Social Services Program Associate / DeSoto

Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services; Hernando (MS); On-site; USD 32,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services is seeking a Social Service Program Associate to support child welfare operations in DeSoto County. The role involves transporting children to placements, medical appointments, and supervised visits, while maintaining accurate custody and placement records.

The position emphasizes empathy, reliability, and strong organizational skills to manage flexible, sometimes unpredictable workloads and to assist families in achieving positive outcomes for

Qualifications

• Requires a high school diploma or equivalent.
• 0–2 years of relevant experience preferred.
• Valid Mississippi driver’s license and auto insurance are required.
• Reliable transportation is expected for field duties.

Responsibilities

• Provide transportation for children, including relocation and placement in foster homes.
• Arrange physician visits and supervise parental visits as needed.
• Maintain an updated custody and placement list and track children’s locations.
• Teach homemaking and daily living skills to families.
• Screen for risk factors and barriers to safe placement and services.
• Answer telephone calls and perform related duties as required.

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Valid Mississippi driver’s license / insurance

Job description

This Position is for a Social Service Program Associate with a state agency location in DeSoto County.

About the Position

Provides transportation for children, including relocation and placement in foster homes, physician visits, and supervised parental visits. Keeps updated list of children in custody and where they are placed, teaches homemaking/parental skills and daily living tasks to families, learns to screen for risk factors and barriers, answers telephone calls, performs related or similar duties as required or assigned.

What you'll need to be Successful

Professional commitment to and caring about clients and the larger profession of child welfare. Personal resilience and strong self-efficacy beliefs about the ability to work with clients to produce positive client outcomes. Efficient organizational and time management skills. Positive work morale. Ability to be flexible in thinking and problem solving. Realistic expectations about the difficulty and challenges of the work. Ability to handle an often-unpredictable work environment.

Preferred Qualifications

Typically requires a High School Diploma or high school equivalency and 0-2 years of experience. Agency preferred qualifications: Graduation from a standard four-year high school or equivalent (GED or High School Equivalency Diploma); a valid Mississippi driver's license/insurance, and reliable transportation.

MDCPS is an Equal Opportunity Employer