Visitation Specialist

Visitation Specialist

Location: Matteson, Illinois

Compensation: $18 hourly

Position Summary

Under the general supervision of the Program Manager or designee, this position works to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the children and families served. This position works closely with youth, the family of origin, foster parents, and community partners, providing supervision of child/family visits toward the ultimate goal of reunification and/or consistent sibling contact/connection.

Hours: Flexible

Responsibilities

The Visitation-Transportation Specialist will perform duties including, but not limited to:

• Actively supports, represents, and extends the mission, vision, and values of the organization.
• Completes transportation and visitation for child/family visits (parent-child/sibling) to assist family members with maintaining bonds and connections that would be otherwise lost due to out-of-home placement.
• Implement the visitation plan designed by the DCFS Caseworker/Supervisor and documented in the SACWIS Family Service Plan.
• Focus on helping the child(ren) and parent(s) participate in appropriate activities: modeling desired parenting skills and observing parent-child interactions.
• Help to structure the visit to allow a positive closure.
• Plan and discuss plans for the next visit, ensuring a sense of predictability for both child(ren) and parent(s)
• Assess the family’s strengths and needs, as well as the risk of harm to the child/children during the visit, monitoring safety, and immediately reporting incidents involving harm or risk of harm to children.
• Maintains contact with families through regular and planned visitation of parents and children.
• Provides active supervision, transportation, parent education, counseling, advocacy, and other professional services, meeting or exceeding established outcomes on behalf of persons served.
• Prepares for and participates in administrative and court reviews of the case plan and other court proceedings.
• Works with DCFS Regional Offices to coordinate visits in approved and safe settings.
• Performs duties on-call as outlined in the on-call description when called upon to respond to after-hour emergency situations.
• Travels daily, to provide supervision services to, and on behalf of, youth and families in compliance with the organizational, contract, and regulatory requirements.
• Completes the visiting record is documented on the appropriate form for each visit and that the form is completed correctly. A report should also be completed for any missed visits.
• Completes all required training in a timely manner.
• Utilize Children’s Welfare Best Practice Principles in decision-making.
• Participates in Continuous Quality Improvement activities on a monthly/quarterly basis.
• Actively participates in the weekly supervision process.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be 21 years of age.
• Must possess a High School Diploma or GED
• 2 years of work experience working in direct service with youth and families strongly preferred.
• A willingness to work flexible and non-traditional hours in the service of foster caregivers, families of origin, and persons served.
• Capacity to be flexible and responsive to youth served, foster caregivers, system partners, and internal customers.
• Capacity to remain objective and professional in all areas of job function.
• Demonstrates tolerance and respect for the ideas and actions of others.
• Capacity to effectively work with and be respectful and sensitive to persons from various cultures, socioeconomic, ethnic, religious, and racial backgrounds.
• Proficient use of desktop and laptop computers, smart phones and tablets, printers, fax machines and photocopiers as well as software including word processing, spreadsheet, and database programs.

Driving and Vehicle Requirements

• Valid driver’s license
• Reliable personal transportation
• Good driving record
• Minimum automobile insurance coverage of $100,00/$300,000 bodily injury liability

If this describes YOU, please apply today!

www.nyap.org/employment

Who We Are

National Youth Advocate Program has been serving communities and clients since 1978 and we continue to grow each year. Our growth allows us to expand and develop new and innovative programs to meet the ever-changing needs of those we serve. We offer unique and personalized services for families and individuals in four areas: Prevention/Intervention, Positive Youth Development, Out-of-Home-Placement and Reunification/Permanency.

We know you are compassionate and dedicated to serving your clients and communities and NYAP is dedicated to providing support to those who join our team! We look for individuals that are ready to make a direct impact and are excited to be an instrument in supporting the needs of our children, youth, and families.

Working At NYAP

• Mileage reimbursement
• Friday Summer Hours
• Goodwill time off, based on hours worked
• 11 Partially Paid Holidays Per Year
• Tuition Assistance
• Work Anniversary Trips

Benefits listed are for eligible employees as outlined by our benefit policy.

We know you are compassionate and dedicated to serving your clients and communities and NYAP is dedicated to providing support to those who join our team! We look for individuals that are ready to make a direct impact and are excited to be an instrument in supporting the needs of our children, youth and families.