Human Services Specialist

Human Services Specialist 3 – Arizona Department of Child Safety

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The Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) is a social and human services agency whose mission is to successfully partner with families, caregivers, and the community to strengthen families, ensure safety, and achieve permanency for all Arizona’s children through prevention, services, and support.

Job Location:

POST-PERMANENCY SUPPORTS (SUBSIDY) – 1818 E Sky Harbor Circle, North Phoenix, AZ

Salary: $22.6003 HRLY / $47,000.62 Salary

Grade: 18

Closing Date:
January 20, 2026

The Adoption and Guardianship Subsidy Case Manager provides senior‑level case management with direct/indirect assistance to hard‑to‑place adoptive children and their families. This position reviews applications to determine eligibility for the respective programs, creates cases in the software systems to allow for payments to be processed, and the child to receive insurance coverage. In addition, this position provides ongoing support/advocacy to the family.

• Determines if hard‑to‑place children in adoptive/guardianship homes are eligible for adoption or guardianship assistance using completed federal and state criteria. Supports the integration and stability of the child with the adoptive family. Provides adoptive parents with resources available through public and private entities. Clearly and accurately documents each "special condition" of the child on the adoption subsidy agreement.
• Provides case management and crisis intervention services to adoptive families of children who meet the "legal definition of a child with special needs". Provides comprehensive senior‑level case management services and supports to prevent these adoptions from disrupting and to support the family unit through the provision of needed social services. Consults with the child's behavioral health and medical professionals, adoptive parents, school personnel and DCS staff to identify the level and frequency of services required to maintain children in their family unit.
• Completes all required documentation on approved cases to comply with state and federal requirements. Assures that adoption subsidy agreements are executed prior to the finalization of the adoption. If case managers reduce, terminate or deny services for the child, the case manager must inform the adoptive parent of their appeal right/due process, and prepare the case for the appeal hearing.
• Provides training/technical assistance to adoptive parents and adoption workers on department policies/procedures. Provides DCS permanency staff with ongoing information regarding the adoption subsidy application process, documentation requirements, statutory time frames and prior authorizations requirements. Ensures that all processes are completed timely and accurately in computer software systems that allow for payments to be processed and medical coverage to be in place.
• Reviews and resolves high‑profile case‑specific issues and concerns. Works with the office of the Attorney General, DCS Central Office administrators, medical and behavioral health professionals and school personnel so that case‑specific issues and concerns can be resolved at the lowest level of intervention.
• Other duties as assigned as related to the position.

• Complex federal and state adoption laws, regulations and policies
• Family dynamics
• Child development and behavior
• Sources of family conflict
• Community social service resources to help support adoptive families
• Awareness of appropriate treatment for approved special service subsidies

• Interviewing and helping adoptive families and their children to understand and address problems which could cause disruption of placement
• Management to maintain documentation and meet deadlines in processing active cases
• Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships for work with children, families and staff in other professions and agencies

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Conduct…