Lutheran Social Services of Illinois OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois hires OPT students across healthcare and social services roles, including clinical support, case management, and administrative functions. It's a mission-driven organization with a track record of supporting international talent through OPT and into longer-term visa pathways like H-1B visa.
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INTRODUCTION
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), is a leading not-for-profit organization providing healing, justice and wholeness to people and communities. For over 150 years, LSSI has made a difference in the lives of children and families, and we're still a strong, viable presence in the State of Illinois, continuing that commitment to making a difference.
LSSI is hiring a full-time Intact Child Welfare Specialist, Monday through Friday. The Child Welfare Specialist must be fluent in speaking, reading, and writing of Spanish. Will provide the full casework services to assure the safety and well-being of children by assisting families to meet minimum parenting standards. Service provision is in compliance with state mandates, COA standards, agency policies, and program plans.
Benefits and Perks:
LSSI is growing! Come be a part of this rewarding environment, and enjoy the knowledge that you’re helping make a positive difference in the lives of others, as well as these career advantages:
- On Demand Flexible Paydays for earned wages through an app called Dayforce Wallet.
- Competitive salary based upon relevant education, experience, and licensure.
- Salary $60,000-$72,000/Annually.
- Opportunity for advancement.
- Comprehensive benefits package for Full-Time employees includes healthcare insurance, up to 26 days of paid time off per calendar year, 11 paid holidays, sick time, 403(b) plan, Employee Assistance Program, and flexible hours.
- The paid training you need to learn, grow, and succeed!
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Complete and submit all required reports, documentation and billing accurately and timely as required by agency and funding sources.
- Participate in supervisory process for guidance, direction, support and approval of decision making, assessment, service planning and intervention. Present cases for staffing and conduct family-child team meetings.
- Coordinate and collaborate with other service providers, schools and healthcare facilities to promote the child(ren)’s well-being.
- Assess family service needs.
- Provide linkage to community resources to remediate problems and prevent abuse or neglect and verify participation.
- Ensure child safety and well-being during service delivery.
- Provide strength-based case management to facilitate the resolution of minor to moderate challenges contributing to risk to children.
- Advocacy with medical or governmental institutions.
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in social work or degree in related human services field required.
- Minimum of one (1) year of related experience preferred.
- State licensing/certification as required by the state of Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
- Child Welfare Employee License (CWEL) or ability to obtain required.
- Child Endangerment Risk Assessment Protocol (CERAP) required.
- Specialty required.
- Training in KEEP and/or GenerationsPMTO or availability to participate in training, coaching and fidelity to certification once hired required.
- Successful completion of CCS Bootcamp required.
- Successful completion of Client-Centered Service Planning and Aftercare Planning Training preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to motivate families, youth and foster parents to participate in detailed interventions models.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate in a clear, comprehensible manner, both verbally and in writing.
- Excellent organization, presentation and pc/computer skills, including experience using Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) along with other related software.
- Background check clearance, both criminal and CANTS required.
- Valid driver’s license, in good standing for the state of residency required.
- Access to reliable transportation.
- Proof of valid IL statutory minimum liability insurance coverage required.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, pregnancy, any other characteristic protected by law.
Job Roles at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Lutheran Social Services of Illinois OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Target clinical and case management roles
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois focuses heavily on direct service delivery in healthcare and social services. OPT students with backgrounds in social work, counseling, public health, or healthcare administration tend to find the strongest alignment with open roles across their Illinois program sites.
Verify your EAD before submitting applications
Your OPT EAD must be valid before your start date at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. Confirm your authorized employment start date aligns with your offer timeline, since USCIS processing delays can affect when you're legally allowed to begin working.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting STEM OPT roles
If you're on a STEM degree and plan to use the 24-month STEM OPT extension, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois must be enrolled in E-Verify. Ask HR directly during the offer stage, since STEM OPT authorization depends on this enrollment at the time you file your extension.
Research prevailing wages for your target role
Before your salary negotiation, use the OFLC Wage Search to find the prevailing wage for your specific occupation in Illinois. Healthcare and social services roles vary significantly by specialization, and knowing the DOL wage level helps you evaluate whether an offer is competitive.
Use Migrate Mate to identify Lutheran Social Services of Illinois H-1B history
OPT is a bridge, not a destination. Use Migrate Mate to check Lutheran Social Services of Illinois's H-1B filing history by role and department, so you understand which positions have led to long-term sponsorship before you commit to a job offer.
Align your OPT job title with your degree field
USCIS requires your OPT employment to be directly related to your degree. Review your offer letter carefully to confirm the job title and duties match your field of study. A mismatch can jeopardize your OPT authorization and any future STEM extension eligibility.
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois OPT Eligibility: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lutheran Social Services of Illinois sponsor OPT visas?
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois does not sponsor OPT itself. OPT is work authorization granted by USCIS directly to F-1 students. What Lutheran Social Services of Illinois does is hire students who already hold a valid OPT EAD. If you have an approved EAD, you can apply for roles there like any authorized worker.
Which departments at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois typically hire OPT students?
OPT students tend to find the strongest fit in clinical services, behavioral health, case management, and administrative support functions at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. Roles tied to social work, public health, and healthcare administration align closely with the organization's mission and the degree fields most OPT students come from.
How do I navigate the hiring process at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois as an OPT student?
Apply directly through Lutheran Social Services of Illinois's careers page and disclose your OPT status early in the process. Bring your EAD, your I-20 showing OPT authorization, and your passport to any offer discussion. HR will run an I-9 verification, and if you're pursuing STEM OPT, confirm their E-Verify enrollment before signing.
How do I know if Lutheran Social Services of Illinois will sponsor my H-1B after OPT?
Use Migrate Mate to review Lutheran Social Services of Illinois's H-1B filing history by job category. This shows which roles the organization has historically sponsored, giving you a clearer picture of your long-term visa pathway before you accept an OPT position there.
What timeline should I expect when starting an OPT role at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois?
Your OPT EAD must be valid on your first day of work. USCIS recommends applying for OPT up to 90 days before your program end date, and processing typically takes several months. Plan your job search and offer acceptance timeline backward from your intended start date to avoid gaps in authorization.
How does Lutheran Social Services of Illinois hire OPT students?
OPT is work authorization granted directly to F-1 students after graduation — no employer petition is required. Lutheran Social Services of Illinois can hire OPT students as soon as their EAD card is approved. STEM degree holders can extend OPT by 24 months when their employer is enrolled in E-Verify. Most companies that hire OPT students also support the transition to H-1B when the student's OPT period is ending. Check Lutheran Social Services of Illinois's individual postings on Migrate Mate to confirm OPT acceptance per role.