Child Protection Specialist

Child Protection Specialist

Hiring Department: UICOMP-Pediatrics

Location: Peoria, IL USA

Requisition ID: 1037368

Posting Close Date: 12/25/2025

Salary: $52,416 to $62,000 per year

The Department of Pediatrics of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria (UICOMP) is currently accepting applications for a full-time position as Child Protection Specialist for the Pediatric Resource Center (Division of Child Abuse Pediatrics).

The Pediatric Resource Center has a 32-year history of providing evidence-informed, specialized medical and social services to child victims of abuse/neglect. The Child Protection Specialist position is an integral part of PRC’s child-focused medical social services for children who may have experienced child physical abuse, child sexual abuse and/or neglect and their families.

Position Summary

The Child Protection Specialist position is an integral part of PRC's child-focused medical social services for children who may have experienced child physical abuse, child sexual abuse and/or neglect and their families

Duties & Responsibilities

• Responds to phone referrals by obtaining intake information and evaluating it for acceptance for services. For cases not accepted, provides referrals to more appropriate community resources/agencies.
• Provides emotional support to children and their families during medical evaluation and/or inpatient hospital stay.
• Performs highly specialized work surrounding assignments in the field of child protection, including risk assessment and safety planning.
• Identifies and evaluates child abuse resources and obtains information relevant to families who are caring for a child abuse victim.
• Serves as an authority and provides expertise in the area of child abuse to physicians and other professionals.
• Provides specialized medical casework services to a caseload of 30 to 60 children per month, including intake screening, compiling all pertinent information and social history, and assessment of data needed for medical evaluation and safety planning.
• Represents the unit on at least one community child welfare committee and serves as a liaison to select DCFS offices in the central region.
• Foster professional and positive relationships with all agencies involved with the Pediatric Resource Center.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with a major in Social or Behavioral Science or related Health specialty from an accredited college or university with 5 years of relevant experience and significant specialized training in child protective services
• Or Master’s degree in social or behavioral science or related health specialty area from an accredited college or university with two years of progressively more responsible full-time experience in the practice of social services or medical/clinical setting maintaining acceptable standards of social work practices.

About University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria (UICOMP) Department of Pediatrics and OSF Healthcare Children’s Hospital of Illinois:

UICOMP is one of the three regional campuses of the University of Illinois College of Medicine, one of the largest public medical schools in the country. UICOMP’s educational programs include 262 medical students and 300 residents/fellows in 29 different post graduate programs, 23 which are accredited by ACGME. The Department of Pediatrics is one of the largest departments at UICOMP. In collaboration with the OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois, the Department has 19 divisions and over 145 faculty members providing general pediatrics and subspecialty services to the pediatric population in Central Illinois. The current research infrastructure within the Department includes an office of research, a dedicated biostatistician and an internal research funding mechanism to support our faculty.

About Children’s Hospital of Illinois

Located in Peoria, OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois is the third largest pediatric hospital in Illinois and the most comprehensive hospital for kids in downstate Illinois. With 136 beds and more than 140 pediatric subspecialists, OSF Children’s Hospital cares for more children in Illinois than any hospital outside of Chicago. Formally established as a pediatric hospital within the walls of OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center in 1990, OSF Children’s Hospital of Illinois has more than 7,000 inpatient admissions, 75,000 outpatient specialty visits, 2,400 newborn deliveries, and 18,000 emergency department visits each year. Learn more by visiting

Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center, a part of OSF Innovation, is a collaboration between University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria and OSF HealthCare. Jump replicates a variety of patient care settings to ensure novice and seasoned clinicians can practice handling medical situations in a real-world environment. Boasting six floors and 168,000 square feet, the center is one of the largest of its kind and provides space for conferences, anatomic training, virtual reality and innovation. For more information, visit

About Peoria, Il

One of the oldest communities in Illinois with a population of 113,150 Peoria is equal distance from Chicago and St. Louis. Here we have an enviable standard of living, exciting venues within a 15-20 minute drive from our homes, safe streets, quality and quantity shopping, our own symphony, our own ballet, Broadway Theater League, museums, art guilds, first-class medical facilities, the nation's oldest community theater and oldest Santa Claus parade.

Our vibrant riverfront showcases a multitude of festivals and celebrations that light up the summer nights much like our extraordinary Fourth of July Sky Concert fireworks show that draws well over one hundred thousand annually. Residents are flocking to live in the refurbished warehouses and lofts on Water Street that produce the perfect lifestyle for a 24/7 city.

We have many global businesses that allow Peoria to play all over the world through their products and services. Peoria has begun to diversify its economy with infotech industries as well. Thus our business community attracts some of the brightest graduates throughout the nation.

To apply, please visit this job listing on the UIC Job Board at, , scroll towards the bottom of the page and click, “Apply Now”.

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For fullest consideration please apply by 10/17/2025.

The budgeted salary range for the position is $52,416 to $62,000 per year.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

This position is intended to be . This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

More information about employee benefits can be found at: .