LTA

State of Michigan; Lansing (MI); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement programs

Paid holidays

Paid parental leave

Job summary

State of Michigan's MDHHS is recruiting for a Services Specialist Assistant to support case planning and permanency activities in child welfare, including licensing and adoption programs. The role participates in team decision meetings and assists in home studies and relative visits as needed.

Required education includes two years of college with related coursework; experience levels vary by banding, with opportunities for remote or hybrid work within Michigan.

Qualifications

• Completion of two years of college (60 semester or 90 term credits) with a minimum of 15 semester (23 term) credits in human services areas such as social work, sociology, psychology, education, or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Accompany Services Specialist on visits with youth and family members.
• Transport family members to facilitate family involvement.
• Report observations and propose recommendations from visits to the Services Specialist.

Education

Two years of college with credits in human services areas

Job description

Job Description

The MDHHS mission is to provide opportunities, services, and programs that promote a healthy, safe, and stable environment for residents to be self-sufficient. We are committed to ensuring a diverse workforce and a work environment whereby all employees are treated with dignity, respect and fairness. For more information, please visit our MDHHS Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan.

This position performs a variety of activities to support the implementation of case plan implementation and permanency planning for socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who receive services in the areas of child welfare including child protective services, prevention, foster care, licensing, and adoption.

Job Specification

Position Description

Required Education And Experience

Education

Completion of two years of college (60 semester or 90 term credits) with a minimum of 15 semester (23 term) credits in one or a combination of the following human services areas: social work, sociology, psychology, forensic psychology, education, community development, law enforcement, behavioral science, gerontology, special education, education of the emotionally disturbed, education of the gifted, family ecology, community services, family studies, family and/or child development, counseling psychology, criminal justice, human services, a human services-related counseling major, or interdisciplinary studies in social science.

Experience

Services Specialist Assistant 8: No specific type or amount is required.

Services Specialist Assistant 9: One year of experience equivalent to a Services Specialist Assistant 8.

Services Specialist Assistant E10: Two years of experience equivalent to a Services Specialist Assistant 8 or one year equivalent to a Services Specialist Assistant 9.

Additional Requirements And Information

Position Location

This posting is being used to recruit Services Specialist Assistant positions in Lapeer, Tuscola and Huron County. Based on operational needs and within established limits, remote work and alternate or hybrid work schedule requests for this position may be considered.

Based on operational needs and within established limits, remote work and alternate or hybrid work schedule requests for this position may be considered.

Selected candidates who have been approved to work remotely or a hybrid schedule must complete that work within Michigan. Candidates should confirm work location and schedule at the time of interview.

This position is only open to all qualifying candidates.

About

What is it about this position that would make me want to apply? This position will perform a variety of activities to include the following:

• Accompany Services Specialist on visits with youth and family members.
• Transport family members to facilitate family involvement.
• Report observations made during visits to the Services Specialist and propose recommendations as needed.
• Participate in Team Decision Meetings, as needed.
• Participate in pre-placement conferences with Services specialist
• Assist the Services Specialist in interviewing and engaging with relatives and prospective adoptive parents.
• Assist the Services Specialist in the home study.
• Supervise parent-youth, sibling, relative and/or potential adoptive relative’s visitations. Observe interactions, intercede when required, and report any incidents/observations to the Services Specialist.

MDHHS is proud to be a Michigan Veteran’s Affairs Agency (MVAA) Gold Level Veteran-Friendly Employer.

More details on benefits for our new hires are below:

• Rewarding Work: State of Michigan jobs allow you to serve Michiganders in many different ways depending on your interests and skills. Help preserve and protect our environment and the public health; enforce state laws and regulations; advocate for children, families, and victims of discrimination; support our state’s military and veterans; rebuild our state’s infrastructure; or support other state agencies through our fiscal, IT, and HR systems.
• Insurance Benefits: The State of Michigan offers health, mental health, dental, and vision insurance to eligible career employees, their spouses, and their children. The state also covers a life-insurance benefit of two times employees’ annual salary (up to $200,000). The state also offers long-term-disability insurance that can provide continuing benefits if an injury or illness prevents employees from working. More information is available at www.mi.gov/employeebenefits.
• Retirement Programs: The State of Michigan offers 401(k) and 457 plans for new hires to save for retirement. The state will automatically contribute an amount equal to 4% of your pay to a 401(k) account. The state will also match up to 5% of your pay if you contribute to your 401(k) account. Your contributions vest immediately, and the state’s contributions fully vest after just 4 years. More information is available at http://www.mi.gov/orsstatedc.
• Vacation and Sick Leave: Eligible full-time employees receive between 15 and 35 personal days and 13 sick days per year that may be rolled over to the following year if not used. Eligible employees also receive an additional day each year for community service or school functions.
• Paid Parental Leave: Eligible employees can take 12 weeks of paid leave immediately after a birth or adoption to allow needed time together at home with a new child.
• Paid Holidays: Eligible employees receive 13 or 14 paid holidays each year including New Year’s Eve and Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Election Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Friday, Christmas Eve and Day.
• Bonus Programs: Eligible employees with five years of service also receive annual longevity bonuses that grow as seniority increases. Some positions also may qualify for recruitment, retention, and performance bonuses or other special pay premiums.
• Military Pay Differential: Employees in the guard or reserves may also qualify for supplemental pay benefits if miliary pay during qualifying duty is less than normal state pay. Prior military service may also allow seniority credits to accelerate eligibility for longevity bonuses and additional personal leave accrual.
• Tax-Advantaged Programs: In addition to 401(k) and 457 retirement accounts, the state also offers flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), and qualified transportation fringe benefit (QTFB) programs that can help you save money by reducing your taxable income.
• Student Loan Forgiveness: Working for the State of Michigan may allow you to participate in programs that forgive the balance of qualifying student loans. Please view Student Loan Information to help determine if you could qualify is available from the U.S. Department of Education.
• Tuition Reduction: Some colleges and universities offer savings to eligible employees and family members to further their education while working for the State of Michigan.
• Professional Development: To help develop your career, programs are available to apply for reimbursement of up to $2,000 a year for education and training for college course credits and non-degree programs.
• Alternative and Remote Work Schedules: Depending on the nature of their duties, many state jobs offer flexible work schedules and remote or hybrid telecommuting options that can help obtain the work-life balance that you seek.
• Great Lakes and Great Times: Michigan boasts four Great Lakes, 11,000 inland lakes, 36,000 miles of rivers and streams, 20 million acres of forests, 100 state and national parks and recreation areas, 1,300 miles of bike trails, 6,500 miles of snowmobile trails, the second-most ski areas in the nation, 650 public golf courses, 600 campgrounds, and an international dark-sky park—just for starters. Our cities offer concerts and cultural events, storied sports teams, education hubs, vibrant downtowns, one-of-a-kind craft beverages, and renowned restaurants for every appetite. From urban centers to beach towns to the great outdoors, the opportunities are endless. With your state salary and benefits and Michigan’s affordable cost of living, you can explore all that Michigan has to offer.

Updated: 2/28/24