Employment

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

The worker needs to be able to communicate and work effectively with biological parents and their children, family members, service providers and Lydia staff. Good writing and organizational skills are essential. Must be willing and able to support the mission of Lydia Home Association. Must successfully complete licensure in Child Welfare and secure CERAP certification.

FUNCTION:

The Intact Family Services worker bears responsibility for the case management duties related to the family and the children.

CURRENTLY OFFERING A $500 sign on BONUS! To be collected at 90 days of employment.

Job Type: Full-time

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

1. Conducts initial and ongoing assessments of strengths, needs, and risk factors, in accordance with the Intact Family Services plan.

2. Develops and implements service plans, in collaboration with the client’s family, in accordance with the Intact Family Services plan. Directs implementation of client services and treatment goals. Makes referrals to community service providers to address issues such as housing, mental health, substance abuse treatment, or domestic violence.

3. In accordance with each family’s service plan, provides case management, mentoring, advocacy, support, and education that will protect children and preserve families. Counsels individuals regarding issues including, but not limited to, parenting, unemployment, housing, substance abuse, domestic violence, trauma, childcare, and/or medical care.

4. Completes and maintains case notes, client records, reports and other required documentation according to organization’s guidelines for completeness, accuracy, and timeliness.

5. Complies with all pertinent state and federal laws, DCFS Rules and Procedures, and the Code of Ethics for Child Welfare Professionals. Provides court testimony related to services provided to clients as required. Informs the supervisor of any legal issues related to agency services.

6. Represents the organization in a positive, professional light to active and potential clients, referral and funding sources, and the general public.

7. Enhances professional competence through appropriate training activities and ongoing awareness of developments in the child welfare field.

8. Participates in the Peer Review process for client files. Contributes to quality improvement through active participation in Quality Improvement activities.

9. Other duties as assigned.

SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS:

1. Some positions bilingual in Spanish preferred: the ability to read, write, and speak Spanish fluently.

2. Maintains and expresses a positive attitude about their job, the service constituencies, and the organization.

3. Responds to clients and/or customers within 24 hours.

4. Carry an average caseload of 10 to 12 families. When program needs are high, the number may increase.

5. Meet all the requirements in DCFS Rule .388 and the FY21 Program Plan.

To Apply:
Email resume and questions regarding the position to jromero@lydiahome.org

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's (Required)
  Driver's License (Preferred)
  Strong clinical skills

• Strong interpersonal skills

• Ability to manage time and prioritize tasks

• Education, Experience, and Licensing Requirements:

  • Master’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling, or related field

  • Current with all state licensing requirements, including LCSW, LCPC, and LMFT

• Previous clinical experience

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Establishes positive, trusting rapport with clients.

2. Diagnoses and treats mental health disorders

3. Creates individualized treatment plans according to client needs and circumstances.

4. Meets with clients regularly to provide counseling, treatment, and adjust treatment plans as necessary.

5. Conducts ongoing assessments of client progress.

6. Involves and advises family members when appropriate.

7. Refers clients to outside specialists or agencies when necessary.

8. Maintains thorough records of client meetings and progress.

9. Follows all safety protocols and maintains client confidentiality.

10. Maintains a caseload of up to twenty clients/week.

11. Travels to homes and offers virtual counseling services to Intact Family members in need of counseling services.

12. Therapists establish their own work hours in accordance with their availability and client need and works together with Lydia Intact Family Services Department.

JOB TYPE: Full-time

SALARY: $55,000 a year

TO APPLY:
Email resume and questions regarding the position to kanderson@lydiahome.org.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Master’s degree in Social Work or a similar degree from an accredited university. 3-4 years of recent experience in Child Welfare. 1-2 years prior Foster Care experience required. At least 1 year supervisory experience is preferred. Must be CWEL licensed and be able to effectively communicate and work with staff, foster parents, applicants, and the community at large. Must possess a high level of computer literacy. Must be willing and able to support the mission of Lydia Home Association (LHA).

FUNCTION:

Supervises case managers toward achieving the following outcomes: Children in traditional and home of relative foster care; will live in safe home environments; will maintain a stable placement that assures their well being; and will achieve a permanent living arrangement. The supervisor oversees the placements and progress toward permanency. The supervisor develops staff and teaches them the skills needed to accomplish program outcomes. The supervisor provides clear expectations, regular supervision, reinforcement of positive performance and corrective discipline. The supervisor promotes and provides strong leadership to the assigned team and creates a sense of teamwork and cohesiveness among team members. The supervisor represents the program to participants, outside providers and within the Agency; and ensures a customer service approach is consistently utilized by staff.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $60,000.00 per year
Lydia Home Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer

To Apply:
Email resume and questions regarding the position to jromero@lydiahome.org

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: 
Bachelor’s degree in social work or human services field and some experience in child welfare. The worker needs to be able to communicate and work effectively with all members of the child care team including foster parents, biological parents, and Lydia staff.  Good writing and organizational skills are essential.  Must be willing and able to support the mission of Lydia Home Association.  Must successfully complete licensure in Child Welfare within the established time frame, which includes passing the CERAP, 402, CCA & Child Welfare licensing exams.

