• The Child Welfare Specialist (CWS): Overview

    • Also known as a caseworker – employed by DCFS or Purchase of Services (“POS”) agency.
    • Receives case from investigator, initiates a placement case or an intact case.
    • Refers families for community-based services and develops a Service Plan, based on Integrated Assessment.
    • Monitors the child’s home or foster placement, at least monthly.
    • Assists foster parents in locating resources for the child.
    • Evaluates parents’ progress on service plan (Administrative Case Reviews (“ACR”) every six (6) months.
    • Completes court reports for hearings (Dispositional Hearing and Permanency Hearings).
    • Testifies in court for Dispositional Hearing, Permanency Hearings, Termination of Parental Rights Hearings, or any other hearings at the request of a party or the court.