INDEPENDENT LIVING/TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM SPECIALIST

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

$77K — $112K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's degree in social work preferred, or a related field with one year of professional casework experience, or bachelor's degree with casework experience requirements.
  • Professional casework experience must relate to family preservation, family reunification, adoption, youth development, counseling, or advocacy services.
  • Degree from an accredited institution approved by the Council on Social Work Education is necessary.
  • Valid driver's license and daily access to an automobile required for travel.
  • Ability to pass a background check is mandatory.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as Independent Living/Transitional Living Monitor.
  • Collaborate with ILO/TLP agencies to address issues effectively.
  • Develop and maintain profiles of ILO/TLP service providers for staff.
  • Evaluate agency services and prepare necessary documentation.
  • Coordinate quarterly meetings to provide resources to providers.
  • Ensure accuracy of client data in CYCIS.
  • Organize and lead monthly ILO/TLP meetings.

Benefits

  • Pension Program for retirement security.
  • Comprehensive group insurance benefits including health, life, dental, and vision.
  • Paid personal business, sick, and vacation days, with carryover options.
  • Flexible work schedules when available, and up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave.
  • Eligibility for Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness and GI Bill training benefits for veterans.
Full Job Description
Job Requisition ID: 56395 Opening Date: 09/08/2026Closing Date: 09/22/2026Agency: Department of Children and Family ServicesClass Title: CHILD WELFARE SPECIALIST - 07218 Skill Option: UMP Credential Bilingual Option: NoneSalary: Anticipated Starting Salary $6,460 monthly; Full Range $6,460-$9,337 monthlyJob Type: SalariedCategory: Full TimeNumber of Vacancies: 3Bargaining Unit Code: RC063 Professional Employees, Educators,Juvenile Justice School Counselors and Special Education Resources Coordinators,and Physicians AFSCMEMerit Comp Code:
Work Hours: Mon.-Fri./8:30a-5:00p
Anticipated Hybrid Work Schedule Availability: 1 to 5 Days per week in office, depending on operational needs
Headquarter Location: 1911 S Indiana Ave, Chicago, Illinois, 60616
Work County: Cook
Agency Contact:

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.

Position Overview

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking an organized, professional, and results oriented individual to serve as a Child Welfare Specialist. 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 leadership and communication capabilities. We invite you to join our innovative team to help make a positive difference in the lives of the children and families of Illinois.

Essential Functions

  • Serves as Independent Living/Transitional Living Monitor
  • Works with ILO/TLP agencies to develop systems to address problematic issues
  • Develops, maintains, and distributes to appropriate purchase of service (POS) and DCFS staff profiles of all ILO/TLP providers
  • Prepares necessary documents for evaluating agency services
  • Provides assistance in the scheduling and coordination of quarterly meetings to provide needed information and resources to providers
  • Reviews CYCIS data to ensure accuracy of information regarding client living arrangements
  • Organizes monthly ILO/TLP meetings
  • Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above


Minimum Qualifications

  • Preferably requires a master's degree in social work;


OR

  • A master's degree in a related human service field, supplemented by one year of directly related professional casework/case management experience;


OR

  • Requires a bachelor's degree in social work and one year of directly related professional casework/case management experience;


OR

  • Requires a bachelor's degree in a related human service field and two years of directly related professional casework/case management experience.


  • 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.


  • This class is included as an Upward Mobility Program credential title.


Conditions of Employment

  • Requires travel, possession of a valid driver's license, daily access to an automobile, and proof of vehicle insurance.
  • Requires ability to pass a background check.
  • Requires physical, visual, and auditory ability to carry out assigned duties.
  • Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.
  • This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.
  • 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:
  • A Pension Program
  • Competitive Group Insurance Benefits including Health, Life, Dental and Vision Insurance
  • 3 Paid Personal Business Days annually
  • 12 Paid Sick Days annually (Sick days carry over from year to year)
  • 10-25 Days of Paid Vacation time annually - (10 days in year one of employment)
  • Personal, Sick, & Vacation rates modified for 12-hour & part-time work schedules (as applicable)
  • 13 Paid Holidays annually, 14 on even numbered years
  • Flexible Work Schedules (when available dependent upon position)
  • 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
  • Deferred Compensation Program - A supplemental retirement plan
  • Optional Pre-Tax Programs such as Medical Care Assistance Plan (MCAP), Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP)
  • Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligibility
  • GI Bill® Training/Apprenticeship Benefits eligibility for qualifying Veterans
  • 5% Salary Differential for Bilingual Positions
  • Commuter Savings Program (Chicago only)

For more information about our benefits please follow this link: https://www2.illinois.gov/cms/benefits/Pages/default.aspx

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:

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

More Education, Government & Non-Profit Jobs

  • State Of Delaware
    Director of Accounting
    $130K *
    State Of Delaware
    Dover, DE 19904 (Kent County)
  • Deputy Building Official
    $80K — $150K + gloucester county government offers an excellent benefit package *
    Gloucester County
    Gloucester, VA 23061 (Gloucester County)
  • Deputy Assessor
    $80K — $150K + gloucester county government offers an excellent benefit package *
    Gloucester County
    Gloucester, VA 23061 (Gloucester County)
  • Civil Engineer II
    $80K — $150K + gloucester county government offers an excellent benefit package *
    Gloucester County
    Gloucester, VA 23061 (Gloucester County)
  • Accounting Manager
    $80K — $100K + gloucester county government offers an excellent benefit package *
    Gloucester County
    Gloucester, VA 23061 (Gloucester County)

Find similar INDEPENDENT LIVING/TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM SPECIALIST jobs: