What are the responsibilities and job description for the Families Together Foster Parent Specialist position at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois?
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), is a leading not-for-profit organization providing healing, justice and wholeness to people and communities. For over 150 years, LSSI has made a difference in the lives of children and families, and we're still a strong, viable presence in the State of Illinois, continuing that commitment to making a difference.
LSSI is hiring a full-time Families Together Foster Parent Specialist, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. As a member of the Families Together Team and under the supervision of the Team Leader, this specialist provides immediate engagement with foster parents welcoming a child into their home to assist them in setting the placement up for success, as well as providing ongoing check-ins, training and support groups. Engages foster parents in KEEP and KEEP Safe groups and refresher groups to maintain KEEP certification. Assists foster parents through the DCFS licensing.
Benefits and Perks:
LSSI is growing! Come be a part of this rewarding environment, and enjoy the knowledge that you’re helping make a positive difference in the lives of others, as well as these career advantages:
LSSI is growing! Come be a part of this rewarding environment, and enjoy the knowledge that you’re helping make a positive difference in the lives of others, as well as these career advantages:
- On Demand Flexible Paydays for earned wages through an app called Dayforce Wallet.
- Competitive salary based upon relevant education, experience and licensure.
- Salary $54,000-$63,500/Annually.
- Opportunity for advancement.
- Comprehensive benefits package for Full-Time employees includes healthcare insurance, up to 26 days of paid time off per calendar year, 11 paid holidays, sick time, 403(b) plan, Employee Assistance Program, and flexible hours.
- The paid training you need to learn, grow, and succeed!
Essential Functions:
- Engage, train and support foster parents for the program, including relative and non-relative foster parents.
- Provide immediate engagement with foster parents to support new placements, ensuring routines, rules and structure are in place, problem-solve any possible issues and ensure material needs are addressed.
- Provide comprehensive assessment of the foster parent’s ongoing ability to parent the child(ren).
- Participate in developing an individualized whole family treatment plan, in conjunction with FT team, child and family.
- Organize and lead KEEP/KEEP Safe groups, ensuring foster parents become KEEP certified and incorporate the practices with their family.
- Organize and lead ongoing support groups and/or training.
- Complete and submit all required reports, tracking, and documentation accurately and timely as required by the agency, EBP developers, and funding sources.
- Demonstrate professional, positive behavior and carry out responsibilities with integrity, treating clients, families, other LSSI workforce members, and collaborative organizations and/or individual in a dignified, respectful, honest and fair manner.
Position Qualifications:
In addition to a real passion for working with at-risk children and families, this opportunity requires:
In addition to a real passion for working with at-risk children and families, this opportunity requires:
- Bachelor’s degree in social work or other related field required.
- Master’s degree in social work or other related field preferred.
- Background check clearance, both criminal and CANTS required.
- Certified in KEEP and KEEP Safe or available to participate in KEEP/KEEP Safe training and certification required.
- Holds 402, CCA and any additional certifications needed to license foster parent in the State of Illinois required. Demonstrated ability to engage foster parents, including organizing and leading groups, both in person and via virtual platforms required.
- Strong assessment skills required.
- Demonstrated ability to work within a team approach.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate in a clear, comprehensible manner, both verbally and in writing.
- Excellent organization, presentation and pc/computer skills, including experience using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) along with other related software.
- Valid driver’s license, in good standing for the state of residency required.
- Access to reliable transportation required.
- Valid IL statutory minimum liability insurance coverage, bodily injury and property damage required.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, pregnancy, any other characteristic protected by law.
Salary : $54,000 - $63,500
