Social Services Specialist - Adoption

State of Mississippi; Jackson (MS); On-site; USD 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Mississippi, Department of Child Protection Services, Adoption Unit, in Jackson, MS, is seeking a Social Services Specialist - Adoption. The role involves managing cases, coordinating services for children in care, and working with foster families and service providers.

Responsibilities include creating and maintaining case files, investigations of abuse/neglect, court appearances, and arranging family visits. A Bachelor’s degree and 1-3 years of experience are typically required.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree and 1-3 years of experience.
• May require a social worker license.
• Must have valid driver's license and insurance.

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain case files for children in care; document in MDCPS system.
• Visit children in foster homes, facilities and hospitals; attend court hearings.
• Complete investigations of abuse/neglect; conduct safety and risk assessments.
• Transport children to appointments; arrange visitation with families; participate in meetings.

Skills

Bachelor's Degree

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Job description

Social Services Specialist - Adoption in 33 - JEFFERSON DAVIS, MS | GovernmentJobs.com page has loaded.

State of Mississippi

$38,210.22 - $47,715.60 Annually

Location

33 - JEFFERSON DAVIS, MS

Full-Time

Job Number

9797-0681-20260902JD

0681 - CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES

Opening Date

09/04/2026

9/11/2026 at 11:59 PM Central Time (US & Canada)

Agency Minimum Salary

$38,210.22

$47,715.60

About the Agency

This opportunity is a position within the Adoption Unit of MS Department of Child Protection Services. The Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS) is committed to protecting and nurturing Mississippi's at-risk children and families. MDCPS offers a variety of positions statewide, including social work positions providing case management services and working with potential foster families, supervisor positions providing clinical and administrative support, and agency support positions such as policy development, human resources, information technology, program management, training, and budgeting/finance. Working with MDCPS will give you the chance to make a life-changing difference for Mississippi's most vulnerable children and families. If you have any additional questions, you can contact Touya Harrington of Workforce Development at 601-301-8494 or [e-mail]

This is a time limited position (NS-14). Create and maintain case files for children in care; document in MDCPS online database program; Visit children in care in foster homes, facilities and hospitals; Complete investigations of abuse, neglect for exploitation; Complete ongoing safety and risk assessments; Participate in scheduled county conferences/meetings for assigned children-in-care; Make referrals for children-in-care to receive services including dental, vision and medical; Transport children-in-care to appointments and destinations; Arrange for visitation with siblings and parents; Assist with new hires by being “shadow buddies”; On-call for after-hours situation (rotating responsibility with other staff members); Attend court for hearings; Communicate with families, service providers, parents, foster parents and the public; Schedule and attend Family Team Meetings. Along with other duties.This consists of 4 weeks (every other week) of on-site training and 4 weeks of On-The-Job Training and must pass a comprehensive test prior to continued employment and/or advancement.

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. Good oral and written communication 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 Bachelor's Degree and 1-3 years of experience. Appointing authority may require social worker's license. Hiring agency preferred qualifications: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in social work, social services, psychology, educational psychology, sociology, nursing, criminal justice, counseling, marriage and family therapy, family studies, or a related field. Must have valid driver's license and insurance.

See MSPB Careers for information regarding this classifications

Minimum Qualifications

Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree and 1-3 years of experience. Appointing authority may require a social worker’s license.

Employer State of Mississippi

Address 210 East Capitol Street
Suite 800
Jackson, Mississippi, 39201