CFWS EFC Social Service Specialist 2-3 In Training (SSS3) - Richland

State of Washington; Richland (WA); On-site; USD 66,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Travel accommodations

Per diem

Training program

Job summary

The State of Washington's Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is hiring a Social Service Specialist 2-3 in Training to support Extended Foster Care youth in Region 2 (Tri-Cities). This role performs advanced case management and collaborates with field offices to implement independent-living plans.

Training includes a 9.5-week Worker Core Training (WCT) with Seattle sessions; travel and per diem are provided. Prior DCYF experience and strong documentation skills preferred.

Qualifications

• Five (5) years of paid social service experience and 30/45 credits in a social service discipline.
• Bachelor’s degree in social services or related field with 30/45 credits and one year of paid social service experience.
• Master’s degree with 30/45 credits and practicum completed.
• One year of experience as Social Service Specialist 1.
• Ability to take action to learn and grow and to meet others' needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide initial and ongoing assessment of EFC youth safety and independence.
• Identify and develop community supports and resources.
• Assess youth for supervision needs and provide training to prevent homelessness.
• Assist youth in obtaining housing and employment or education resources.
• See youth monthly and document outcomes using FAMLINK.

Skills

Social service experience

Case management

Assessment

Community resources

Documentation

Training coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social services

Master’s degree in social services

Tools

FAMLINK documentation

Job description

Our vision is to ensure that “All Washington's children and youth grow up safe and healthy, thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community".

Job Title: CFWSEFC Social Service Specialist 2-3 In Training (SSS3)

Location: Richland, WA

Closes: 10/13/26

Salary: $66,072 - $93,288 Annually

We're looking for a proactive, person-centered Social Service Specialist who is passionate about working with Extended Foster Care (EFC) young adults in Region 2, covering the Tri-Cities area. If you are passionate about engaging young adults and assisting with helping them in building independent life skills,

The Opportunity:

This position performs advanced levels of specialized case management for Child and Family Welfare Services (CFWS)/Extended Foster Care (EFC) youth for Region 2, primarily the Tri-Cities area. The EFC Social Service Specialist will have expert knowledge of the EFC program, policy, and law to assist field offices by providing information and expert collaboration regarding the EFC program.

Some of what you'll do:

• Provide initial and ongoing assessment of EFC youth safety, ability to live independently, and barriers to making progress in the EFC program.
• Identify and develop community supports and resources.
• Assess the EFC youth for supervision needs.
• Provide training and services that decrease the possibility of homelessness and teach skills needed to achieve stability and independent living.
• Provide housing resource information to assist young adults in obtaining housing.
• Assist youth in locating employment and/or education resources to develop career skills to support stability.
• See youth in their home every month and assess the young adult’s ability for independent living and safety.
• Help the EFC youth obtain necessary documents.
• Provide resources that will continue to work with the youth after exiting EFC.
• Encourage the EFC youth, identify strengths, and teach the youth how to advocate for themselves.
• Prepare required legal documents for court, placement, and service delivery.
• Prepare and file EFC dependency petitions and other legal documents related to the implementation of permanent plans.
• Utilize FAMLINK to document case activities and maintain case records.

Salary Ranges

The goal class of this position is a Social Service Specialist 3. We will also consider candidates at the Social Service Specialist 2 level, with a training plan to advance to the goal class. The Hiring Manager will evaluate the education and experience of each candidate for one of the levels mentioned below.

• Social Service Specialist 2: Range 57 ($66,072– $88,788)
• Social Service Specialist 3: Range 59 ($69,348- $93,288)

What we are looking for at each level:

Social Service Specialist 2:

• Five (5) years of paid social service experience AND30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline.
• Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND one (1) year of paid social service experience.
• A Master’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or Master’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND completed practicum.
• One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 1.

OR

Social Service Specialist 3:

• Six (6) years of paid social service experience* AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline.
• Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND Two (2) years of paid social service experience*.
• Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND One (1) year of paid social service experience*.
• One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 2

AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

*Paid Social Service experience must include at least one year of assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Public child welfare experience.
• Case management experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of applicable laws, rules, and policies on child protective and child welfare services.
• Demonstrated knowledge of addiction, treatment, relapse prevention, and recovery principles, and/or experience working with individuals with substance use disorder.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively and build consensus with families, community partners, and professionals around difficult or sensitive topics.
• Experience assessing risk and safety concerning child abuse and neglect, or developing safety or service plans with families.
• Ability to organize information to meet FAMLINK documentation requirements.

Worker Core Training (WCT):

As a Social Service Specialist, you are required to successfully complete a mandatory 9.5-week Worker Core Training (WCT). This training provides the foundational knowledge and skills needed to perform core job functions, including assessing risk and safety, supporting child well-being, gathering information, and conducting case and permanency planning. During the training, you will have opportunities to practice these skills through classroom activities, simulation exercises, and debriefs. Upon hire, you will be assigned to the nearest available training cohort. The training includes four (4) weeks at our Seattle training site (scheduled for Weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8). For those eligible for travel from their assigned duty location, DCYF covers hotel accommodations and per diem costs.

The WCT curriculum is designed to prepare Social Service Specialists for the responsibilities of the role, including:

• Understanding the child welfare system
• Familiarity with the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) related to child welfare
• Policies, procedures, and best practices
• Assessing child safety through environmental observation, interviews with children and caregivers, and collateral contacts
• Collecting records and collaborating with community partners, including medical providers, law enforcement, and chemical dependency services
• Completing assessments and documenting case notes
• Writing dependency petitions and court reports
• Preparing for and testifying in court

Supplemental Information:

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our goal to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/

This position requires a minimum of at least two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license.

The incumbent must successfully complete formal training courses as required by law, policy, and regional requirements within one year of their appointment.

Degrees must be obtained from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent verified by a NACES-approved organization at naces.org. Foreign Equivalency certification must be attached to the application for degrees obtained outside the U.S.

DCYF participates in the federal E-Verify program. The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment.