CPI Investigation Worker Trainee

Department-of-Family-and-Protective-Services; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 43,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) seeks CPI Investigations Specialists I–IV for mobile field work protecting children. Investigators respond to reports of abuse or neglect, gather and assess information, and make safety determinations.

The job requires extensive travel across Texas, regular on‑site fieldwork, and collaboration with schools, law enforcement, and courts. Positions emphasize rapid decision-making under pressure, thorough documentation, and commitment to families

Qualifications

• Knowledge of child development and family dynamics.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Willingness to travel across the state and work nontraditional hours.

Responsibilities

• Respond quickly in crisis situations involving children.
• Conduct forensic investigations to determine abuse or neglect.
• Interview families, caregivers, and professionals to gather information.
• Document all case information accurately and timely.
• Maintain professional boundaries and act in the child's best interest.

Skills

Knowledge of child development

Knowledge of family dynamics

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Associate's degree

60 accredited college credit hours

90 accredited college credit hours

Job description

Posting ID21895-Posted09/28/2026-Dept of Family & Protectve Svc-CPS Investigations Region 7-Protective Services-Not Eligible for Telework- Additional Shifts available (1) -b. $3000 - $4999 per month

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works to build on strengths of families and communities to keep children and vulnerable adults safe, so they thrive. We do this through investigations, services, and referrals.

What You Get Beyond Your Paycheck

When you join the State of Texas, your monthly paycheck is just one part of your real income. Our benefits provide extra value that many private employers simply don’t match—often adding hundreds of dollars each month to what you take home or save.

Here’s what you get as a full-time employee:

• 100% paid health insurance for you, and 50% paid for eligible family members—saving you hundreds every month in out-of-pocket medical costs
• Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus options to save even more with 401(k) and 457 plans
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave so you can recharge and take care of life outside work (that’s time off you’re actually paid for)
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance —at rates much lower than most private plans
• Flexible spending accounts for added tax savings on health and dependent care
• Employee discounts on things like gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment

Functional Title: CPI Investigation Worker Trainee

Job Title: CPI INV Trainee Spec I

Agency: Dept of Family & Protectve Svc

Department: CPS Investigations Region 7

Posting Number: 21895

Closing Date: 10/12/2026

Posting Audience: Internal and External

Occupational Category: Protective Services

Salary Range: $3,816.65-$5,372.41

Pay Frequency: Monthly

Salary Group: TEXAS-B-17

Shift: Day

Additional Shift: Days (First)

Telework: Not Eligible for Telework

Travel: Up to 85%

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Full Time/Part Time: Full time

FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt

Facility Location:

Job Location City: AUSTIN

Job Location Address: 14000 SUMMIT DR

Other Locations: None

MOS Codes: 0149,5805,5821,5822,5832,14N,14NX,183X,1N0X1,230X,311A,31D,351L,351M,35L,35M,42SX,43HX,4C0X1,4E0X1
5IX,683X,68X,71SX,73A,783X,HM,INV,IS,ISS,IV,MST,NC,OAP12

Functional Title

Brief Job Description

Child Protective Investigations (CPI), Family Investigations and Alternative Response (FIAR) Investigators play a critical role in protecting children and strengthening families. Investigators respond to reports of alleged child abuse or neglect, gather and assess information, evaluate child safety and future risk, and work with families to address concerns and reduce the likelihood of future harm. They are responsible for making informed decisions that can significantly impact the lives of children and families.

This is a mobile, field-based position where the work occurs where children and families live, learn, and receive services. Investigators spend much of their time in homes, schools, hospitals, childcare facilities, law enforcement agencies, courts, and other community locations. This is not a traditional office job and is not a work‑from‑home position. The core responsibilities of the job require regular face‑to‑face contact with children, families, caregivers, and community partners. While technology supports the work, the work itself happens in the field. Employees may also be required to work from an office location when directed by their supervisor.

The position requires flexibility, sound judgment, and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. A typical day may involve interviewing children and families, coordinating with schools, medical professionals, law enforcement, attorneys, and courts, responding to urgent safety concerns, and completing extensive documentation. Investigators must quickly absorb, assess, and act upon large amounts of information while balancing multiple active cases, urgent child safety concerns, court obligations, extensive documentation requirements, and competing demands from families, community partners, supervisors, and agency leadership. The work requires the ability to make informed decisions under pressure, adapt to rapidly changing circumstances, and maintain thorough and timely documentation despite a fast‑paced and unpredictable workload.

The work is often physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding. Investigators may encounter families experiencing crisis, substance abuse, family violence, mental health challenges, or other significant stressors. They may enter environments ranging from professional settings such as hospitals and courtrooms to homes that are unsanitary, isolated, and potentially unsafe. Investigators must remain professional, objective, and compassionate while addressing difficult and emotionally charged situations.

Work schedules are dictated by the safety needs of children and families, not by a traditional 8‑to‑5 workday. Extended workdays, after‑hours responses, weekend work, and holiday work are common aspects of the job. Investigators frequently encounter situations that require immediate action and may remain on duty until a child's safety has been assured, regardless of the hour. Significant travel is required and may include unexpected long‑distance trips across the state with little advance notice. Investigators must be prepared to adjust plans, manage competing demands, and respond to emerging situations whenever and wherever the work requires.

This career is not for everyone. The workload is demanding, the subject matter can be heartbreaking, and the responsibility is significant. However, for individuals who are mission‑driven and committed to making a difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families, the work provides a unique opportunity to create meaningful and lasting impact. People who thrive in this role are those who remain focused on the mission, even during the most challenging days, because they understand that their efforts can profoundly change the trajectory of a child's life.