FUNCTION: 
The foster care case manager bears responsibility for the case management duties related to children in placement, including the biological and Foster Care families.

Job Type: Full-time

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

1. Provide reasonable efforts for biological parents through ongoing assessment and referrals.  Work effectively with parents to help them improve parenting skills and fulfill the service plan to effectively care for their children.

2. Effectively move cases toward permanency, whether that means return home, adoption, guardianship or independence, within court determined time frames.  This includes extended family evaluations & concurrent permanency planning.

3. Conduct and document regular home visitations to foster homes to ensure safety and welfare of the child and to monitor the placement.  The frequency of visitation is dictated by contractual obligation & case specific need.  Develop a positive relationship with foster children. 

4. Provide and document ongoing support services to foster care parents (i.e., in-service training, crisis intervention, etc.)

5. Provide and document ongoing case management services to children in care, including: development of service plans, attending court and administrative case reviews, establishing visiting plans for parents and siblings,  and completing comprehensive assessments.

6. Maintain a positive working relationship with foster parents to provide support and encouragement for a high standard of care.

7. Assessment for & referral to all services needed for the children, the biological parents and the  foster parents.  Coordinate & facilitate communication between service providers.

8. Prepare all necessary paper work for adoption and guardianship subsidies within mandated time frames.

9. Pursue ongoing professional development through participation in training, seminars and course work.

10. Participate in fundraising activities on behalf of the agency.      

To Apply:
Email resume and questions regarding the position to ahernandez@lydiahome.org

About the Program:
The mission of LYDIA Home Association is to care for children and strengthen families. The residential program at LYDIA Home Association serves youth ages 6-17, who are involved with the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS). The youth reside at LYDIA Home and are provided with a structured living environment in addition to mental health treatment that focuses on skill-building, regulation, and recovery from the trauma/neglect they endured.      

Job Description:
The Residential Therapist bears major responsibility for the therapy and coordination of services for children living on residential units. Duties of the Residential Therapist may include, but are not limited to, providing individual and family therapy, documenting therapeutic services, participating in program development as it relates to the integration of therapeutic principles, conducting training, and providing clinical leadership to the treatment team.

Minimum Requirements:
Must be a qualified mental health professional and have a master’s degree or doctoral level degree from an accredited school of psychology or social work or an equivalent degree in a human services field. Must possess skills to work effectively with children and their families. Must demonstrate good writing and social skills in order to communicate and work cooperatively with members of the child care team and the various systems and agencies in the community. Must be willing and able to support the mission of LYDIA Home Association (LHA).

Location: Chicago, IL

To Apply:
Submit resume with cover letter to Dr. Heather Baranowski, residential director, by email to hbaranowski@lydiahome.org

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: 
Must have a Bachelor’s degree/meet qualifications to be a mental health professional (MHP). Must have good writing and social skills. The case manager must have an interest and concern for children and their families. It is also necessary to be able to communicate and work with all members of the child care team. Must be willing to support the mission of Lydia Home Association (LHA).

FUNCTION: 
Provides a range of therapeutically-driven, family-centered case management and discharge services according to Lydia Home’s policies, procedures, and practices. Reports to assigned supervisor. Must be willing and able to support the mission of Lydia Home Association (LHA) and the child welfare goals of safety, permanency, and well-being.

• Begin discharge planning at admission with formulation of a provisional permanency plan early in treatment by the youth’s treatment team. Therefore, upon intake, thoroughly explore the status of the youth’s support network. Obtain approval of contacts by legal worker and enter the contact information of approved/unapproved contacts into the Service Documentation System (SDS).

• Meaningfully engage families/supports by (1) Educating them on the treatment process and obtaining information regarding their vision for treatment. (2) Formulating a visitation plan based on direction from the legal worker and obtained court orders. (3) Facilitating contact between the client and his/her supports. Ensure every youth has consistent in-person/virtual visits and/or phone contact. Oversee visitation schedule, secure transportation, and at times, participate in visits. Ensure staff who are monitoring visits are informed about family dynamics, supervision needs, and engagement strategies as needed. (4) Providing interventions, in collaboration with therapists, such as skill building, parent coaching, processing visitation experiences, addressing concerns, and processing updates on youth progress. Address with the legal worker and family/identified supports any barriers to them meaningfully engaging in the treatment process.

