As an adoption counselor, you will work with both expectant parents considering adoption and with hopeful adoptive families. You will provide counseling, support, and case management services to clients throughout the adoption process. This position requires in-person travel to clients throughout the Chicago Metropolitan area. This will sometimes include travel to Northern and Southern suburbs.

The counselor performs the following services while working with expectant/birth parents:

• Educates and counsels in the areas of grief, loss, and the emotional components involved in the placement of a child
• Provides support and guidance as expectant parents consider all of their options for their pregnancy
• Addresses pregnancy related needs including medical care, housing, foods, etc.
• Orchestrates hospital plans including working with hospital staff to facilitate discharge, obtain medical records, and visitation of the prospective adoptive family
• Facilitates placement of the baby with the adoptive family
• Completes adoption surrender paperwork with birth parents
• Provides post-placement counseling services to birth parents and referrals to outside supports as needed
• Fields phone and live chat inquiries from expectant parents interested in learning more about adoption

The counselor performs the following services while working with adoptive families:

• Preparation and home study services, including assessment and one-on-one adoption training
• Provides support to a caseload of prospective adoptive families as they await adoption match and placement
• Conducts post placement visits with adoptive families and writes final reports to the court

Minimum qualifications:

• Graduate from an accredited four-year college, preferably with a background in social work, counseling, or related field
• Minimum of two years of related experience
• Valid driver’s license, proof of insurance, and reliable transportation required
• Ability to work flexible hours occasionally during evenings and/or weekends as needed
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work independently
• Proficient computer skills including, but not limited to, the ability use the following on a daily basis: Web-based applications, Email, Microsoft Word

Benefits:

• Part-time and Full-time positions available
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off plus an additional eight paid holidays per calendar year
• Reimbursement for mileage to client appointments
• Access to clinical supervision, mentoring, and opportunities to grow and develop

Schedule:

• 40-hour workweek
• Hybrid schedule (Minimum two in office days per week)
• Weekends and evenings as needed
• Rotating after hours on call shift answering expectant parent telephone calls (On average once a month)

It is the policy of the Agency to be an equal opportunity employer and to hire individuals solely upon the basis of their qualifications and ability to perform the job to be filled.