Specialized Foster Care Case Manager
CHRISTIAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF ILLINO·Effingham, Illinois
CHRISTIAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF ILLINO·Effingham, Illinois
Collaborate with DCFS and families to facilitate permanency for specialized youth in foster care. Provide comprehensive case management, monitor placements, and coordinate community resources and services.
Description Welcome to your opportunity to change the world! If you have a servant’s heart and want to be part of something truly special, then Caritas Family Solutions needs you. We have been serving the people of Illinois since 1947 and have over 500 committed and mission-driven team members. At Caritas, we do not hire people for jobs; we find new team members for rewarding and life-changing careers that make the world better.
If you are kind, patient, and ready to make a difference, we would love to meet you!
Generous Paid Time Off Paid training Health Insurance Dental and Vision Life insurance 403(b) with company contribution 5% Tuition reimbursement We know great candidates bring a wide range of experience. If you believe you can be successful in this role, we encourage you to apply — even if you don’t meet every qualification listed.
The Specialized Foster Care Case Manager will collaborate with DCFS, youth, birth families, foster parents, and other identified supports to facilitate the achievement of permanency for specialized youth in care. Specialized Foster Care Case Managers will visit with members of the child and family team as required and work to identify any barriers to permanency and help secure supports and services to overcome identified barriers.
Provide comprehensive case management services to children and families involved in foster care. Monitor placements to ensure children's safety, permanency, and well-being goals are achieved. Conduct required monthly visits with youth, foster parents, and birth parents. Develop, implement, and update service plans and specialized treatment plans. Coordinate services and connect families with community resources and supports. Build strong therapeutic relationships with youth, caregivers, and families. Facilitate and participate in Child and Family Team Meetings. Maintain consistent communication with therapists, attorneys, CASA representatives, DCFS staff, and other service providers. Attend DCFS meetings, court hearings, and provide testimony when required. Partner with Licensing Specialists to support foster parent development and training. Collaborate with Foster Care Case Assistants to coordinate family visitation plans. Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant case documentation. Participate in on-call responsibilities as assigned. Engage in regular supervision and professional development activities. Perform additional duties as assigned. Please note that the Responsibilities and Qualifications provide a general overview of the primary duties for this role and the basic qualifications. This is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Child welfare and permanency planning Family systems and trauma-informed care Human behavior and child development Counseling and therapeutic intervention practices Court procedures and child welfare regulations
Community resources and support services
Experience
Required: Minimum of 2 years child Welfare experience or Master's Degree in Social Work or related field.
Licenses/Certifications Required: Child Welfare Employee License
Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with youth, birth families, foster parents, caregivers, DCFS personnel, attorneys, CASA representatives, therapists, service providers, and community partners. Demonstrates professionalism, empathy, collaboration, advocacy skills, cultural sensitivity, and effective conflict-resolution techniques.
Problem
Solving/Decision-Making: Ability to assess child, family, and placement needs; identify barriers to safety, permanency, and well-being; evaluate available resources; exercise sound judgment; and make timely decisions in complex situations. Ability to prioritize competing responsibilities, respond appropriately to crisis situations, and implement effective solutions that support permanency outcomes and placement stability.
Resource
Management: Ability to coordinate services, manage a caseload, prioritize deadlines, monitor service delivery, facilitate team collaboration, and connect youth and families with appropriate community resources and support services. Ability to effectively manage time and workload while ensuring compliance with program and contractual requirements.
Caritas Family Solutions is dedicated to maintaining a safe, healthy, and productive environment for our clients and employees. As part of this, a strict drug-free workplace policy is maintained.
Market context
In Illinois, support-services roles like this are typically competitive because employers look for a mix of early-career experience, an associate’s degree or equivalent training, and active imaging credentials. For this position, licensure and certification details matter, including ARRT status, an IEMA license, and CT certification within 13 months of hire. This platform AI-summarizes requirements and benefits from the original job description, saving you research time; before applying, verify your credentials and timeline against the posting.