Help Us Make a Difference

DFPS is committed to its employees’ professional development and ongoing success and offers the DFPS Certification Program to enhance skills and advance careers within our organization. The program is tailored specifically for DFPS employees, provides the opportunity to earn additional compensation through a supportive learning environment that fosters growth and innovation, and equips participants with the knowledge and skills needed to deepen their expertise in their respective role.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs)

• Responds quickly in crisis situations involving children who may be in an abusive or neglectful situation. Sometimes these situations can be dangerous.
• Conducts forensic investigations of reports of abuse/neglect to children to determine if abuse or neglect occurred and conducts assessments to determine the current or future risk of harm to children.
• Observes children for signs of any harm and assess the signs to determine if they are the result of abuse or neglect. This could involve children with serious injuries and child fatalities.
• Interviews people in the case such as the parents, caregivers, person who reports the concern, family members, and others familiar with the family situation. This may include medical staff, teachers, law enforcement, etc.
• Assesses child safety and takes the necessary actions to protect the child as appropriate. This could include removing a child from their family.
• Talks frankly and objectively with families about matters they may consider personal and private, such as parenting decisions and actions, sexual abuse, income, money management, and personal relationships.
• Determines action to be taken to remove or to reduce an immediate threat to the safety of a child to include working with families to identify family members who can assist with keeping the child safe, testifying in court to seek emergency protective services, placing children in substitute care, referring family for immediate crisis intervention therapy or other community resources.
• Documents all relevant and appropriate information gathered during the investigation and completes all required forms accurately and in a timely manner.
• Gathers family and kinship information to support the child in a placement, should the child be placed in DFPS custody.
• Participates in a regular on‑call rotation that requires response to situations of abuse/neglect after normal business hours including overnight and weekend.
• Develops and maintains effective working relationships with law enforcement officials, judicial officials, legal resources, medical professionals, and the community.
• Works under constant deadlines that require prioritizing tasks and the ability to work flexible hours.
• Maintains a balance of objectivity and empathy for families living in stressful and crisis situations.
• Attends and participates in training/meetings/staffings.
• Performs other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.
• Promotes and demonstrates appropriate respect for cultural diversity and competency among coworkers and all work‑related contacts.
• Attends work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• Knowledge of child development
• Knowledge of family dynamics
• Skill in effective verbal and written communication
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships
• Skill in problem solving techniques
• Ability to operate a personal computer
• Ability to travel and attend child and family visits as well as other work related appointments and meetings after 5pm
• Ability to be on call on a rotating basis and work irregular hours
• Ability to work in an emotion‑filled environment and which may require conducting home visits in isolated or high crime areas and may involve exposure to substandard and unsanitary living conditions

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications

This position requires use of the applicant's personal motor vehicle to complete job functions.

Applicants for positions must have a reliable motor vehicle and acceptable driving record for the past five years, and a current, valid Texas driver's license appropriate for the vehicle and passenger or cargo load. Applicants must provide proof of driving record, insurance and license.

Initial Screening Criteria

Child Protective Investigations Specialist I: An accredited Bachelor's degreeORaccredited Associate's degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experienceOR60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experience OR 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience.

Examples of relevant work experience in social, human, or protective services include paid or volunteer work within social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at‑risk populations.

Child Protective Investigations Specialist II: An accredited Bachelor's degreeORaccredited Associate's degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experienceOR60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experience OR 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experienceOR 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience. Examples of relevant work experience in social, human, or protective services include paid or volunteer work within social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations. Employed as a Child Protective Investigations Specialist I for 9 months AND have received Child Protective Services Specialist Certification OR currently employed as a Child Protective Investigations Specialist II or Child Protective Services Specialist II in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as a Child Protective Investigations Specialist II or Child Protective Services

Specialist II in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Child Investigations Specialist III: An accredited Bachelor's degreeORaccredited Associate's degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experienceOR60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experience OR 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience. Examples of relevant work experience in social, human, or protective services include paid or volunteer work within social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations. Employed as a Child Protective Investigations Specialist II for 9 months AND have received Advanced Child Protective Services Specialist Certification OR currently employed as a Child Protective Investigations Specialist III or Child Protective Services Specialist III in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as a Child Protective Investigations Specialist III or Child Protective Services Specialist III in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Child Investigations Specialist IV: An accredited Bachelor's degreeORaccredited Associate's degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experienceOR60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experience OR 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience. Examples of relevant work experience in social, human, or protective services include paid or volunteer work within social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations. Employed as a Child Protective Investigations Specialist III for 24 months AND have received Senior Advanced Child Protective Services Specialist Certification OR currently employed as a Child Protective Investigations Specialist IV or Child Protective Services Specialist IV in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as a Child Protective Investigations Specialist IV or Child Protective Services Specialist IV in Texas Department of Family and Protective

Services.

Preferred Criteria

• Degree in Social Work, Human Services (Psychology, Sociology, Child & Family Studies, or Counseling), or Criminal Justice.
• Prior work experience in human services, social work, mental health, legal, or criminal justice such as parole/probation or related fields.
• Typing and writing proficiency or writing-related experience/education.

Additional Information

This position may be filled at any level from a Child Protective Investigations Specialist I to a Child Protective Investigations Specialist IV . Factors such as education and experience may be considered when establishing the starting salary.

Applicants selected for this position are also eligible to receive a $416.66 monthly increase in addition to the base salary. Applicants hired into an investigative position will receive this increase the first of the month following 120 days of tenure. Once employed, the incumbent must remain in an investigative position to continue to receive the additional pay. If you leave Family Investigations or