Referrals & Transitions Program Consultant (SHPC2) - Olympia

State of Washington; Olympia (WA); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 87,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Washington's DCYF seeks a collaborative professional to strengthen placement referrals and transitions statewide. You will implement practices, train staff, and promote youth voice and equity in decision making.

The role emphasizes anti-racism, data-informed improvement, and coordination across divisions to improve outcomes for children and youth in out-of-home care.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree required with related experience in social services.
• Experience in planning, administering, or delivering social service programs.
• Commitment to anti-racism and equity in practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide statewide implementation support for the Referrals & Transitions Program.
• Develop procedures to involve youth in reviewing referral information.
• Support youth well-being during placement transitions and collect feedback.

Skills

Collaboration

Communication

Training and coaching

Data analysis

Anti-racism commitment

Education

Bachelor's degree in social work or related field

Master's degree in social work or related field

Tools

FamLink/CCWIS familiarity

Job description

Job Title:

Referrals & Transitions Program Consultant (SHPC2)

Location:

Olympia, WA - This position is flexible/hybrid and can be done remotely; however, some travel is required. This is a statewide position and travel to meetings in-state will be required with possible out-of-state travel.

Closes:

Friday, September 18th, 2026

Salary:

$64,512 - $86,688 Annually

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy, thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community.”

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is seeking a collaborative and solutions-focused professional to join the Placement Continuum Unit within the Division of Partnership, Prevention and Services (PPS). As the Referrals & Transitions Program Consultant, you will help strengthen statewide practices that support children and youth in out-of-home care, with a focus on improving placement referrals, transitions, and stability.

This position plays an important role in advancing the Referrals & Transitions Program required under the D.S. Lawsuit & Settlement Agreement, including strengthening youth voice and preference in placement referrals, supporting opportunities for youth to review their referral information, and developing systems and practices that promote youth well-being during placement transitions.

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity:

In this role, you will provide statewide implementation support and oversight for the Referrals & Transitions Program, working closely with DCYF child welfare staff and other partners to strengthen referral and transition practices and promote consistency across the state. You will provide consultation, guidance, and support to child welfare staff to identify needs and resources that support youth before, during, and after placement transitions.

You will identify opportunities for process and practice improvement, with a focus on developing placement referrals that meaningfully incorporate youth voice and preference and implementing the referral review process in a way that supports youth well-being during placement moves. You will gather and analyze information, develop and implement improvement strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to support continued practice improvement.

Your work will center the voice, preferences, experiences, and well-being of children and youth while integrating racial equity into program development and practice improvement. Ultimately, this position helps improve placement stability and outcomes for children and youth in out-of-home care by strengthening the practices and systems used during placement referrals and transitions.

Some of what you will do:

• Develop, implement, review, and revise procedures that allow youth to review their referral information and share information about themselves with caregivers within established implementation timelines.
• Develop, implement, review, and revise procedures that support youth well-being during placement transitions.
• Develop and implement communication strategies to provide ongoing information and education to internal and external partners.
• Partner with Child Welfare to develop, implement, and support practice improvement strategies related to referrals and transitions.
• Develop and provide resources, technical assistance, and training to caseworkers, supervisors, regional program staff, and leadership.
• Partner with community organizations and other stakeholders to share information and strengthen referral and transition practices.
• Receive and review requests for transition funding within required timeframes, determine appropriateness, approve or deny authorization, and support timely provider payments.
• Coordinate referral and transition activities across programs and divisions, including Child Welfare, Licensing, and Finance.
• Develop and implement quality assurance processes, tools, and data collection methods to monitor program performance, youth voice in referrals, and referral and transition practices.
• Collect, maintain, and analyze program data to identify trends, measure progress, inform statewide practice, and identify priorities for practice improvement.
• Collaborate with Child Welfare to gather and share information, obtain feedback, and develop data-informed strategies to improve referral and transition practices.
• Collect and analyze feedback from youth and caregivers about their experiences with referral and transition services and use findings to inform program and practice improvements.
• Gather, analyze, and report program information to support leadership decision-making, inter- and intra-agency communication, and compliance with the D.S. Lawsuit, Settlement Agreement, Implementation Plan, and Data Addendum.

Required Qualifications:

• One (1) year of experience as a Social and Health Program Consultant 1.

OR

• A Bachelor's degree in social work, a health or social science, public administration or a related field; AND three (3) years of professional experience in planning, administering, developing, or delivering social, financial, health, or chemical dependency treatment services programs.

OR

• A Master's degree or higher in social work, a health or social science, public administration or a related field, AND one (1) year of professional experience in planning, administering, developing, or delivering social, financial, health or chemical dependency treatment services programs.

OR

• Equivalent combination of education and experience totaling seven (7) years in planning, administering, developing, or delivering social, financial, health, or chemical dependency treatment services programs.

AND

• Within the past five (5) years, have two (2) years of demonstrated full-time experience in one of the following areas:
  • Case management experience with children and young people in foster care who have therapeutic support needs.
  • Experience providing coaching and technical assistance and training related to social service practice improvement.

AND

• Within the past five (5) years, have demonstrated experience in two (2) or more of the following areas:
  • Develop and implement a project or projects.
  • Develop program plans that will be implemented at a statewide or similar large scale.
  • Develop guides, forms, and other materials to support program implementation and ongoing processes.
  • Implement processes related to an established program budget.
  • Participates in establishing goals and objectives for programs.
  • Acts as a liaison with other organizations and DCYF divisions to promote and collaborate on program area.
  • Provides support and technical assistance to support program area.
  • Data driven child welfare practice.
  • Business policy development.
  • Providing direct child welfare services to children and families.

AND

• A relentless commitment to anti-racism and addressing diversity, disproportionality, and inequity.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Notes:

A degree in Social Work must be from an educational program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

• To be successful, this position will also require a relentless commitment to anti-racism and addressing diversity, disproportionality, and inequity.

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• Previous demonstrated general knowledge and skill with the child welfare system, foster care and trauma-informed practice.
• Previous demonstrated knowledge of using computer systems, negotiation, child development, ethics and professional standards, social casework principles and practices; safety framework, decision making; and interviewing techniques.
• Previous demonstrated strong oral and written communication skills.
• Previous demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, complex work environment with multiple conflicting priorities and audiences with ability to manage, prioritize and track a large volume of work.
• Previous experience or familiarity with FamLink or CCWIS systems.
• Demonstrated customer service skills; being accessible, timely and responsive. Able to resolve conflicts in a professional manner.
• Demonstrated ability to be creative and innovative when contributing to organizational and individual objectives; receptive to new ideas and situations.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team and support teamwork and cooperation through open and honest communication.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our goal to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

Must successfully complete formal training courses as required by law, policy, and regional requirements within twelve months of initial appointment.

Degrees must be obtained from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent verified by a NACES-approved organization at naces.org. Foreign Equivalency certification must be attached to the application for degrees obtained outside the U.S.

This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/

Benefits eligibility for this position may be different than what’s listed in the benefits tab of this recruitment announcement. For more information on employee benefits eligibility, visit Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB).