The Safety Specialist plays a critical front-line role in keeping children safe at home. Working within the Safe@Home model, this position provides intensive, in-home safety services to families involved with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). These are families where children face impending danger but can remain safely in the home under a structured safety plan.

As the lead for day-to-day safety service delivery, the Safety Specialist takes direct ownership of developing, coordinating, and continuously monitoring individualized impending danger plans. This work requires sound professional judgment, specialized training, and a strong collaborative relationship with DCFS Child Protection Specialists and Intact Family Services staff.

The goal of every engagement is fourfold: keep children safe, prevent unnecessary out-of-home placement, stabilize families, and facilitate reunification when the time is right.

Base Salary - $55,036.80.

Benefits That’ll Make You Smile.

We believe in taking care of our team so they can take care of others. That’s why we offer:

· Vacation time

· Sick time

· Holiday pay

· 403(b) retirement plan

· Health insurance

· Dental insurance

· Vision insurance (100% employer-paid!)

· Group Life and AD&D insurance (100% employer-paid!)

· Options for extra voluntary coverage like Critical Illness, Accident, Hospital, and more.

· Educational Aid program to support your professional growth.

Safety Specialist job duties:

1. Impending Danger Plan Implementation & Management

• Implement and manage individualized impending danger plans within the home environment.
• Maintain frequent, consistent in-home contact with caregivers, children, and safety service providers, including availability during evening and weekend hours.
• Provide ongoing oversight of all safety services, monitoring caregiver-child interactions, home conditions, and family dynamics to ensure child safety is consistently maintained.
• Support caregivers in stress reduction and behavior modification.
• Must be willing and able to enter and work within high-risk home environments.

2. Resource Coordination & Support

• Identify, engage, and coordinate family network support and community resources.
• Connect families to resources for housing, food, transportation, employment, and healthcare, and ensure those resources are effectively utilized to support safety plan success.
• Arrange and support logistics including transportation, visitation, appointments, and service access.

3. Collaboration & Oversight

• Work closely with DCFS and private agency staff to ensure proper execution of impending danger plans.
• Provide real-time updates on safety concerns, compliance, and plan effectiveness.
• Participate in case staffing, planning meetings, and ongoing communication with all involved parties.

4. Behavioral & Crisis Intervention

• Provide direct behavioral management support, including coaching of caregiver-child interactions and implementation of de-escalation and stress-reduction strategies.
• Intervene in crisis situations to stabilize the home and maintain safety.
• Proactively put services in place to prevent crises before they occur.

5. Family Engagement & Support

• Build supportive, professional relationships with families to reduce isolation and foster trust.
• Provide hands-on parenting support, mentoring, and guidance related to household management and coping skills.
• Coordinate respite care, temporary caregiving arrangements, or structured separation when required for safety.

6. Documentation & Reporting

• Maintain accurate, timely, and detailed documentation of all services and observations.
• Track safety plan compliance and outcomes.
• Report concerns to DCFS and supervisory staff immediately.

The Safety Specialist shall have:

1. A bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, psychology, or related field required.

2. Relevant experience in child welfare, case management, family services, or crisis intervention; experience working with high-risk families preferred.

3. The ability to work effectively in high-stress, safety-sensitive situations involving child safety concerns.

4. The ability to provide own transportation in performing job requirements, including a valid driver’s license and acceptable insurance coverage.

5. The ability to meet the eligibility requirements for the Safety Specialist position as assigned by the contracting state department of Iowa or Illinois.

6. The ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, nights, and weekends, based on family needs.

7. Sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural differences in the community.

8. The ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing and meet all reporting requirements.

9. Commitment to the agency’s vision, mission, philosophy, structure, and goals with an ability to work as part of a treatment team.

10. The ability to lift thirty (30) pounds and climb stairs.

11. The ability to carry car seats to and from the office and children’s home.

12. The ability to physically attend to young children and infants.

13. The ability to fulfill all of the regulatory requirements for employees of Child Welfare Agencies as are prescribed in Illinois Administrative Rule and Procedure, including successfully completing the background check investigation clearances from the Sex Offender Registry, SACWIS, Illinois State Police, FBI, and Federal Office of the Inspector General as well as certification as a driver of children by the Illinois DCFS.

Ready to Make a Difference?

We can’t wait to meet you! Apply today and become part of a team that’s all about supporting each other, growing together, and making a positive impact in our community. Bethany values those with lived experience and encourages former foster youth, people in recovery, and those with lived experience of housing instability to apply.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Bethany for Children & Families, as an Equal Opportunity Employer, is committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all persons regardless of race, color, gender, gender identification, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual preference, citizenship status, national origin, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic defined by law. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and identities who share our commitment to keeping children safe, strengthening families, and building healthy communities.