Job Requisition ID: 55607
Opening Date: 07/09/2026
Closing Date: 07/23/2026
Agency: Department of Children and Family Services
Class Title: CHILD WELFARE SPECIALIST – 07218
Skill Option: UMP Credential
Bilingual Option: None
Salary: $6,460 – $9,337 Monthly (Anticipated starting salary $6,460/mo. – Step 1B)
Job Type: Salaried
Category: Full Time
County: Jefferson
Number of Vacancies: 1
Bargaining Unit Code: RC063 Professional Employees, Educators,Juvenile Justice School Counselors and Special Education Resources Coordinators,and Physicians AFSCME
PIN: 380762
PUC: 90682770
This position is a union position; therefore, provisions of the relevant collective bargaining agreement/labor contract apply to the filling of this position.
All applicants who want to be considered for this position MUST apply electronically through the illinois.jobs2web.com website. State of Illinois employees should click the link near the top left to apply through the SuccessFactors employee career portal.
Applications submitted via email or any paper manner (mail, fax, hand delivery) will not be considered.
Why Work for Illinois?
Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you’re helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you’re part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home.
No matter what state career you’re looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.
Position Overview
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking an organized, professional, and results-oriented individual to serve as Permanency Specialist. Under general supervision, this position will provide professional child welfare casework services to children and families, determining the need and coordinating the placement of children in substitute care facilities. Additionally, the position will conduct interviews with clients and professionals to obtain information for the continued diagnosis of problems and development of treatment plans. This position provides a great opportunity for someone who is passionate about children and interested in playing a role in ensuring the safety and stability of children and youth. DCFS offers a competitive compensation plan, excellent benefits, and a pension program. The ideal candidate for this position will have excellent organizational skills and strong communication skills. We invite you to join our innovative team to help make a positive difference in the lives of the children and families of Illinois.
Essential Functions
• Serves as a Permanency Specialist which provides experienced professional casework services to children and families; determines the need and coordinates the placement of children in substitute care facilities; provides recommendations and testifies in court as to client history and future plans of client behavior; provides assistance in the preparation of witnesses for testifying and prepares studies ordered by the court; participates in the administrative case review process; informs clients of their appeal rights and procedures and assists clients in the initiation of appeal rights; establishes goals for children and parents; prepares reports on progress or lack of progress toward goal; coordinates the development of a comprehensive, family-centered, culturally relevant assessment of children and families; maintains ongoing assessment of needs and strengths; evaluates the progress of the family toward attainment of minimum parenting standards, as well as the effectiveness and appropriateness of utilized services toward the goals of family preservation, family reunification, or another appropriate permanency outcome for the child; provides feedback to the family regarding progress; on a rotating basis, assigned to 24 hour “on call” duty in addition to normal assignments, to ensure that services are provided as mandated by statute and policy.
• Works with intact families and children in home and/or substitute care; develops service plans to address needs of families within agency timeframes; evaluates service delivery and reviews service plans and permanency goals, making changes to meet the needs of the child and family.
• Conducts interviews with clients and professionals to obtain information for the continued diagnosis of problems and development of treatment plans; counsels on available concrete and supportive services and available therapeutic services and provides same; implements service plans with families; provides services directly and/or makes referrals for services; provides support, guidance, and coordination to foster parents and service providers; monitors to ensure appropriate visits occur between parents and children in placements and siblings not placed together; drives to field locations to conduct on-site interviews.
• Transports clients when taking protective custody, when placing them in substitute care, and when changing placement location; transports clients to appointments (i.e., court hearings, medical appointments, counseling sessions, police station, etc.) and to necessitate the delivery of client services.
• Prepares and maintains case documentation for planning, implementing, and evaluating services; completes various agency forms, including case notes, payment, eligibility, visitation, and court reports; prepares statistical and narrative reports.
• Participates in case staffings to facilitate case transfer and participates in multi-disciplinary diagnostic and technical staff conferences to assess needed services, provides input into supervisory conferences and consultation with other disciplines for casework planning, obtains information of community and agency resources seeking specialized services for clients, develops and maintains working relationships with community and other state agencies, providing interpretation of agency responsibilities.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties numerated above.
Minimum Qualifications
• Preferably requires a master’s degree in social work; OR a master’s degree in a related human service field, supplemented by (1) one year of directly related professional casework/case management experience related to family preservation, family reunification, adoption, youth development, counseling and advocacy services or a related field;
OR
• requires a bachelor’s degree in social work and (1) one year of directly related professional casework/case management experience related to family preservation, family reunification, adoption, youth development, counseling and advocacy services or a related field;
OR
• requires a bachelor’s degree in a related human service field and (2) two years of directly related professional casework/case management experience related to family preservation, family reunification, adoption, youth development, counseling and advocacy services or a related field.
The college or university issuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree must be accredited, and the degree program in social work must be approved by the Council on Social Work Education. The directly related professional casework/case management experience must be related to family preservation, family reunification, adoption, youth development, counseling, and advocacy services or a related field.
Conditions of Employment
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license, daily access to an automobile, and proof of vehicle insurance.
• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This requires the ability to work evenings and weekends. This also requires the ability to work in 24-hour on call’ capacity.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.
About the Agency
DCFS is deeply committed to the welfare and protection of children. Our goal is to protect children by strengthening and supporting families. In every effort, from receiving hotline calls to reaching family reunification or foster care and adoption, children and families are our focus.
As a State of Illinois Employee, you will receive a robust benefit package that includes the following:
- A Pension Program
- Competitive Group Insurance Benefits including Health, Life, Dental and Vision Insurance
- 3 Paid Personal Business Days annually
- 12 Paid Sick Days annually (Sick days carry over from year to year)
- 10-25 Days of Paid Vacation time annually – (10 days in year one of employment)
- Personal, Sick, & Vacation rates modified for 12-hour & part-time work schedules (as applicable)
- 13 Paid Holidays annually, 14 on even numbered years
- Flexible Work Schedules (when available dependent upon position)
- 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
- Deferred Compensation Program – A supplemental retirement plan
- Optional Pre-Tax Programs such as Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP), Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP)
- Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility
- GI Bill® Training/Apprenticeship Benefits eligibility for qualifying Veterans
- 5% Salary Differential for Bilingual Positions
- Commuter Savings Program (Chicago only)
For more information about our benefits please follow this link: https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/Pages/default.aspx
Work Hours: 8:30am – 5:00pm, Mon – Fri
Work Location: 321 A Withers Dr, Mount Vernon, Illinois, 62864
Supervisor: Tara Wilkey
Posting Group: Social Services
Agency Contact: Ariana K. Sprague
Email: Ariana.Sprague@illinois.gov
