Foster Care Licensing and Placement Specialist

Foster Care Licensing and Placement Specialist - Rapid City, South Dakota

The Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment (CPCM) at the University of South Dakota is seeking a highly organized and mission‑driven specialist to facilitate foster care licensing, placement, and recruitment. In this full‑time role you will work closely with the Department of Social Services and a distributed CPCM team to match children with foster families who meet their unique needs, maintain detailed documentation, and ensure compliance with state requirements.

The position is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced environment and finds purpose in supporting vulnerable children and families.

• Coordinate timely and effective foster care placements, ensuring that each child is matched with a home that considers sibling bonds, cultural context, proximity, and special needs.
• Maintain clear, ongoing communication and strong collaborative relationships with DSS Child Protective Services, DSS Office of Licensing & Accreditation, foster families, and fellow CPCM team members.
• Assist with recruitment, support, licensure, and retention of foster and potential adoptive families.
• Accurately track, document, and report licensure and placement‑related data, meeting DSS and OLA compliance requirements.

• Undergraduate degree in social work, psychology, sociology, public administration, or other human service‑related fields.
• 1–3 years of related experience.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem‑solving skills.
• Experience with social services, family support systems, and office processes and databases.

• Sustained mental focus, rapid response, and excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent in‑person, virtual, and written communication skills.
• Ability to travel frequently in‑state and work some evening and weekend hours.
• Ability to work in both an office setting and in a variety of home settings.
• Empathy, adaptability, and a commitment to timely, accurate data management.
• Flexibility to adjust quickly to shifting tasks and priorities.

This position offers state health insurance and benefits, including a retirement plan with 6% matching, 10 hours of annual leave each month, 9.34 hours of sick leave each month, and 11 paid holidays. Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S.; sponsorship is not available for this position.

USD is committed to fostering a dynamic and welcoming working and learning environment for all. USD provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to ideological, political, or sectarian opinions or perspectives; or race, color, creed, religion, sex, ancestry, disability, national origin or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. USD is committed to the principles of free expression and encourages the timely and rational discussion of topics in an environment that is intellectually and ideologically diverse.