Family Development Specialist at Baby Fold – Normal, Illinois

The Baby Fold has been successfully wrapping services around children and families since 1902, offering life-critical support such as foster care, special education, early childhood programming, and post-adoption support. The Baby Fold is a unique resources with a strong and enduring heritage. We care for our youngest citizens so they can be blessed with loving homes, stable lives, and the futures they deserve.
Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Life & Long Term Disability
• Short Term Disability
• Health Savings Account
• Flexible Spending Account and Dependent Care Plan
• Paid Vacation, Personal time, Sick time, and Paid Holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program
• Headspace Care - coaching, therapy, & psychiatry
• Paytient - line of credit for medical, mental health, & veterinary services
• Candidly - student loan navigation support
• Mentorship, advancement, and professional development opportunities

Summary of Working as a Family Development Specialist:

BASIC FUNCTIONS: The Family Development Specialist is responsible for the recruitment, licensing, and support of foster families at The Baby Fold. Also responsible for ensuring that foster and relative families receive the training necessary to provide competent care for children placed in their home. Demonstrates an ability to apply trauma-informed principles and integrates them into daily practice. Communicates effectively and promotes collaborative problem solving by demonstrating care and respect in considering the diverse experiences and perspectives of others.

• WORK HOURS: Full-time, 8:30 A.M.- On-call Responsibilities: Participates as a member of the licensing on-call team, which includes rotating cell phone coverage for new intake during business and non-business hours.
• Location: Ft Jesse Facility, 1500 Ft Jesse Ave, Normal, IL 61761
• Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field required. Master’s degree preferred. Foundations training and two years of relevant work experience in the field of child welfare. Must meet qualifications for licensing foster and/or adoptive homes, including passing the Child Care Act exam and the Licensing Rule 402 exam; prior to hire preferred, upon hire required.
• Pay: Hourly/non-exempt, starting at $25.64 per hour/ 50,000 annually, more based on experience, certification, and education.
• **POSITION WOULD HAVE A JULY 2026 START DATE**

Responsibilities:

1. Assessment: Conducts initial and ongoing assessments mutually with prospective and active foster parents to determine their capability to provide care for children in need of foster placements. Conducts assessments related to the safety of children, compliance with licensing standards, and ongoing training needs of foster parents.

2. Foster Family Home Studies: Conducts home and office interviews. Conducts home studies for foster and relative families pursuing licensure. Licenses foster and relative homes and monitors compliance with DCFS licensing standards. Responds to inquiries and referrals for service.

3. Recruitment of Foster Families: Participates in the development and implementation of a plan for the recruitment of foster families to respond to the needs of children requiring placement outside their families.

4. Licensing: Ensures compliance with all licensing standards related to foster families, including but not limited to the processing of initial license applications, license monitoring, license transfers, license closings, license renewals, and licensing investigations.

5. Support of Foster Families: Ensures that foster families receive the supportive services they need in order to provide high quality care for the children in their home, including but not limited to support groups, newsletters, relevant training, and advocacy.

Statement of Inclusion: The Baby Fold is committed to fostering a culture of respect and inclusion, where each individual feels empowered and where our differences are celebrated. We encourage each other to engage in meaningful conversations, seek out different perspectives, and continually work to cultivate an environment where all ideas are valued.

1. Bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field required. Master’s degree preferred.

2. Foundations training and two years of relevant work experience in the field of child welfare.

3. Must meet qualifications for licensing foster and/or adoptive homes, including passing the Child Care Act exam and the Licensing Rule 402 exam; prior to hire preferred, upon hire required.

4. Willingness and ability to work evening and weekend hours to provide on-call services and as needed to meet the needs of the agency and the families we serve.

5. Ability and willingness to travel for job responsibilities, including the ability drive distances to enter the homes of families in the service area and throughout the state of Illinois, a valid Illinois driver’s license that has not been revoked or suspended within the past three years, and use of a personal vehicle with adequate insurance.

6. Must pass necessary background checks.