Initial Assessment Specialist - 1st Shift

State of Wisconsin; Milwaukee (WI); Hybrid; USD 58,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Overtime pay

Night/weekend differential

On-call pay

Mileage reimbursement

Future pay increases

Job summary

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF), Division of Milwaukee Child Welfare (DMCW), Bureau of Child Protective Services (BCPS) invites applications for the Initial Assessment Specialist role in Milwaukee, WI. You will assess alleged abuse/neglect, interview families, and coordinate with social service agencies to safeguard children.

The position requires a valid driver's license, the ability to travel, and a commitment to equity and inclusion.

Qualifications

• Experience in social welfare, social science, or related field (including law enforcement, child and family welfare, counseling, psychology, health education, behavioral health).
• Experience creating (drafting) written reports or assessments.
• Experience handling competing priorities.
• Experience making unbiased decisions.

Responsibilities

• Conduct assessments of alleged child abuse and neglect.
• Interview families and visit the child's home and other locations to gather information.
• Travel to locations in high risk or underserved areas as needed.
• Prepare written and oral testimony for Children's Court appearances.
• Participate in a 24-hour on-call rotation to ensure service access.

Skills

Communication skills

Interviewing diverse populations

Written reports

Decision making

De-escalation

Time management

Education

Associate degree or higher in social welfare or related field

Job description

Introduction

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF), Division of Milwaukee Child Welfare (DMCW), Bureau of Child Protective Services (BCPS) is currently recruiting to fill Initial Assessment Specialist positions in Milwaukee, WI. DCF offers great benefits, personal growth opportunities and work-life balance as a State of Wisconsin employee; and the intrinsic reward associated with serving the children and families of Wisconsin. To learn more about DCF’s complete compensation package, please visit our Total Rewards Calculator! The vision of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families is that all Wisconsin children and youth are safe and loved members of thriving families and communities. In conjunction with the Department’s vision, the Division of Milwaukee Child Welfare is committed to safe children and healthy families in Milwaukee County.

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of children and families and have a rewarding career serving your community? If so, we want you.

To further learn about the specific work that an Initial Assessment Specialists does, we highly recommend that you watch the 20-minute video which features actual child welfare staff who share their perspective on the work. Please click on the link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Si-JX61LkDo&feature=youtu.be.

DCF is a great place to work! We foster a workplace that cultivates positive staff morale and a welcoming and inclusive work environment that integrates equity and inclusion values. DCF supports our employees through comprehensive training on the models we use in our work such as trauma informed practice, as well as growth opportunities through professional development. We value all our employees and believe we are successful because of their dedication and work.

Location Details:

This position is headquartered at our DMCW Office (635 N 26th St, Milwaukee, WI 53233). For the training period (first 4-6 months of employment), the position will report to the office up to 5 days per week with the approximate hours of 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. After the training period, employees will have the option of working in a hybrid (remote and/or in office) schedule, up to 25% of the week. This schedule may change based on training or organizational needs. Employees need to report to the DMCW office on their first day for onboarding and orientation.

High-speed internet is required to meet the needs of hybrid work.

Come see why DCF is such a great place to work!

Position Summary

The Initial Assessment Specialist in the Bureau of Child Protective Services conducts assessments of alleged child abuse and neglect. This involves working with families under stress, including interviewing all household members and completing visits to the child's home and other locations to gather information about the presenting situation/alleged maltreatment. The Initial Assessment Specialist may be required to travel to locations located in high risk, disadvantaged or underserved neighborhoods. The Initial Assessment Specialist analyzes information gathered to make judgments about the safety of children and takes measures necessary to ensure children’s safety; prepares written and oral testimony for Children's Court appearances; maintains current documentation on caseloads; and works in close cooperation with other social service agencies, hospitals, clinics, courts and community resources in planning to meet the needs of children and families. This position is required to participate in 24-hour on-call rotation to ensure continuous provision of access and initial assessment services for children in the community.

Salary Information

The classification title for this position is Initial Assessment Specialist. The starting salary is between $28.00 to $31.00 per hour ($58,240 - $64,480 annually), depending on qualifications. Pay for current State of WI employees will be based on the compensation plan in effect at the time of the appointment. Pay for current state employees who are transferring will be determined based upon the pay on transfer rules (higher level duties or equity) as outlined in the compensation plan in effect at the time of appointment. The pay schedule/range is 12-64. A one-year probationary period may be required.

This Position Includes

• Overtime pay (hourly pay x 1.5 for working over 40 hours in a standard work week), when business needs dictate such.
• Night/weekend differential of $0.80/hr. Night Differential=working before 6:00am and/or after 6:00pm.
• Eligibility for position advancement to the Senior level (including a pay increase).
• “On call” rate of $125 per weekday shift and $150 per weekend/holiday shift, in addition to hourly pay for any hours worked during the shift. “On call” includes rotational and voluntary sign-ups by staff.
• A reimbursement of $.51 per mile driven in your personal vehicle.
• Future increases, in accordance with the Governor’s Compensation Plan.

Job Details

Additional hours and \"on-call\" hours will be required, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Due to the nature of the position, final candidates may be required to allow DCF to conduct a security background check to determine whether the circumstances of any pending charges or convictions would be substantially related to the job being filled.

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the U.S., a lawful permanent resident, an alien authorized to work in the U.S. without DCF sponsorship.) The Department of Children and Families does not sponsor visas, either at time of hire or at any later time.

Qualifications

You must possess a valid driver's license AND meet the minimum State Department of Administration fleet standards listed below:

• Valid driver's license
• Minimum of two years licensed driving experience
• Eighteen (18) years of age or older

Minimally Qualified Applicants Will Have

• Experience, training and/or education in social welfare, social science, or related field (which may include law enforcement, child and family welfare, counseling, psychology, health education, behavioral health, etc.)
• Experience creating (drafting) written reports or assessments.
• Experience handling competing priorities.
• Experience making unbiased decisions.

Well-qualified Applicants Will Have

• Associate degree or higher in social welfare, social science, or related field (which may include law enforcement, child and family welfare, counseling, psychology, health education, behavioral health, etc.)
• Experience, or formal training interpreting and applying social welfare-related laws and regulations.
• Education or training in interviewing diverse populations (which may include families, parents, and children) to gather information and make recommendations.
• Experience handling stressful situations.
• Experience de-escalating situations.
• Experience investigating allegations of child abuse or neglect and managing a case load independently.

Deadline to Apply

The deadline to apply is 11:59 PM on October 20, 2026. If you need assistance with the online application process, please contact, Angela Cox at 608-422-6422 or via email at [e-mail].

The State of Wisconsin is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to applicants of any race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national original, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

The State of Wisconsin offers a special program for qualified veterans with a 30% or greater service-connected disability.

The anticipated start date is January 25, 2027.