SOCIAL SERVICES CAREER TRAINEE

Social Services Career Trainee

We continually strive for a workforce that reflects the growing diversity within the State of Illinois. A variety of employee backgrounds, perspectives, ideas and experiences are crucial to our ability to most effectively serve the public. Bilingual skills welcome.

The State of Illinois is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. Further, federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job, interview for a job, or for any other activity related to the hiring process. Examples of reasonable accommodation include, but are not limited to, making a change to the application process (if possible), providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. To be provided a Reasonable Accommodation during the hiring process, you will need to provide a certification of disability from a physician, psychiatrist, school official or an Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counselor. Supporting documentation should be uploaded under My Documents → Additional Documents section for each application. Any questions on Reasonable Accommodations can be directed to Central Management Services Disability Resource Center at View email address on click.appcast.io or call View phone number on click.appcast.io for further information and to request or discuss an accommodation.

The State of Illinois does not provide sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g. H-1B visa status), nor is the State able to provide extensions of optional practical training (OPT) under the STEM-designated degree program for F-1 students. To be considered for permanent employment with the State of Illinois, applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

In compliance with the Illinois Equal Pay Act, 820 ILCS 112/1 et seq., the State does not seek, request, or require a job applicant's wage or salary history. Employment decisions are not made based on an applicant's wage or salary history. To that end, please do not include wage or salary information in your resume or other profile or application materials.

Position Overview: The Division of Family & Community Services is seeking to hire an energetic and detail-oriented Social Services Career Trainee to receive on the job training for a period of six to twelve months in receiving and assisting customers seeking public assistance services available through Department of Human Services (DHS) programs in the Kankakee Office. This position will develop the knowledge, understanding and practical skills needed to manage a public assistance caseload such as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) including earned income cases, Medical Assistance No Grant (MANG) including Spenddown cases, Aid to the Aged, Blind and Disabled (AABD), Group Care, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or other such cases. This position also informs clients of the changes in the State's Welfare Programs, work incentive programs, child support services and encourages client participation in these programs; receives training in managing earned income cases and in determining continued eligibility for TANF; evaluates requests and identifies special needs of client for referral to appropriate services; and receives training in records and updating case status changes, such as change in address, unit composition and number, budget computation, SNAP and medical eligibility.

Minimum Qualifications: Requires knowledge, skill, and mental development equivalent to completion of four (4) years of college, preferably with courses in social science or a related field of the social sciences.

About the Agency: The Illinois Department of Human Services uplifts individuals and communities across Illinois. Our mission is to respond to the needs of all people in Illinois so they can lead healthy, safe, and enriched lives. Our vision is the future we are shaping with dignity and the well-being for everyone in Illinois. Our values are the principles that guide us as we work to remove systemic barriers and create lasting opportunities with Compassion, Accessibility, Responsibility, and Equity.

Benefits: As a State of Illinois employee, you will receive a robust benefit package that includes a pension program, competitive group insurance benefits including health, life, dental and vision insurance, paid personal business days, paid sick days, paid vacation time, paid holidays, flexible work schedules, paid parental leave, deferred compensation program, optional pre-tax programs, federal public service loan forgiveness program eligibility, GI Bill® training/apprenticeship benefits eligibility for qualifying veterans, bilingual salary differential, and commuter savings program (Chicago only).