Placement Coordinator Social Service Specialist In Training - Kelso

our vision is to ensure that “all washington's children and youth grow up safe and healthy, thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community”.

job title: placement coordinator social service specialist 2-3 in training (sss3)

location: kelso, wa (hybrid - work will include a mixture of in-person, telework, and field work.)

closes:10/15/26

salary: $66,072 - $93,288 annually.

dcyf is looking for placement coordinator social service specialists 3 to join our amazing kelso office. Our office excels at teamwork, including cross-program communication, collaboration, and assistance. We pride ourselves on providing high-quality services to the children and families we serve. If you are passionate about caring for children and providing them support,

in this position, you will provide specialized case management support in the region 6 placement desk unit. You will support field staff in securing placement for children and youth who come into dcyf care, participate in regional staffing daily at complex youth staffing, engage with statewide placement systems, and work as part of an integral team within dcyf.

• obtain and review the placement referral form for every youth needing emergent or non-emergent placements or respite.
• match youth who are in placement care with a relative, licensed foster family, licensed group care, emergent placement services, receiving care, or other approved placement types.
• maintain strong communication with agency staff, licensed foster families/facilities, and contracted recruitment retention agencies.
• maintain data/placement logs including foster home availability, monthly stats, and placement and respite requests.
• assist licensed caregivers to resolve payment issues and other issues related to child placements.
• review cipr forms to assess the placement needs of children and determine the most suitable home or facility.
• gather the eps referral form and supervision plan for children needing emergent placement.
• assist foster parents with urgent placement matters.
• communicate with the statewide placement desks to check available resources for children still needing placement.
• interview foster parents to check in and complete feedback surveys.

salary ranges:

the goal class of this position is a social service specialist 3. We will also consider candidates at the social service specialist 2 level, with a training plan to advance to the goal class. The hiring manager will evaluate the education and experience of each candidate for one of the levels mentioned below.

• social service specialist 2: range 57 ($66,072 – $88,788)
• social service specialist 3: range 59 ($69,348 - $93,288)

• five (5) years of paid social service experience and
  30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a social service discipline.

or

• bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a social service discipline and one (1) year of paid social service experience.

or

• a master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or master’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a social service discipline and completed practicum.

or

• one (1) year of experience as a social service specialist 1.

• six (6) years of paid social service experience
  * and 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a social service discipline.

or

• bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or any degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a social service discipline and two (2) years of paid social service experience*.

or

• master's degree…