Social Worker (Post Adoption)

Greenlight Family Services is seeking a dedicated and organized self-starter to join the team. The ideal candidate will be a social worker with a real interest in supporting families on their journey after adoption.

This position is perfect for social workers who would like to change their focus to child welfare and would like to work with an agency that is patient with the learning process, or for individuals currently working in foster care who would like a position that doesn't require monthly visits or overnight calls.

Greenlight is a small non-profit agency specializing in family preservation through post adoption and post guardianship assistance. These services are offered to families who have adopted or obtained guardianship of a child who was previously in the Illinois foster care system. Post adoption and guardianship services strengthen families by providing them with the support of qualified and licensed social workers.

The candidate hired for this position will carry their own caseload. They will work directly with clients to achieve the best outcomes for families, young adults, and children. The social worker hired for this position will work with families facing disruptions after the death or incapacitation of the adoptive parents. The candidate will also advocate for minors with special needs by assisting in IEP meetings, provide back-up planning to further the stability of families, establish short-term guardianship for minors facing temporary changes in placement, and handle preliminary steps for caregivers seeking adult guardianship of special needs minors turning 18.

Regular supervision will be available with easy access to the supervisor for questions and training. This position requires the candidate to be a self-motivated worker who is comfortable creating goals and tasks for themselves. The social worker must be comfortable conducting home visits independently within the state of Illinois, primarily in Cook County and Northern Region. Overnight stays out of town will be very rare, but are sometimes required.

The candidate hired for this position will work remotely three days a week, and the other two days a week on-site at the Greenlight main office located in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood. On-site days are Mondays and Wednesdays, with an initial week of training where the individual will be asked to work 100% from the Bridgeport office. The candidate will be expected to make visits when necessary. The majority of home visits will be done in person.

Resumes without child welfare experience will not be considered.

Ideal Candidate:

• Attentive to detail
• Excellent writer
• Self-starter
• Able to work as a productive team member
• Comfortable testifying in court
• Willing to occasionally travel to other cities, sometimes staying overnight
• Experience with adoption subsidies, educational advocacy services, DCFS, adult and juvenile court, and/or other private agencies is a plus, although not required.
• CWEL (Child Welfare License)
• CERAP certified (Child Endangerment Risk Assessment Protocol)
• Bilingual in Spanish

Requirements:

• Child Welfare experience, 2 years or more
• MSW, AM, or similar Masters program.
• A valid driver's license and access to a reliable car

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance available
• Life insurance and long term disability insurance provided
• 403(b) retirement savings plan available
• Competitive and flexible paid vacation - 12 days during the first year of employment with an increase to 18 days during second year.
• Sick leave (separate from paid vacation days)
• 12 additional bonus days off for observed state and federal holidays, plus a full week off at the end of December
• Flexible work hours- choose your morning start time of 8:00, 8:30, or 9:00
• Work remotely 3 days a week
• Dog friendly work environment

For more information about the agency, visit: www.greenlightfamilyservices.org

Pay: $25,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Briefly describe any past work experience you have with DCFS.
• Briefly describe any past work experience you have writing adoption subsidies.
• This position is writing intensive. The ideal candidate must have excellent writing skills. If you do not have strong writing skills, then you will not perform well in this position and will not make it past the 90 day probation period. Please indicate your understanding that this position requires that you demonstrate strong writing skills.
• Certain felonies may prohibit a candidate from working with children. A background check is mandatory. Are you able to pass a background check?
• The salary for this position is $25,000. This is a firm salary. Please indicate that you understand the stated salary and are still interested in the position.

Education:

• Master's (Required)

Experience:

• Child Welfare: 2 years (Required)
• adoption subsidy: 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)
• Child Welfare License (Preferred)
• CERAP Certification (Preferred)

Willingness to travel:

• 25% (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Springfield, IL 62701