CHILD WELFARE CONSULTANT (CARE CON-RECRUIT & TRAINING)

State of Louisiana; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Louisiana's Department of Children and Family Services is seeking a Recruitment and Training Consultant to support statewide foster home recruitment, retention, and caregiver training initiatives. You will work under the Recruitment and Training Manager to strengthen the pool of eligible foster and adoptive families and drive statewide engagement.

The role requires substantial experience in child welfare and related fields, with a focus on strategic recruitment, partnerships, and

Qualifications

• Seven years of experience in child welfare or an equivalent combination of related work.
• Bachelor’s degree plus four years of experience in social services, health services, law enforcement, or investigatory work.
• Advanced degree plus three years of experience in social services, health services, law enforcement, or investigatory work.
• Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Develops and implements targeted recruitment plans for foster and adoptive homes in collaboration with regional leadership and the Recruitment and Training Manager.
• Provides consultative guidance on strategy development, outreach approaches, and performance improvement.
• Builds and sustains high-level partnerships to enhance recruitment capacity and community engagement.
• Leads the development and implementation of statewide caregiver training strategies to strengthen caregiver capacity and competency.
• Performs other duties to support statewide diligent recruitment, caregiver support services, and departmental goals.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social services, health services, law enforcement, or investigatory work

Advanced degree in social science, behavioral health, nursing, or juris doctorate

Job description

Department MISSION

To protect children, empower families, and strengthen communities so every child grows up safe, stable, and strong.

About This Job

Department MISSION

To protect children, empower families, and strengthen communities so every child grows up safe, stable, and strong.

Department VISION

A future where every child thrives in a loving environment, supported by empowered families and resilient communities.

Department VALUES

Treating all people with dignity, compassion and respect, while providing services with integrity.

At The Department of Children and Family Services, our mission is to empower communities and improve lives by delivering responsive, inclusive, and forward-thinking public services. We are proud to serve the people of Louisiana with integrity, innovation, and a deep commitment to equity.

This is a professional-level position within the DCFS Child Welfare Division responsible for assisting in the implementation of the statewide foster home recruitment, retention, and support initiatives under the direction of the Recruitment and Training Manager. The Recruitment and Training Consultant performs specialized recruitment, training, and engagement activities designed to strengthen the pool of foster and adoptive caregivers who can meet the needs of Louisiana’s children in foster care.

If you’re driven, collaborative, and ready to make an impact—this could be the opportunity for you!

Minimum Qualifications

• Seven years of experience in child welfare; OR
• Six years of full-time work experience in any field plus four years of experience in social services, health services, law enforcement, or investigatory work; OR
• A bachelor’s degree plus four years of experience in social services, health services, law enforcement, or investigatory work; OR
• An advanced degree in a social science or behavioral health field, nursing, or a juris doctorate plus three years of experience in social services, health services, law enforcement, or investigatory work.

Experience Substitution

Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.

Necessary Special Requirement

Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent.

A current driver's license and access to a personal vehicle.

Note

The incumbent of this position must not have been convicted or pled nolo contendere to a crime listed in R.S. 15.587.1 (c).

Job Specification

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties

Job Duties and Other Information

• The incumbent works closely with the region and the Recruitment and Training Manager to develop and implement a targeted recruitment plan for foster and adoptive homes.
• Provides consultative guidance to regional leadership and recruitment staff on strategy development, targeted outreach approaches, and performance improvement.
• Builds and sustains high-level partnerships to enhance recruitment capacity and community engagement.
• Leads the development and implementation of training strategies to strengthen caregiver capacity and competency statewide
• Performs other duties as assigned in support of regional and statewide diligent recruitment efforts, caregiver support services, community engagement initiatives, and departmental goals.

Position-Specific Details

Appointment Type: This position may be filled as a probational appointment or a job appointment that may last up to 48 months. Job appointments may convert to probational appointments. Also, it may be filled as a detail and promoted within 12 months or by promotion of a permanent classified employee. Works Schedule: Typically, work hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday. Flexible work schedules are available after meeting certain criteria and is dependent upon the position you are applying for. Some positions require working shifts. Location: The domiciles for these vacancies are for the following parishes: East Baton Rouge, Caddo, Rapides, and Ouachita. Louisiana HB 420: requires all prospective DCFS employees to complete and clear multiple background clearances prior to employment with this agency.

Contact Information

[e-mail]

DCFS is an “Equal Opportunity Employer”, and Louisiana is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.

Career Opportunities Paragraph

Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.

Pay and Benefits

As a State Employee, You Will Earn Competitive Pay, Choose From a Variety Of Benefits, And Have Access To a Great Professional Development Program:

Insurance Coverage More information can be found at https://info.groupbenefits.org/

Parental Leave – Up to six weeks paid parental leave

More information can be found at https://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/Parental-Leave/Default.aspx

Holidays and Leave

State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
• Mardi Gras,
• Good Friday,
• Memorial Day,
• Independence Day,
• Labor Day,
• Veteran's Day,
• Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
• Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor

State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.

Retirement

State Of Louisiana Employees Are Eligible To Participate In Various Retirement Systems (based On The Type Of Appointment And Agency For Which An Employee Works). These Retirement Systems Provide Retirement Allowances And Other Benefits For State Officers And Employees And Their Beneficiaries. State Retirement Systems May Include (but Are Not Limited To):

• Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (www.lasersonline.org). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
• Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (www.trsl.org),
• Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (www.lsers.net), among others