Kinship Care Licensor | Social Service Specialist ; SSSSpokane

Job Title:

Kinship Care Licensor | Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3)

Spokane, WA - Full-time/Hybrid - This position requires frequent travel within the region.

January 11th, 2026

$67,992 - $91,464 Annually

This position works within the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Licensing Division, specifically Kinship Care Licensing (KCL). This position utilizes kin-first culture to support families in ensuring children in the care and custody of the Department and maintain cultural and community connections by evaluating kinship and community foster care caregivers throughout the life of the case. This position requires the incumbent to align practice with the guiding principles of the racial equity and social justice framework.

The Social Service Specialist is responsible for meeting all casework management directives as required by law. A Kinship Licensor produces written assessments that accurately and clearly describes the potential caregiver's family history and include a discussion of their strengths and limitations in the recommendation of approval/denial of the home study using clinical skills. Assessments include trauma-related history, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE), parenting experience and skills, knowledge of available community resources and a description of in-person/on-site inspection of the physical home environment.

Assists caregivers to overcome barriers that may hinder their ability to care for children or to become licensed.

This position includes a hybrid telework schedule which involves telework from home, duty station office work, field work, home visits, attending unit and all staff meetings, and shared planning meetings with our Child Welfare partners.

• Perform assessments through intensive interview and information gathering process to complete Family Home Studies for kinship placement, certification and/or license based on compliance with the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Washington Administrative Code (WAC).
• Provide consultation to the applicants, refer to services or training, and provide support throughout the home study and/or licensing process.
• Produce written assessments that accurately and clearly describe the potential caregivers' family history.
• Assist caregivers to overcome barriers that may hinder their ability to care for children or to become licensed.
• Perform in-person/on-site physical inspections of all areas of the home, outbuildings and surrounding premises.
• Review completed background checks, collateral information, waivers and disqualifications.
• Provide technical assistance and interpretation of policy and statute governing licensing functions and assist caregivers in becoming licensed or certified.
• Make timely notification of kinship licensure to other staff, including Placement Coordinators, fiduciaries, tribal partners, contracted providers and other administrations, as appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with the Child Welfare program, DCYF divisions and other administrations to maintain communication to preserve safe and stable placements in the home during the home study process.
• When working in the field, complete physical facility inspections, interview caregivers or potential applicants and household members. Interview verbal children, observing caregiver/child interactions when children are non-verbal, and work with other professionals as needed to achieve the goal of safe and healthy home placements for children.
• Partner with other LD programs as they investigate allegations of CA/N or WAC violations and provide technical assistance/resources and support for foster parents.
• Provide testimony and declarations at administrative hearings and other court proceedings related to written home studies and licensing action.

• Six (6) years of paid social service experience
  * AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.
• OR One (1) year as a Social Service Specialist 2.
• OR A bachelor's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or bachelor’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services…