Adoption Achievement Specialist

Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois; Decatur (IL); On-site; USD 48,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois seeks an Adoption Achievement Specialist to join the Permanency team. You will collaborate with foster parents, youth, and professionals to reach permanency goals, including adoption or guardianship, through planning, assessments, and reporting.

The role requires a Bachelor’s in a relevant field; CWEL in IL is highly preferred. You must be able to drive and assist with transportation and attend required trainings in a full-time exempt role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field is required or strongly preferred.
• Illinois CWEL license is highly preferred.
• Experience in child welfare, adoption or guardianship is desirable.
• Ability to drive and transport children and families as needed.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to achieve permanency goals.
• Prepare social histories and finalize adoption or guardianship paperwork.
• Maintain accurate documentation and generate required reports.
• Engage with families, youth, and providers to support permanency.
• Participate in supervision, trainings, and program evaluation.

Skills

Vehicle required

Trauma-informed care

Family centered practice

Confidentiality

Computer skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Service, Social Work, Psychology, or related field

Job description

Non-management Job Description

Effective Date: March 1, 2024

Job Title: Adoption Achievement Specialist

Exempt/Non-exempt: Exempt

Immediate Supervisor: Permanency Achievement Supervisor

Salary Range: $48,336 - $53,336

Benefits: Click Here to view LCFS' Full-Time Employee Benefits.

Essential Functions

• Primarily responsible for serving as a non-case carrying member of a multidisciplinary team, collaborating with foster parents, youth, supervisors, direct service child welfare professionals, and other identified supports. The focus is on achieving permanency for youth involved in the Illinois child welfare system, particularly those awaiting foster care conversion adoption or guardianship.
• Exercises discretion and sound judgment in performance of duties in conformance with applicable policies, procedures, statutes, rules and regulations. 3. Work in collaboration with a team of child welfare and multidisciplinary professionals to facilitate the achievement of permanency goals through strategic planning and execution including gathering information for thorough assessment, recommendations, updates and evaluation for permanency achievements.
• Actively participate in regular supervision, mediation, problem resolution, and crisis response by effectively responding to parent, child, provider and other stakeholder concerns and demonstrating the ability to effectively manage crisis and difficult case situations.
• Actively provides strengths based, trauma informed, family centered practice and incorporates knowledge in day-to-day practice, oral and written reports.
• Ensure the regular maintenance of accurate and up-to-date documentation pertaining to permanency plans and achievements. Additionally, generate reports as required by regulatory bodies and stakeholders.
• Complete adoption and guardianship subsidy writing, finalization, and post finalization paperwork and processes.
• Prepares accurate and timely social histories for children and families pursuing an adoption or guardianship permanency pathway.
• Maintains knowledge of changing regulations, policies and rules from agency, DCFS, legal and accrediting bodies. Attends and participates in all required agency and DCFS training in time frame required.
• Participates in relative, kin and other family searches to identify resources for adoptive and guardianship placement.
• Provides timely linkages between child welfare specialists, family and resource engagement specialists, licensing and other internal or external stakeholders to ensure an informed team on the permanency process.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams and partners for continuous quality improvement, interventions, service delivery and the achievement of program outcomes.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Ability Requirements

• Ability to drive one’s own vehicle and transport children, youth, and adults as needed.
• Understanding of family centered practice, genograms, ecomaps and social histories.
• In-depth knowledge of the adoption and guardianship processes within the child welfare system including relevant laws, regulations, and best practices in adoption and guardianship.
• Knowledge of readiness of change, grief, human development and the impact of trauma. Understanding of trauma-informed care principles.
• Knowledge and understanding of the role of a change agent and interventions needed for a successful helping relationship and maintenance of confidentiality.
• Ability to develop skills and the skills of others via training, application and supervision.
• Knowledge and ability to be open and accepting of other’s ethnicities, race, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE).
• Proficiency in the usage of computer software.

Education and Experience

Bachelors in Human Service, Social Work, Psychology, or a related field including experience in child and family casework services, with a focus on adoption or guardianship. Child Welfare Employee License (CWEL) in IL is highly preferred.

Physical Demands and Other Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential duties listed in the job description satisfactorily. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, or controls; reach with hands and arms. Capable of operating standard office equipment, including a computer and keyboard, calculator, typical business machines such as a fax machine and copier. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20-30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus. The employee is required to have valid driver’s license, auto insurance and must be able to safely operate a motor vehicle. The work environment characteristics include a noise level which is usually low to moderate.

Position Responsibilities/Program Execution and Decision Making

• Diversity and Inclusion/ Professionalism: In all aspects of their work presents as a role model to others, behaving in a way which actively supports LCFS as a welcoming community, promotes diversity and inclusion in the workplace and collaborates with others to further equity and dismantle barriers to a more inclusive experience of community. Participates in annual professional development and/or advocacy regarding inclusion.
• Ethical Conduct: Follows all ethics policies and procedures related to program execution and decision making as defined by the agency as well as any related professional licensing, regulatory or accrediting body. Maintain confidentiality of client, staff, and agency information. Reports any known or suspected breaches of confidentiality in accordance with policy. Reports possible misconduct or relevant errors/ oversight in a timely manner and responsibly addresses related issues with chain of command.
• Communication/ Interpersonal Skills: Consistently conveys clear, accurate, timely, and respectful communication appropriate for the situation. Informs appropriate management staff when incident occurs or a crisis situation. Maintains professional boundaries with clients/residents, staff, interns, volunteers, and vendors. Able to successfully share skills and concepts with others and works effectively with others under time and environmental pressures.
• Safety and Agency Resource Utilization: Demonstrates sound judgement and foresight in safety awareness and in daily work. Notifies, in a timely manner, the supervisory chain of any incidents or circumstances that need attention. Report all suspicions or allegations of abuse immediately to their supervisor. Ensures appropriate utilization of materials and resources and minimizes waste.
• Other Responsibilities: All other tasks and responsibilities as assigned.