Child Welfare Specialist-Intact Family Services

Catholic Charities is seeking a full-time caseworker passionate about helping children and families remain together and develop healthy, nurturing relationships. The Intact Family Services program works with families who have come to the attention of DCFS due to a report of abuse and/or neglect. The goal of the program is to keep the family unit “intact,” rather than placing the children in the foster care system. The caseworker and the family work together to develop a service plan that addresses the identified concerns and enhances overall family functioning. Caseworkers help families engage in meaningful services to address these concerns, such as domestic violence, substance use, environmental/housing instability, mental health, parenting techniques/discipline, budgeting, and medical and educational well-being of the children. The Carlinville team covers a geographic area to include: Macoupin, Jersey, Montgomery, Greene, and Calhoun counties.

Job Duties:

• Assess the needs of the family and perform general case management duties and interventions related to families in need of child welfare services.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of complex family systems and how to engage families in meaningful services.
• Receive training in child welfare services, casework, intervention techniques and applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
• Arrange in-home visits with family members and all collaterals involved in each case
• Provide conflict resolution when problems arise
• Observe family interactions and functioning
• Document all casework activity
• Develop service plans
• Provide training and education to parents
• Attend court, as needed, and provide all requested documents

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, or a closely related field
• Professional oral and written communication skills
• Ability to maintain discretion and confidentiality with sensitive information
• Must possess excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Must possess knowledge and understanding of family systems and area social service resources
• Must have reliable transportation, a valid driver’s license, and meet the criteria of our auto insurance carrier

Who We Are:

Catholic Charities is proud of its nearly 100-year history of providing vital social services in our Diocese. Today, we maintain a substantial presence in eight communities throughout the twenty-eight counties of central Illinois. Area Offices operate in the communities of Alton, Carlinville, Decatur, Effingham, Granite City, Mattoon, Quincy, and Springfield. In addition, Catholic Charities manages facilities in Alton (Catholic Children's Home) and Beardstown (The St. Anne Residence). The agency has earned national reaccreditation through COA, the Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services, which certifies that all programs meet best practice social service standards.

Our vast array of services includes counseling programs, senior services and guardianship, health care, residential care, independent living; special education, family preservation services, food and clothing distribution, St. John's Breadline, Meals on Wheels in Decatur, crisis assistance, Med-Assist, Mobile Food Pantry, Catholic Charities Legal Services, The St. Anne Residence and discount resale stores. Catholic Charities seeks to respond to the needs of its communities through these diverse programs. Every year, this objective is realized as literally thousands of children and families are positively impacted by our efforts.

Catholic Charities provides a competitive salary and an outstanding benefits package including generous paid time off benefits and retirement options. As a faith-based ministry, Catholic Charities espouses the social values of the Church and works daily to fulfill the mandate to serve the poor. As a leader in social services, Catholic Charities enjoys a positive community reputation and a myriad of public and private partnerships that help to ensure the needs of our clients are being met.

***Although being a member of the Catholic faith is not a requirement to be employed by Catholic Charities, it is expected and required of all employees to respect, support, and uphold the mission of Catholic Charities which is “to extend to all the healing and empowering presence of Jesus”.