Child Welfare Specialist ; Adoptions

Department MISSION
DCFS is working to keep children safe, helping individuals and families become self-sufficient, and providing safe refuge during disasters.

Department VISION
We care for the well‑being and safety of Louisiana's people.

Treating all people with dignity, compassion, and respect, while providing services with integrity.

At the Department of Children and Family Services, our mission is to serve communities and improve lives by delivering responsive, inclusive, and forward‑thinking public services. We are proud to serve the people of Louisiana with integrity, innovation, and a deep commitment to equality.

This position works in the Orleans Parish Child Welfare Office's Adoption Services Unit providing resources and placement services to children who are legally available for adoption and their prospective adoptive families.

• Six years of experience in child welfare;
• Six years of full‑time work experience in any field plus three years of experience in social services, health services, law enforcement, or investigatory work;
• A bachelor’s degree plus three years of experience in social services, health services, law enforcement, or investigatory work;
• An advanced degree in a social science or behavioral health field, nursing, or a juris doctorate plus two years of experience in social services, health services, law enforcement, or investigatory work.

EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTION: Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience toward the six years of full‑time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours, which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent.

A current driver’s license and access to a personal vehicle.

NOTE: The incumbent of this position must not have been convicted or pled nolo contendere to a crime listed in R.S. 15.587.1 (c).

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

• Maintains a caseload of foster children legally available for adoption, requiring highly specialized diagnostics, assessment, intervention techniques and service plans.
• Confers with recruitment resources within the region, state and out of state as necessary to locate appropriate adoptive homes for children available for adoption.
• Assesses or coordinates assessment of children available for adoption and prepares children and families for adoptive placement through specialized pre‑placement, placement, and post‑placement activities.
• Provides supportive and direct counseling to children freed for adoption and adoptive parents in all stages of the adoption process.
• Coordinates with other agencies and community resources to develop and implement a treatment plan and post adoption services to children and families through the adoption subsidy program.
• Assists adoptive parents in applying for financial assistance and ongoing special services through the adoption subsidy program.
• Assists in the recruitment of appropriate adoptive families for children in caseload.
• Represents the agency in juvenile court proceedings by presenting case plans and progress reports for children in the caseload.
• Performs other duties as assigned for the smooth operation of the Department.

Appointment Type: This position may be filled as a probational appointment or a job appointment that may last up to 48 months. Job appointments may convert to probational appointments. It may also be filled as a detail and promoted within 12 months or by promotion of a permanent classified employee.

Work Schedule: Typically, work hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday. Flexible work schedules are available after meeting certain criteria and are dependent upon the position you are applying for. Some positions require working shifts.

Compensation: This position has a Special Entrance Rate (SER) of $24.35/hour.

Location: This vacancy is located in the New Orleans Region in the Orleans Parish Child Welfare Office in New Orleans, LA. In accordance with…