Permanency Specialist
Operations & Supply ChainPosted 9 Jul 2026
Advertised as “PERMANENCY SPECIALIST - MT. VERNON”
Posted 9 Jul 2026
Advertised as “PERMANENCY SPECIALIST - MT. VERNON”
The original posting with the fluff stripped out
| Base salary | US$6,500 – US$9,500 |
|---|
No unique specialisation
Field of studySocial Work
Study levelBachelor's
Study levelBachelor's or higher
Job Requisition ID: 55607Opening Date: 07/09/2026Closing Date: 07/23/2026Agency: Department of Children and Family ServicesClass Title: CHILD WELFARE SPECIALIST - 07218 Skill Option: UMP Credential Bilingual Option: NoneSalary: $6,460 - $9,337 Monthly (Anticipated starting salary $6,460/mo. - Step 1B)Job Type: SalariedCategory: Full Time County: JeffersonNumber of Vacancies: 1Bargaining Unit Code: RC063 Professional Employees, Educators,Juvenile Justice School Counselors and Special Education Resources Coordinators,and Physicians AFSCME
PIN: 380762
PUC: 90682770
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.
Why Work for Illinois?
Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you’re helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you’re part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home.
No matter what state career you’re looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking an organized, professional, and results-oriented individual to serve as Permanency Specialist. Under general supervision, this position will provide professional child welfare casework services to children and families, determining the need and coordinating the placement of children in substitute care facilities. Additionally, the position will conduct interviews with clients and professionals to obtain information for the continued diagnosis of problems and development of treatment plans. This position provides a great opportunity for someone who is passionate about children and interested in playing a 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.
• Serves as a Permanency Specialist which provides experienced professional casework services to children and families; determines the need and coordinates the placement of children in substitute care facilities; provides recommendations and testifies in court as to client history and future plans of client behavior; provides assistance in the preparation of witnesses for testifying and prepares studies ordered by the court; participates in the administrative case review process; informs clients of their appeal rights and procedures and assists clients in the initiation of appeal rights; establishes goals for children and parents; prepares reports on progress or lack of progress toward goal; coordinates the development of a comprehensive, family-centered, culturally relevant assessment of children and families; maintains ongoing assessment of needs and strengths; evaluates the progress of the family toward attainment of minimum parenting standards, as well as the effectiveness and appropriateness of utilized services toward the goals of family preservation, family reunification, or another appropriate permanency outcome for the child; provides feedback to the family regarding progress; on a rotating basis, assigned to 24 hour “on call” duty in addition to normal assignments, to ensure that services are provided as mandated by statute and policy.
• Works with intact families and children in home and/or substitute care; develops service plans to address needs of families within agency timeframes; evaluates service delivery and reviews service plans and permanency goals, making changes to meet the needs of the child and family.
• Conducts interviews with clients and professionals to obtain information for the continued diagnosis of problems and development of treatment plans; counsels on available concrete and supportive services and available therapeutic services and provides same; implements service plans with families; provides services directly and/or makes referrals for services; provides support, guidance, and coordination to foster parents and service providers; monitors to ensure appropriate visits occur between parents and children in placements and siblings not placed together; drives to field locations to conduct on-site interviews.
• Transports clients when taking protective custody, when placing them in substitute care, and when changing placement location; transports clients to appointments (i.e., court hearings, medical appointments, counseling sessions, police station, etc.) and to necessitate the delivery of client services.
• Prepares and maintains case documentation for planning, implementing, and evaluating services; completes various agency forms, including case notes, payment, eligibility, visitation, and court reports; prepares statistical and narrative reports.
• Participates in case staffings to facilitate case transfer and participates in multi-disciplinary diagnostic and technical staff conferences to assess needed services, provides input into supervisory conferences and consultation with other disciplines for casework planning, obtains information of community and agency resources seeking specialized services for clients, develops and maintains working relationships with community and other state agencies, providing interpretation of agency responsibilities.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties numerated above.
• Preferably requires a master’s degree in social work; OR a master’s degree in a related human service field, supplemented by (1) one year of directly related professional casework/case management experience related to family preservation, family reunification, adoption, youth development, counseling and advocacy services or a related field;
OR
• requires a bachelor’s degree in social work and (1) one year of directly related professional casework/case management experience related to family preservation, family reunification, adoption, youth development, counseling and advocacy services or a related field;
OR
• requires a bachelor’s degree in a related human service field and (2) two years of directly related professional casework/case management experience related to family preservation, family reunification, adoption, youth development, counseling and advocacy services or a related field.
The college or university issuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree must be accredited, and the degree program in social work must be approved by the Council on Social Work Education. The directly related professional casework/case management experience must be related to family preservation, family reunification, adoption, youth development, counseling, and advocacy services or a related field.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate. Requires appropriate, valid driver’s license, daily access to an automobile, and proof of vehicle insurance.
• Requires completion of a background check and self-disclosure of criminal history.
• Overtime is a condition of employment, and you may be requested or required/mandated to work overtime including scheduled, unscheduled, or last-minute overtime. This requires the ability to work evenings and weekends. This also requires the ability to work in 24-hour on call’ capacity.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.
About the Agency
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.
As a State of Illinois Employee, you will receive a robust benefit package that includes the following:
For more information about our benefits please follow this link: https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/Pages/default.aspx
Work Hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm, Mon - Fri
Work Location: 321 A Withers Dr, Mount Vernon, Illinois, 62864
Supervisor: Tara Wilkey
Posting Group: Social Services
**
Agency Contact: Ariana K. Sprague
Email: Ariana.Sprague@illinois.gov**
This title is within the Upward Mobility Program (UMP). General Program information can be found by clicking on the Upward Mobility Program link or for specific title information at UMP Titles. To utilize upward mobility contractual rights for this position, employees must apply internally and must upload a copy of the UMP grade notice to their application documents prior to submission. UMP grades can be uploaded to the Additional Documents OR Grade Documentation section of the application.
This position DOES NOT contain “Specialized Skills” (as that term is used in CBAs).
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Use the “Apply” button at the top right or bottom right of this posting to begin the application process.
If you are not already signed in, you will be prompted to do so.
State employees should sign in to the career portal for State of Illinois employees – a link is available at the top left of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon.
Non-State employees should log in on the using the “View Profile” link in the top right of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon. If you have never before signed in, you will be prompted to create an account.
If you have questions about how to apply, please see the following resources:
State employees: Log in to the career portal for State employees and review the Internal Candidate Application Job Aid
Non-State employees: on Illinois.jobs2web.com – click “Application Procedures” in the footer of every page of the website.
The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your “junk mail”, “spam”, or “other” folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses: