A member of the Nexus family treatment programs, Nexus-Onarga Family Healing is located approximately 90 miles south of Chicago and only a few miles off of I-57 on a historic site in Onarga, IL. Nexus Onarga provides boys ages 10 to 20 years old a structured, homelike environment where they can safely address their unhealthy sexual behaviors and their emotional and behavioral issues.

At Nexus, we believe in changing the course of a child’s life by stabilizing families and strengthening mental health through trauma-informed care. We are a large nonprofit within the human services, mental health, and behavioral health sectors. Nexus is a growing, innovative organization focused on transforming our level of impact through a heightened focus on family expertise, healing complex trauma, and supporting high-stress youth and families.

The Child Welfare Specialist supports the therapeutic treatment plan of clients within the Transitional Living Program. This role will provide guidance, direction, and mentorship to clients in accordance with Nexus policy and DCFS protocols.  This individual will collaborate and work with foster parents, biological parents, case managers and other internal and external resources, to prepare clients to transition out of DCFS care with the goal of returning home or to independent living. The Child Welfare Specialist will act as the client’s legal guardian, coordinate resources on the client’s behalf and maintain accurate and compliant documentation on all client activities.

Work Schedule & Salary: 

Schedule:  Sunday Evening & Monday-Thursday Days; Friday & Saturday Off Salary:  Starts at $23 per hour 

Nexus’ Comprehensive Benefits Include: 

Four weeks paid time off (PTO) in the first year of employment Multiple options for health insurance coverage No-cost life insurance Short/long-term disability insurance 401k match NEW – Talkspace Therapy Benefit for the whole family NEW – Hinge Health Benefit for the whole family NEW – Carrot Fertility Benefit Tuition assistance and training opportunities Advancement pathways and internal promotion And much more!

Required Education and Licensure:

Bachelor’s degree in a clinical discipline (psychology, social work) required.  Must meet or be willing to obtain upon hire: DCFS Case Manager Licensing Requirements including: Criminal & child abuse background check Successful completion of DCFS Foundations Training. Verification of successfully completing the Safety Assessment (CERAP) and licensing exam Providing signed statement acknowledging good standing (not in default) with educational loans or child support payments Valid driver’s license required. Must meet state regulating agency and Home Office driving requirements

Nice to Have:

2+ years’ experience as a Case Manager within Nexus or 4+ years related external case management experience 

Primary responsibilities:

Coordination of Client Resources & Activities

Facilitates and co-facilitates case conferences and client-oriented team meetings with internal and external resources, including county or state referral sources, court appearances, scheduled family visits, etc. Actively participates in the development and implementation of individual client treatment plans; compiles resident assessment materials, maintains clinical documentation and reports within required deadlines. Collaborates with and maintains contact with family, licensing, parole officers and the court system, to ensure consensus of therapeutic treatment direction, behavior expectations, progress, and outcomes. Collaborates with Aftercare Coordinator to implement transition into an ILO program.

Supervision of Resident Behavior and Activities

Provides oversight ensuring residents adhere to daily schedules and activities established by the program, including school, homework, therapy sessions, family appointments, external appointments, etc. Affirms client’s housing and service needs are met while establishing progressive independence, until the client has met required ‘step down’ requirements and is launched into sustainable community living. Ensures residents comply with required activities surrounding personal hygiene, grooming, upkeep of living areas, laundry, and general adolescent learning, surrounding living and life skills. Serves as a mentor and role model by demonstrating compassion and understanding for feelings, opinions, and experiences of others; communicates and interacts with honesty, positivity, respect, and professionalism. Demonstrates acceptance and respectfulness toward diversity concerning commonalities and differences such as gender, race, age, culture, ethnicity, class, religion, disability, and gender identity. Maintains legal responsibility for clients in Independent Living, and monitors client living environment. Facilitates the ‘spend down’ program for clients; allocates monthly stipend and creates individualized budgets to help youth prepare for independent living. Advocates for client financial independence by supporting financial literacy and awareness; assists clients in opening and balancing bank accounts and mentoring clients around general budgeting practices.

Team Collaboration; Treatment Plan Implementation & Therapeutic Services

Participates in required meetings and conferences for assigned clients ensuring that all professionals working with the client are communicating and apprised of one another’s care resulting in optimal outcomes. Participates in logging and communicating shift round documentation and debriefing client activities. Engages in therapeutic interventions with residents within treatment parameters, while maintaining appropriate boundaries ensuring healthy long term social and emotional growth and development. Reports to supervisor, signs, and symptoms of problematic or concerning behavior, potentially requiring intervention or referral (including suicidal or violent tendencies, self-mutilation, eating disorders, etc.). Partners with Aftercare Coordinator, Psychiatrist, Psychologists, and other internal and external resources to support and advance the client’s social and emotional development and progress.

Nexus and DCFS Casework Documentation & Compliance

Completes the end-to-end required documentation in ‘SACWIS’, including IA, RA, Service Plan, Supervision Plans, Visitation Plans, Initial and Recovery 1014s, case closure requests, critical incident and launch plans. Acts as the legal guardian for DCFS youth including attending D-CIPPS AND school IEP meetings. Designs individual transition and discharge plans for each client, that strive for and achieve self-sufficiency in supporting the client’s transition out of DCFS care. Ensures adequate discharge placement, prior to emancipation, and proactively secures arrangements for adult services, family members, and independent housing, if needed. Conduct LEADS, background checks, home safety check and diligent searches and collaborates with aftercare planning ensuring state and federal compliance. Initiates weekly location efforts to recover missing youth, including traveling to search for youth as needed.

Client Safety

Advances and emphasizes safety policies and procedures involving living areas, buildings, campus grounds and while attending off-campus activities. Performs First Aid/CPR and responds to emergencies as needed, according to established protocols. Complies with Nexus policies involving privacy and confidentiality for residents and their families; maintains healthy and appropriate boundaries in all interactions and contact with clients and families. Participates in the training and development of Case Managers and Youth Care Professionals and assumes mentorship role for new staff.

Work Environment:

Must be able to lift to 50 pounds unassisted and up to 100+ pounds with assistance. Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time (2-4 hours). Must be able to twist, bend and stretch in a manner conducive to the execution of daily activities within the residential program. Must be able to assist in proper restraining of client. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as desktop and/or laptop computers, photocopiers, and smartphones.

At Nexus Family Healing, our voices and actions are focused on recognizing, affirming and respecting people of every race, ethnic background, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender expression and faith.

Our ICARE Values:

Innovation: Leading the way and implementing creative, cutting-edge ideas and approaches Compassion: Listening, honoring differences, and showing respect, kindness, empathy care, and concern Agility: Exhibiting flexibility and adapting quickly Responsiveness: Being quick, positive, and accurate Excellence: Demonstrating quality results that surpass ordinary standards

APPLY TODAY TO BE CONTACTED BY OUR RECRUITING TEAM! When you work at Nexus, you have the opportunity to change lives — including your own!

Keywords: "Case Manager", “Mental Health Counselor", "Youth Counselor", "Youth Care", "Mental Health Technician", "Youth Mentor", "DCFS Worker", "Child Welfare", "CWS", "DCFS" "Foster Care", "Adoption Counselor", "Foster Care Case Manager", "Child Welfare Worker", "TLP Case Manager", "Intact Case Manager"