• Work closely with DCFS/POS agencies to coordinate and locate placement opportunities for children at Lydia Home that tend to the youth’s physical, emotional, relational, legal, and cultural needs. Oversee discharge process in accordance with the Department’s Therapeutic Residential Transition and Discharge Protocol and COA Standards (e.g., provide information to receiving agencies, schedule interviews between the child and receiving agency and/or potential family, schedule preplacement visits, monitor and report on progress of transition). Address with treatment team barriers posed to discharge. Formulate with the team concurrent planning placement options.

• In collaboration with therapists, educate and engage youth in their treatment process. This includes discussing the youth’s values, teaching him/her how to operate in his/her strengths, processing his/her engagement with his/her support network, preparing the youth for his/her transition, and ensuring he/she receives guidance in a developmentally appropriate fashion.

• Communicate information about youth incidents to external treatment team members and approved supports. Complete Significant Event narratives and submit them into the SACWIS system.

• Meet the documentation, record-keeping, and billing requirements of the program. Complete Clinical Staffing Reports and Comprehensive Transition Plans. Enter service documentation (i.e., case notes) into SDS within the designated time frame.

• In collaboration with other treatment team members, prepare reports and documents as required by Medicaid regulations, DCFS, COA, schools, Social Security, and Juvenile Court. These include, but are not limited to IM+CANS, Clinical Summary, Discharge Summary, and Court Reports. Complete paperwork in a timely manner.

• Obtain consents for release of information when necessary (e.g., school; probation officer; etc).

• Complete request for psychological evaluation when necessary.

• Ensure DCFS required paperwork is in or is requested for the file (e.g., DCFS Service Plans; Integrated Assessments).

• Work with DCFS to acquire appropriate paperwork for intakes, discharges, school enrollment, permission to attend particular activities, etc.

• Complete school enrollment process within designated time frame. Attend IEP and other school meetings.

• Serve as liaison to DCFS/POS or other agencies (courts, school districts, GAL/CASA workers, probation officers, etc.), communicating progress toward goals and accomplishments.

• Attend internal agency staffings with Residential Clinical and/or Milieu Director, Therapist, Residential Unit Supervisor, Milieu staff, and/or Nurse.

• Schedule and facilitate case staffings that address the child’s functioning, needs, engagement with external supports, and progress towards permanency plan. Attend DCFS Clinical staffings in addition to Child and Family Team meetings. Report on progress towards clinical readiness date.

• Attend hospital staffings if a client is psychiatrically hospitalized. Maintain regular communication with hospital providers, remaining informed on the client’s progress and status for discharge. Communicate this received information to Lydia Home treatment team members. Coordinate hospital discharge.

• Participate in decision making process when establishing a mentor for a client and attend the initial introductory meeting.

• Represent LHA at court hearings in addition to criminal court (if needed). Attend ACRs (Administrative Case Reviews) for children and present on the youth’s current functioning, needs, and progress toward treatment goals and permanency.

• Identify linkage services (as needed) and coordinate services with outside providers (e.g., substance use treatment providers).

• Ensure that aftercare services are identified and implemented for once a youth is discharged from LHA (e.g., therapy, psychiatry, medical, school transfer).

• Participate in post-discharge services such as offering therapeutic support, tracking of services, and ensuring continuity of services for up to six months.

• Participate in ongoing training program at Lydia Home. Conduct trainings when assigned.

• Schedules are approved by the Case Management Supervisor. Approval is given by the Case Management Supervisor and Residential Clinical Director for changes to work schedule and time off requests.

• Participate in supervision on an informal and formal basis (i.e., scheduled). Supervision is provided in individual and group format.

• Be familiar with and follow agency and residential policies and procedures in addition to DCFS/COA Standards. Comply with mandated reporting guidelines. Maintain client confidentiality and HIPAA standards.

• Participate in quality assurance/quality improvement activities.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Location: Chicago, IL

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)

• Dental insurance

• Health insurance

• Life insurance

• Paid time off

• Tuition reimbursement

• Vision insurance

To Apply:
Submit resume with cover letter to Dr. Heather Baranowski, residential director, by email to hbaranowski@lydiahome.org

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: 
A registered nurse (RN) or a licensed practical nurse (LPN) licensed and registered in the state of Illinois. At least two years of experience in nursing field. Must be willing and able to support the mission of Lydia Home Association (LHA).

DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS:
Experience in mental health nursing; experience working with children; excellent organizational skills; good communication skills; ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment

FUNCTION: 
Maintain the highest health care standards and services in out-of-home care of the child.

