Child Welfare Specialist Program Descriptions

DHS Child Welfare Specialists serve children and families with severe problems – poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, domestic violence, mental illness – and multiple needs. Child Welfare Specialists deal with complex family situations requiring sound judgment and timely decisions.

Child Welfare Services encompass multiple program areas such as:

• Child Protective Services;

• Permanency Planning;

• Family Centered Services; and

• Foster Care and Adoptions. 

Foster Care and Adoption

Foster Care and Adoption Child Welfare Specialists may have a variety of roles related to placement of children in foster and adoptive homes. These roles may include recruitment, assessment and support of foster and adoptive families; completing interviews and assessments of families who are applying to foster or adopt children in out of home care; ensuring they have the ability to meet the needs of a child or children; providing supports for the foster and adoptive families while continually assessing the child’s safety; working with children and youth to prepare them for the transition to adoption, when they are unable to return home, while searching for permanent families for these children and youth; providing supports to private foster care agencies as they recruit, assess and support foster families; providing supports to families after they have finalized an adoption; or working with DHS staff and private foster care agency staff to locate appropriate placements for children who need a foster or adoptive family. .

All new Child Welfare Specialists attend trainings required by law or outlined in the Pinnacle Plan. They must successfully complete initial Child Welfare Specialist Academy.

  Want to learn more about the Child Welfare Specialist position?

                                                 Or explore other DHS employment opportunities by viewing a list of all Current Job openings

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