Information and Referral Specialist Jobs in Illinois
An Information and Referral Specialist in the social service industry serves as a critical link between individuals or communities and needed resources. They assist clients by identifying their needs, providing relevant information, and directing them to suitable social services, such as housing, food assistance, healthcare, or counseling. The specialist conducts in-depth interviews with clients, maintains a current database of resources, and follows up to ensure the clients have accessed the services. They also liaise with other professionals in the social service industry to foster collaboration and enhance service delivery.
Essential skills for this role include excellent communication and interpersonal skills, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work with diverse populations. Familiarity with databases, data entry, and research skills are also crucial. A certification such as the Certified Information and Referral Specialist (CIRS) is often required, as it demonstrates a thorough understanding of the information and referral process. Prior roles that could lead to this position might include Social Service Assistant, Case Manager, or Community Outreach Coordinator, which all provide valuable experience in navigating social services and working directly with clients in need.

Office Specialist - DCFS - SCR - Upward Mobility - Mon-Fri, 10am-6:30pm shift
- Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
- Springfield, IL
- 7 days ago
- Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
- Springfield, IL
- 7 days ago
Job Family: Office & Administrative Support; Social Services This title is within the Upward Mobility Program (UMP)....

Office Specialist - DCFS - SCR - Upward Mobility - Mon-Fri, 8am-4:30pm shift
- Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
- Springfield, IL
- 7 days ago
- Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
- Springfield, IL
- 7 days ago
Job Family: Social Services; Office & Administrative Support This title is within the Upward Mobility Program (UMP)....
Human Resources Specialist Job Overview: As a Human Resources Specialist, you will be the cornerstone of our admin department, contributing to the overall success of the organization by supporting...
Family Guidance Centers, Inc. (FGC), a not-for-profit behavioral healthcare organization, treats and prevents substance use disorder, as well as an array of other related problems. Since 1969,...
Assist the family social service worker with facilitating the expansion of resources needed to better serve children and their families involved in foster care....
+ Organize and coordinate assigned client account work in a timely and profitable manner. + Collaborate and coordinate with Operations, Support Services, Quality Assurance, Sales, Business...
at Mercy Health Corporation (Mercyhealth) in Rockford, Illinois, United States Job Description Overview Financial Resource Specialist, Patient Access, Rockford, Days, 80 hrs / 2 wks Location:...
Make your next move an expert one. At Colliers it's not our success that sets us apart, it's how we achieve it. Our people are passionate, take ownership and always do what's right for our...
Maintain database of community services and resources, assist internal staff in learning and accessing database to link members to community resources....
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Salary for Information and Referral Specialist Jobs in Illinois
Highest Education Level
Information and Referral Specialists in Illinois offer the following education backgroundQualifications / Skill Sets
The following top skills are often required or desired to land a Information and Referral Specialist position
- Forestry
- Employee Relations
- Human Resources Information System
- Performance Management
- Labor Relations
- Human Resources Management
- Leave Administration
- Resource Management
- Water Management
- Surface Water
- HR Policies & Procedures
- Cartography
- Natural Resource Management
- SHRM Senior Certified Professional
- Endangered Species
- Community Resources
- Human Services
- Social Services
- Community Organizing
- Home Visits
- Suicide Prevention
- Community Health
- Individualized Education Program
- Cultural Competency
- Autism
- Special Education
- Case Management
- Crisis Management
- Community Outreach
- Client Services
- File Management
- Wellness
- Organizational Development
- Business Administration
- Curriculum Development
- Liaison
- Recordkeeping
- Referrals
- Interviewing
- Implementation
- Written Communication
- Prioritizing
- Consulting
- Telephone Skills
- Documentation
- Collaboration
- Events
- Flexibility
- Spanish
- Teaching
- Education Experience
- Filing
- Reporting
- English
- Regulations
- Policy Development
- Problem Solving
- Bilingual
- Microsoft Office
- Time Management
- Research Skills
- Microsoft Excel
- Organization
- Customer Service
- Scheduling
- Computer Skills
- Leadership
- Communication Skills
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