According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, social work is one of the fastest growing fields in the United States, although the number of social workers in some places is still outpaced by the demand for their services. This is especially true for the foster care system, which provides care to more than 450,000 children in the United States. Starting or continuing your career in social work at SOS Children`s Villages Illinois offers several unique benefits that may not be available from other agencies and organizations. These include: If you are a child welfare social worker with the DCFS, expect to be assigned a number of cases that require immediate attention and action at the same time. One of the most common observations about social work is that it is time-consuming tasks. Each case must be individually addressed, independently investigated and resolved on its own merits. Some social work cases take months or even years to resolve. You can expect new cases to be added to your workload on a regular basis, whether or not you have closed previous cases. They must be organized and open to creative solutions. At SOS Children`s Villages Illinois, our case management team, comprised of child welfare specialists and child welfare supervisors, is critical to ensuring that every child and family we serve receives the support they need. Whether it`s working with justice systems, mediating between biological and foster parents, or reaching milestones to achieve a child`s tenure goals, these foster social workers provide the essential backbone our organization needs to succeed. We invite you to start or continue your career in social work by joining our growing team. Some qualifications to become a Child Welfare Specialist at SOS Illinois include a bachelor`s degree in social work, psychology, or a related field; one year of experience in the best interests of the child; a valid driver`s licence; the ability to pass the DCFS, the necessary criminal background check; and the licensure of DCFS employees for child welfare.

In this area of public service, you can expect to spend most of your time in face-to-face meetings with clients served by DCFS, conversations with other child care workers, and direct telephone or in-person contact with others who may be tangentially related to the cases you are handling. They will also take phone calls and contact other people by phone. A pleasant disposition and excellent oral communication skills are key qualities that will help you get the information you need to facilitate the processing and approval of your requests for support and action. In addition to these requirements, child welfare supervisors who provide the important support and mentorship that child welfare specialists need must have a master`s degree in social work, psychology or a related field; and at least three years of child care experience or five years in a child care position. It is well known that working for DCFS requires a commitment to the well-being of children and families and a passion for supporting people. This can be a very rewarding task for those who are involved in family reunification or who find the ideal foster family for a young child. It can also be heartbreaking work because you witness cases of abuse, neglect and abandonment. The Ministry of Child and Family Services is the primary employer of child welfare social workers, child protection officers and investigators, as well as a variety of administrative staff to support field operations.

Social workers should be licensed and qualified, usually after obtaining a four-year degree in social work, psychology or child development. Some DCFS positions require the completion of a Master of Social Work. You can learn about all the requirements of our child welfare specialists and child welfare supervisors on our Careers page. In addition, children and families within the U.S. foster care system are often tasked with overcoming major personal and systemic issues, including substance abuse, hunger and food insecurity, crime, incarceration, homelessness, etc. Whether it`s healing or navigating through these various issues, foster social workers provide the necessary protection and support. Research shows that stable case management for foster children leads to faster placements in eternal homes, more successful returns in biological families, and higher overall long-term success rates. In addition to these unique opportunities for those pursuing their social work careers at SOS Children`s Villages Illinois, our child protection specialists and supervisors receive a full salary and benefits, including medical, dental and vision care; Disability benefits; vacation, illness and personal time; paid leave; tuition reimbursement options; and much more. Becoming a social worker within the U.S. health care system requires different levels of education, internship experience, and other factors that vary from state to state. For example, becoming a social worker in the Illinois health care system has requirements that may vary for the surrounding states.

At SOS Children`s Villages Illinois, we ensure that every child welfare specialist and child welfare supervisor we hire not only meets the basic qualifications for the position, but also demonstrates a strong desire to work under the challenges and rewards of the care system. Policies and practices may differ from one DCFS office to another due to differences in state laws, the focus on mission based on prevailing issues in the locality, and management styles. However, for anyone working for DCFS, it is crucial to document every customer interaction in accordance with the guidelines established by the office. This ensures that documents related to a specific case can be reviewed as needed and used by other investigators, support staff and legal teams. Would you like to know more about our positions as Child Welfare Specialist and Child Welfare Supervisor? Full job descriptions can be found on our careers page, and our recruitment team is available to answer any additional questions you may have. You can contact our team at 312-372-8200 or by email at kbalk@sosillinois.org.