Subsidy Support Specialist

Overview

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.

Job Requisition : 52888

Closing Date: 02/04/2026

Agency: Department of Children and Family Services

Class Title: CHILD WELFARE SPECIALIST - 07218

Skill Option: UMP Credential

Bilingual Option: None

Salary: Anticipated Starting Salary: $6,242/ monthly;
Full Range $6,242 - $9,021/ monthly

Job Type: Salaried

Category: Full Time

County: Cook

Number of Vacancies: 2

Bargaining Unit Code: RC063 Professional Employees, Educators, Juvenile Justice School Counselors and Special Education Resources Coordinators, and Physicians AFSCME

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  website. State of Illinois employees should click the link near the top left to apply through the Success Factors employee career portal.

Applications submitted via email or any paper manner (mail, fax, hand delivery) will not be considered.

IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU UPLOAD COLLEGE TRANSCRIPTS AND RESUME.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is seeking an organized, professional, and results oriented individual to serve as Subsidy Support Specialist. Under general supervision, this position will provide professional child welfare adoption and subsidized guardianship services to pre and post adoption and subsidized guardianship families. The position will identify children appropriate for adoption/guardianship and conduct assessments and home studies to determine the suitability of prospective adoptive homes.

This position provides a great opportunity for someone who is passionate about children and interested in playing a role in ensuring that children and youth find their forever home. 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 Subsidy Support Specialist
• Prepares and counsels birth parents and adoptive families regarding placement or conversion to adoption or subsidized guardianship
• Prepares and maintains necessary case documentation for planning, implementing, and evaluating services
• Maintains case files to ensure the presence of requisite legal documents, including court orders, financial or subsidy agreements, home studies, investigations and background checks, assessments, and diagnostic/medical reports
• Responds to informational requests regarding adoption services and shares expertise in adoption with child welfare staff in both public and private delivery systems (i.e., CPS/CWS staff, new workers, Adoption Preservation program staff, etc.)
• Reviews billings and contracts regarding adoption and guardianship assistance cases for accuracy of information
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above

• 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…