Kinship Child and Family Services Specialist/Trainee- Lexington

State of Nebraska; Lexington (NE); On-site; USD 31,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Nebraska’s Health & Human Services agency in Lexington, NE seeks a Kinship Child and Family Services Specialist/Trainee to assess and support relative/kinship foster caregivers through home studies, case management, and ongoing family support using an evidence-based model. Responsibilities include in-home visits, resource coordination, and flexible scheduling including on-call shifts.

Ideal candidates hold a bachelor's degree in a related field, with preference for experience in child

Qualifications

• Minimum qualifications require a bachelor's degree in social work, human services, psychology, sociology, counseling, or related area.
• Consideration given to applicants in final semester of bachelor's degree; degree requirements and training must be completed for promotion.

Responsibilities

• Conduct initial assessments and home studies for relative/kinship placements, including emergency approvals.
• Deliver referrals, resources, and support to relative/kinship caregivers and their families.
• Identify and address challenges to placement stability.
• Ensure compliance with approval and licensing standards and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation per state and federal guidelines.
• Conduct monthly in-person visits with caregivers and youth.
• Support families through phone check-ins, team meetings, court hearings, and transportation assistance.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to meet children and families' needs.
• Utilize Outlook, Word, Excel, WebEx, and NFOCUS (training provided).
• Facilitate training sessions, support groups, and kinship events.
• Lead meetings with case team members to plan and coordinate services.
• Fulfill on-call responsibilities as assigned.

Skills

Strong organizational skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work or related field

Tools

NFOCUS

Microsoft Office

Job description

Hiring Agency: Health & Human Services - Agency 25

Location: Lexington, NE

Hiring Rate: $22.327

Job Posting: JR2026-00030113 Kinship Child and Family Services Specialist/Trainee- Lexington (Open)

Job Description

You have the passion; we have the opportunities - let's make a difference for Nebraskans! The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is looking to hire dedicated and caring individuals for our Child and Family Services Specialist/Trainee Relative/Kinship role.

In this position, you will assess and support relative/kinship foster care providers through the completion of home studies, case management, and ongoing family support using an evidence-based model. This role includes in-home visits, coordination of resources, and requires flexible scheduling, including participation in a rotating on-call schedule.

Check out this video to learn more! https://youtu.be/XPwQ5CIDdhw

If you're currently employed by the State of Nebraska, please don't apply through this external career site. Instead, log in to Workday and open the Jobs Hub - Internal Apply app from your home landing page. You can access Workday anytime through the Link web page: https://link.nebraska.gov/

Key Responsibilities/Examples of Work

• Conduct initial assessments and home studies for relative/kinship placements, including emergency approvals.
• Deliver referrals, resources, and support to relative/kinship caregivers and their families.
• Identify and address challenges to placement stability.
• Ensure compliance with approval and licensing standards and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in accordance with state and federal guidelines.
• Conduct monthly in-person visits with caregivers and youth.
• Support families through phone check-ins, team meetings, court hearings, and transportation assistance.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to meet the needs of children and families.
• Utilize platforms such as Outlook, Word, Excel, WebEx, and NFOCUS (training provided).
• Facilitate training sessions, support groups, and events for kinship families.
• Lead meetings with case team members to plan and coordinate services.
• Fulfill on-call responsibilities as assigned.

Pay rates are $22.327 for training and $26.183 after training.

Requirements/Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: A bachelor's degree in social work, human services, psychology, sociology, counseling, human development, mental health care, education, criminal justice, or other closely related area. Consideration will be given to applicants who are enrolled in the final semester of their bachelor's degree. Promotion is contingent on successful completion of degree requirements and required training.

Preferred Qualifications: Experience in Child and Family Services, case management, or child placing agencies; familiarity with NFOCUS and Microsoft Office suite. One year of relevant experience.

Other: Valid Driver's license is required. Frequent travel required; state vehicle may be provided based on availability. Must be available for evening/weekend hours as needed.

Knowledge/Skills and Abilities

• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.
• Proficient in assessing family needs and delivering targeted support.
• Capable of managing multiple caseloads, preparing reports, and analyzing data for trends.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation.

Check out all that the State of Nebraska has to offer! Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency and employment status. For more information on benefits, please visit: https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits

Equal Opportunity Statement

The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex. age, national origin, disability, marital status or genetics.