Child Protection Assistant

at Illinois Department of Children & Family Services in Charleston, Illinois, United States

Job Description

Charleston, IL, US, 61920

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.

Agency :  Department of Children and Family Services 

Title:  Child Development Aide - Charleston
Closing Date/Time: 08/01/2024 
Salary:   Anticipated Starting Salary $4,096/mo; $4,096.00/mo - $5,464.00/mo  
Job Type:    Salaried Full Time
County:   Coles  
Number of Vacancies:   1  
Plan/BU: RC028   

REQ#: 39670

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.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking an organized, professional, and results oriented individual to serve as Permanency Assistant. Under general supervision, this position will provide assistance in making arrangements of placements for children. The position will drive to transport children to and from placements, as well as for court hearings, health exams, medical appointments, etc. The position will also provide assistance with program activities for children and will observe children and report to the caseworker and/or supervisor any unusual behavior relating to the mental, social adjustment, and overall health of children. This position provides a great opportunity for someone who is passionate about children and interested in playing a supporting 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.

1. Serves as Permanency Assistant to Child Welfare Specialists by providing assistance in making arrangements of placements for children, drives to transport children to and from placements, as well as for court hearings, health exams, medical appointments, counseling appointments, assessment etc., provides assistance with program activities for children, such as socialization, and monitors to ensure safety, emotional, and behavioral needs are met, provides assistance to direct service staff in picking up forms and/or payments that occur during the normal processes of child placements, ensures the safety of children being transported through the use of seatbelts and/or age-appropriate car seats for each minor in the auto, and accompanies the assigned caseworker on home visits when applicable

2. Provides support to Child Welfare Specialist efforts to move youth to appropriate Permanency options by assisting in obtaining related vital statistic documents for youth, obtaining related medical information and works with the assigned caseworker to provide support to youth and foster parents

3. Provides support and feedback to the assigned worker regarding observation of child during a child parent visitation when applicable by providing direct 1:1 supervision of assigned youth while sourcing for placement

4. Observes children and reports to the caseworker and/or supervisor any unusual behavior relating to the mental, social adjustment, and overall health of children by reporting to the caseworker, supervisor, and/or DCFS Child Abuse Hotline any communication with children resulting in disclosure of child abuse and neglect and documents observations in writing

5. Attends and provides input into team meetings

6. Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above