RESPONSIBILITES:

1. Plan, develop, and administer a program of health care services for each child in LHA’s residential program.

2. Maintain necessary medical records.

3. Ensure that consents for medical services and psychotropic medications are obtained and maintained current.

4. Consult with children on medical problems.

5. Be aware of and follow all agency and DCFS policies regarding health and medical care and services.

6. Establish and instruct staff in following necessary medical policies and procedures.

7. Establish emergency medical procedures and ensure they are being implemented.

8. Provide training for staff regarding the handling and storage of hazardous materials, and medical procedures appropriate for residents with contagious disorders.

9. Coordinate psychiatric visits and evaluations.

10. Ensure proper administration, storage, documentation, and disposal of medication.

11. Maintain current licensure/certification required for administering psychotropic medications.

12. Participate in quality assurance/quality improvement activities.

13. Perform other duties as assigned.

Location: Chicago, IL

Job Type: Part-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)

• Dental insurance

• Health insurance

• Life insurance

• Paid time off

• Tuition reimbursement

• Vision insurance

To Apply:
Submit resume with cover letter to Dr. Heather Baranowski, residential director, by email to hbaranowski@lydiahome.org

Minimum Requirements:
The candidate must be at least 21 years old and must have either a bachelor’s degree in human services, a bachelors in any field with 1 year supervised human services experience or 5 years supervised experience in mental health or human services, valid Illinois driver’s license (preferred). In addition, the candidate must have experience with at-risk/challenging youth; open to supervision and able to work as part of a team; role model appropriately; nurture, teach, and structure the daily living setting; and willing to support the mission of LYDIA.

Responsibilities:
The residential program at LYDIA services youth ages 6-17, many of whom are involved with the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS). The youth reside at LYDIA and are provided a structured living environment in addition to treatment that focuses on skill-building, regulation, and recovering from the trauma/neglect they endured. The opening is for a child care worker to facilitate group activities for boys ages 13-17. Role includes enhancing clients’ daily living skills; monitoring clients at all times to ensure safety; participation in training; assisting clients in growing emotionally and socially through informal counseling and facilitating skill-building groups; encouraging clients in education by monitoring and assisting with homework, teacher communication, school behavior, and special school activities; planning, supervising, and participating with clients in recreational activities; documenting mental health services provided.

Full or Part-time: Part-time & Full-time

Location: Chicago, IL

To Apply:
Email resume and questions regarding the position to jromero@lydiahome.org

LYDIA Counseling Center is focused on serving children and families in the community, especially those with limited resources who are struggling with issues such as trauma, adoption, substitute care, and child behavior problems. Additionally, we provide individual and marital counseling from a faith-based perspective. Our clinicians use a strengths-based approach to provide individualized care to clients. 

THERAPIST RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Establishes positive, trusting rapport with clients.

2. Diagnoses and treats mental health disorders.

3. Creates individualized treatment plans according to client needs and circumstances.

4. Meets with clients regularly to provide counseling, treatment, and adjust treatment plans as necessary.

5. Conducts ongoing assessments of client progress.

6. Involves and advises family members when appropriate.

7. Refers clients to outside specialists or agencies when necessary.

8. Maintains thorough records of client meetings and progress.

9. Follows all safety protocols and maintains client confidentiality.

10. Contributes to the counseling center by accomplishing related tasks as needed.

11. Contributes to counseling center by participating and contributing as a member of counseling team.

12. Therapists establish their own work hours in accordance with their availability and client need. Therapists determine their caseload, with a minimum availability of 4 weekly client sessions. Liability insurance and office space are provided. This is a part-time position that does not include benefits. 

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS:

• Strong clinical skills

• Strong interpersonal skills

• Ability to manage time and prioritize tasks

• Education, Experience, and Licensing Requirements:

• Master’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling, or related field

• Current with all state licensing requirements, including LCSW, LCPC, and LMFT

• Previous clinical experience

JOB TYPE: Part-time/Contract

LOCATION: Chicago, IL

Lydia Home Association is an equal opportunity employer.

To Apply:
Email resume and questions regarding the position to kanderson@lydiahome.org.

Description: 
We are looking for a few volunteers to serve as administrative support at our front desk. We are hoping to cover a total of 40 hours a week between 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Shifts would be 4-8 hours long, depending on volunteer availability.

Responsibilities:
Greeting guests, answering the phone, organizing mail, updating calendars, and maintaining office supplies.

(This could be an ideal position for a retired person who wants to spend a few hours a week doing meaningful and essential work).

This is an unpaid volunteer position.