DCS ADOPTIONS PERMANENCY PROGRAM SPECIALIST - UPPER MIDWEST REGION - 10202026-82050

State of Tennessee; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 51,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Tennessee seeks a Permanency Specialist within the Department of Children’s Services to ensure timely, quality permanency for children in full guardianship. You will work with Family Service Workers, providers, and specialized staff to remove barriers and move children toward permanent plans.

The role involves managing subsidy documents and adoption records, plus coordinating recruitment and outreach efforts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required with three years of professional work in counseling or case management services, including work with children/juveniles.
• Graduate coursework can substitute for experience on a year-for-year basis up to one year, but not for two years of children's services work.

Responsibilities

• Conduct case file reviews and maintain accurate documentation.
• Coordinate recruitment services and AdoptUSKids profiles.
• Support families through training referrals, full disclosure, and resource sharing.
• Complete subsidy eligibility, AA/SPG agreements, and adoption records sealing.

Skills

Case management

Counseling

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Driver's license

Fingerprinting

Job description

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time 10/20/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Job Information

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time 10/20/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Closing Date/Time 10/26/2026 11:59PM Central Time

Salary (Monthly) $4,608.00 - $5,751.00

Salary (Annually) $55,296.00 - $69,012.00

Job Type Full-Time

City, State Location

Dresden, TN

Camden, TN

Huntingdon, TN

Dickson, TN

Paris, TN

Waverly, TN

Dover, TN

Department Children's Services

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES, WEAKLEY COUNTY

This is a DCS Program Specialist position for the Permanency Team in the Adoptions Unit of the Statewide Specialized Support Services Division.

This position is currently located in Weakley County but can potentially sit in any county listed.

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree and experience equivalent to three years of professional work in one or a combination of the following: counseling or case management services; program evaluation of counseling or case management services, two years of which must involve providing these services to children and/or juveniles.

Substitution of Education for Experience: Graduate course work credit received from an accredited college or university in social work, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, human services, and/or child development may substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis to a maximum of one year, there being no substitution for the required two years of children's services work (e.g. 36 graduate quarter hours in one or a combination of the above listed fields may substitute for one year of the required experience).

Necessary Special Qualifications

Applicants for this class must:

• Must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age on the date of application;
• Be a citizen of the United States;
• Possess a valid driver's license prior to and during employment;
• Have a good moral character, as determined by investigation;
• Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority;
• Have no conviction for a felony;
• Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointment authority;
• Supply a fingerprint sample in a manner prescribed by the TBI for a fingerprint based criminal history records check.
• Submit to and pass a pre-employment screening test for use of illegal drugs.

Overview

The Permanency Specialist is responsible for ensuring that children in full guardianship receive consistent, high-quality permanency preparation, recruitment services, and family support throughout the adoption or guardianship process. This role collaborates closely with Family Service Workers, regional leadership, provider agencies, and specialized recruiters to remove barriers, support families, and move children efficiently toward permanency. The position also ensures all subsidy documentation and adoption records are completed accurately and within policy timelines, while maintaining compliance with all administrative requirements.

Responsibilities

• Conduct case file reviews, maintain accurate documentation, and update pre-placement summaries.
• Coordinate recruitment services, including Individualized Recruitment Plans, Archaeological Digs, and AdoptUSKids profiles.
• Support adoptive and guardianship families through training referrals, full disclosure, and resource sharing.
• Complete subsidy eligibility, AA/SPG agreements, fiscal reports, and adoption record sealing requirements.
• Manage administrative tasks including case notes, reports, travel authorizations, and required trainings.

Competencies (KSA's)

Competencies

• Being Resilient
• Drives Vision and Purpose
• Customer Focus
• Communicates Effectively
• Plans and Aligns

Knowledge

• Customer and Personal Service
• Law and Government
• English Language
• Public Safety and Security

Skills

• Critical Thinking
• Judgment and Decision Making
• Quality Control Analysis
• Monitoring
• Time Management

Abilities

• Auditory Attention
• Speech Clarity
• Written Comprehension
• Speech Recognition

Tools & Equipment

• Personal Computer
• Telephone
• Fax Machine
• Printer
• Passenger Vehicle

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

• Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.