Who we are

Lawrence Hall is a Chicago-based nonprofit social services agency that provides therapeutic, wellness, and skill development services to youth, families, and neighborhoods affected by lasting trauma.

Our Foster Care team plays a critical role in helping children find safety, healing, and long-term stability. We work across Traditional, Specialized, and Adolescent Foster Care to reunify families or support successful transitions into long-term homes and life-long connections.

About the Role

Every child has a story and a family - some just require more digging to find. We are looking for a relational detective who refuses to believe a youth has 'no one' and has the investigative curiosity to prove it. 

As a Foster Care Recruitment & Family Finding Specialist, you'll play a key role in helping youth in foster care connect with relatives, fictive kin, and other trusted adults who can offer stability and love. You'll also support recruitment and training of foster parents while partnering closely with caseworkers to expand placement options for youth with complex needs.

This is a great opportunity for someone who is resource, tenacious, and creative with the investigative curiosity to find and engage family members and the relational skills to build trust with youth and caregivers. You'll work in the field, attend events, conduct diligent searches, and contribute directly to improved permanency outcomes. This role is perfect for someone who enjoys the 'hunt' for information and has the resilience to turn a 'no' from a distant relative into a 'yes' for a child.

In this role, you will:

• Conduct 'cold outreach' to relatives, using persistence and empathy to re-establish lost connections.
• Interview families and assess placement potential and support systems
• Use genograms, ecomaps, social media, and databases to identify connections
• Serve as a liaison for youth transitioning to new placements
• Support foster family recruitment through targeted outreach and events
• Assist with training and guiding potential foster parents and relatives
• Collaborate with caseworkers, family teams, and community providers
• Maintain accurate documentation, correspondence, and case tracking in SACWIS
• Apply trauma-informed, family-centered, and equity-based practices in all work
• Understand implicit bias and its role in placement decisions
• Attend meetings, trainings, and community engagement events as needed

Who we're looking for

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Criminal Justice, or Communications
• Valid driver's license (IL/IN/WI), reliable transportation, and proof of insurance
• Ability to pass a background check and drug screen
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills

Preferred:

• Experience locating individuals, conducting outreach, or investigative work
• Knowledge of childhood trauma and youth with specialized needs
• Experience using strength-based, trauma-informed practices
• Familiarity with foster care systems, SACWIS, and child welfare processes
• Comfort engaging with diverse communities and conducting in-home assessments

Additional Information

Our work is community-based and happens where our families are. We provide deep training and a supportive team - and we are looking for people with the grit and emotional resilience to thrive in a non-traditional environment.

This position is based out of our Stewart campus (400 W 76th Street, Chicago, IL 60620), with local travel across Chicago and surrounding counties for outreach, meetings, or family assessments. Typical hours are Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, with occasional evenings or weekends as needed. 

We care about the well-being of our employees and are proud to offer a comprehensive and competitive total rewards package that includes:

• Salary: $47,800-$52,000/year, based on experience.
• Average of 17-25 days PTO + 9 holidays
• Medical insurance - HMO and PPO options
• Dental insurance - HMO and PPO options
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with up to 5% employer match and auto-vesting
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) - Medical and Dependent Care
• Pre-tax Commuter benefits - Parking and Transit
• 100% employer-paid Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• Voluntary Life Insurance for Employees, Spouses, and Children
• Accident and Critical Illness Insurance
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• 100% employer- paid Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for free counseling and life resources
• Wellness Reimbursement Program
• Employee Referral Bonus up to $1,500
• Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for licensed employees
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness

How to Apply

Submit your application here. We look forward to learning more about you!

Frequently cited statistics show that women and underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the necessary skills and abilities. Lawrence Hall encourages you to apply even if you do not have experience in all areas of essential functions. We look forward to your application.

This position meets the FLSA requirements for Exempt

Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V

Following job offer acceptance, all new hires are required to complete a background check through the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Individuals who have lived outside of Illinois may also be subject to out-of-state checks, which can take up to eight weeks to process. While these checks are pending, candidates should continue completing all other pre-boarding requirements. Employment may begin once all pre-boarding steps are complete and DCFS clearance has been received.