-8 weeks at a minimum for an entire week, with the CWS being the primary point of contact after hours and on weekends. Responsibilities may include phone consult and in-person, on-site intervention.
10. Engage in on-going continuous quality improvement (CQI) to ensure upkeep of critical records required for the case record, and as detailed by the program. DCFS issues a monthly DCFS Dashboard reflective of agency performance, and LCF tracks performance, to share and monitor meeting the expectations of the position. LCF is accredited by CARF, and those standards are monitored and reported to the larger agency oversite committees as well.
11. Assures that DCFS policies and procedures, and all applicable laws, rules, and policies are followed.
12. Child Welfare Specialists value teamwork and work cooperatively with other staff in the Foster Care and Adoption Program, Little City Agency, DCFS, and collateral providers.
13. Responsible for scheduling and leading the facilitation of quarterly staffings, Child and Family Team Meetings (CFTM), that include all parties to the case such as foster parents, biological family members, the youth, service providers, legal, and more, with the purpose of discussing progress towards permanency, progress in services, and monitor safety. CFTMs also serve as a place for transparent information sharing both verbally and in-writing within the CFTM minutes prepared by CWS and distributed to all parties.
14. Must engage in regular Supervision with your direct supervisor to discuss case related matters, promote professional development and growth, clinically staff case-issues, receive support, and the likes.
15. Will attend required program meetings and agency-mandated meetings including the monthly Foster Care and Adoption Team Meeting, All Staff Meeting, joint supervisions, and other staffings as required. Attendance at external meetings with community partners and collaterals is expected as well, include Clinical Intervention for Placement Preservation (CIPP) meetings at DCFS and the likes as required by the case.
16. Attends Court Hearings that occur every six months at a minimum and represents the child’s best interest in juvenile court. CWS will provide accurate and thorough testimony during hearings and trials and attends all court hearings with thorough knowledge of the case. Court reports and supporting documentation must be provided per County and Court Regulations.
17. Advocates for the youth in care by visiting the child as school at least twice per year to monitor the appropriateness of the school setting and attends all individual education plan meetings (IEP) and disciplinary meetings. May team with DCFS Educational Advocates to ensure youth’s needs are met and rights protected.
18. Acts as a professional representative of Little City Foundation during all interactions internally and externally.
19. Responsible for all safety activities in your workplace and immediately report all accidents and safety hazards to your supervisor.
20. Successfully completes Little City Foundation required training, re-training, and any additional training as required by Little City Foundation policies and practices and DCFS CWEL licensure, or as assigned by his or her immediate supervisor.
21. Other duties as assigned by your supervisor.