Intervention Services Specialist

Intervention Services SpecialistThe Baby Fold has been successfully wrapping services around children and families since 1902, offering life-critical support such as foster care, special education, early childhood programming, and post-adoption support. The Baby Fold is a unique resource with a strong and enduring heritage. We care for our youngest citizens so they can be blessed with loving homes, stable lives, and the futures they deserve.Benefits: Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance, 403(b) Retirement Plan, Life Insurance, Long & Short Term Disability, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Plan, General Benefit time: Paid Vacation, Personal time, Sick time, and Paid Holidays, Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Assistance Program, Paytient - line of credit for medical, mental health, & veterinary services, Candidly - student loan navigation support, Mentorship, advancement, and professional development opportunities.Summary of Working as the Intervention Services Specialist: The Intervention Services Specialist will carry a blended caseload, consisting of families involved in Intact Family Services and Foster Care programs. Responsible for providing family-based intervention and family preservation services to families who have open intact family cases and case management services to children and families served by The Baby Fold's foster care and/or intact family sercices program(s).Work Schedule: 37.5 hours/week+, must be available some evenings to meet client needs.Location: 1500 Fort Jesse Rd Normal, IL, with much time spent in the field.Pay: $27.88/hr. minimum ($54,366 per year) hourly/non-exempt, Bonus: $1,500 bonus for applicants who have earned a CWEL License or have completed CWEL program through a university program prior to their date of hire.Essential Functions:Assessment: Conducts initial and ongoing assessments of strengths, needs, and risk factors and determines services required, both initially and throughout the period of service provision.Service Planning: With the input of client and families, develops and implements service plans in accordance with the Intact Family Services and Foster Care programs. Directs implementation of client services and treatment goals. Makes referrals to community service providers to address issues such as housing, mental health, substance abuse treatment, or domestic violence.Case Management, Advocacy, and Support: In accordance with each family's service plan, provides case management, mentoring, advocacy, support, and education that will protect and promote permanency for children by: Counseling individuals regarding issues including, but not limited to, parenting, unemployment, housing, substance abuse, domestic violence, trauma, child care, and/or medical care. Serving as liaison between foster parents, biological parents, guardians, schools, service providers, courts, the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), and other contacts. Facilitating family visitation and other services for children and families in the foster care triad. Preserving and reuniting families when that is in the best interests of children. Supporting children throughout the process of alternative permanency options such as adoption, guardianship, or independence.Recordkeeping and Reporting: Completes and maintains case notes, client records, reports and other required documentation according to agency guidelines for completeness, accuracy, and timeliness. Prepares necessary documentation for court hearings and provides testimony as needed.Travel and Transportation: Provides transportation for children and/or family members to family visits, approved activities, court and other appointments, as assigned. Regularly travels throughout Central Illinois, and occasionally the state, to perform job responsibilities.Requirements:Bachelor's degree in social work and one year of child welfare experience OR a bachelor's degree in a related field and three years of child welfare experience.Previous DCFS Foundations training and Illinois Child Welfare Employee License (CWEL) in Intact and/or Permanency or be eligible for and able to obtain both CWEL designations upon hire.Knowledge and skills necessary to apply the principles of child welfare and mental health treatment to specific cases.Knowledge of human behavior and individual differences in ability, personality, interests, learning and motivation.Ability to establish rapport, communicate effectively, maintain consistency and boundaries with and effectively motivate various client populations.Demonstrated skills in Microsoft Outlook and Word, as well as the ability to learn DCFS documentation software.