Referrals & Transitions Program Consultant - Olympia

Referrals & Transitions Program Consultant (SHPC2)

Our vision is to ensure that "Washington state's children and youth grow up safe and healthy, thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community."

Job Title:

Referrals & Transitions Program Consultant (SHPC2)

Location:

Olympia, WA - This position is flexible/hybrid and can be done remotely; however, some travel is required. This is a statewide position and travel to meetings in-state will be required with possible out-of-state travel.

Closes:
Friday, September 18th, 2026

Salary: $64,512 - $86,688 Annually

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is seeking a collaborative and solutions-focused professional to join the Placement Continuum Unit within the Division of Partnership, Prevention and Services (PPS). As the Referrals & Transitions Program Consultant, you will help strengthen statewide practices that support children and youth in out-of-home care, with a focus on improving placement referrals, transitions, and stability.

This position plays an important role in advancing the Referrals & Transitions Program required under the D.S. Lawsuit & Settlement Agreement, including strengthening youth voice and preference in placement referrals, supporting opportunities for youth to review their referral information, and developing systems and practices that promote youth well-being during placement transitions.

In this role, you will provide statewide implementation support and oversight for the Referrals & Transitions Program, working closely with DCYF child welfare staff and other partners to strengthen referral and transition practices and promote consistency across the state. You will provide consultation, guidance, and support to child welfare staff to identify needs and resources that support youth before, during, and after placement transitions.

You will identify opportunities for process and practice improvement, with a focus on developing placement referrals that meaningfully incorporate youth voice and preference and implementing the referral review process in a way that supports youth well-being during placement moves. You will gather and analyze information, develop and implement improvement strategies, and provide training and technical assistance to support continued practice improvement.

Your work will center the voice, preferences, experiences, and well-being of children and youth while integrating racial equity into program development and practice improvement. Ultimately, this position helps improve placement stability and outcomes for children and youth in out-of-home care by strengthening the practices and systems used during placement referrals and transitions.

Some of what you will do:

• Develop, implement, review, and revise procedures that allow youth to review their referral information and share information about themselves with caregivers within established implementation timelines.
• Develop, implement, review, and revise procedures that support youth well-being during placement transitions.
• Develop and implement communication strategies to provide ongoing information and education to internal and external partners.
• Partner with Child Welfare to develop, implement, and support practice improvement strategies related to referrals and transitions.
• Develop and provide resources, technical assistance, and training to caseworkers, supervisors, regional program staff, and leadership.
• Partner with community organizations and other stakeholders to share information and strengthen referral and transition practices.
• Receive and review requests for transition funding within required time frames, determine appropriateness, approve or deny authorization, and support timely provider payments.
• Coordinate referral and transition activities across programs and divisions, including Child Welfare, Licensing, and Finance.
• Develop and implement quality assurance processes, tools, and data collection methods to monitor program performance, youth voice in referrals, and referral and transition practices.
• Collect, maintain, and analyze program data to identify trends, measure progress, inform statewide practice, and…