Permanency Caseworker; Social Service Specialist | Bilingual English​/Spanish

Position Title

Permanency Caseworker (Social Service Specialist
1) | Bilingual English/Spanish required!

02/19/2026

02/26/2026

Department of Human Services

$4,954 - $7,592

Employee

Oregon Department of Human Services is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are guided by our Equity North Star and our vision for a positive RiSE organizational culture that advances equity and diversity. We encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQIA2S+ community members, and others to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.

Opportunity awaits! Turn your passion for protecting children and empowering families into a career that truly makes a difference—your journey starts here!

At the Oregon Department of Human Services, we are looking for individuals who believe in the power of empathy, resilience, and human connection. As a Permanency Worker, you will be at the heart of our mission—where you will connect with families, navigate their unique stories, and help create lasting change for Oregon's children and communities.

Permanency caseworkers specialize in working with children, families, and resource parents to ensure children are safe in their homes. This includes assuring a child's physical, psychological, and social well‑being with the goal of reuniting families or finding alternate, permanent plans when necessary.

Dive in and discover more — watch our You Tube video to see how you can make a difference! ODHS | Child Welfare Permanency Caseworker

• This position is bilingual and requires duties to be carried out in both English and Spanish.
• The job offer will be contingent upon passing test(s) evaluating your proficiency in the bilingual requirements of the position.
• This position may receive a 5% differential pay based on passing the required language test.

As an employee working within the Child Welfare Program, you will have an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Oregon’s most vulnerable children and families. Your dedication will help us achieve the Child Welfare Vision for Transformation that will support children and young adults to be safer, healthier, experience less trauma and achieve a greater well‑being.

As a Permanency Caseworker, you will, among other things:

• Ensure the child’s safety and well‑being through regular communication.
• Help the child adapt, evaluate progress in development and treatment requirements, discuss upcoming changes, and prepare the child for transitions.
• Arrange visits between children in care and their parents and other family members. Actively monitor the visits and interactions between parents and children and offer necessary guidance, when applicable.
• Attend Child Safety meetings and collaborate with Child Protective Services Workers and families to develop safety plans for children.
• Provide case management services through referrals and regular contact with service providers for parents and children to coordinate services and assess progress.
• Collaborate with parents and schools to evaluate the child’s academic progress and achievement of goals.
• Communicate expectations, planned contacts and timelines with families.
• Engage in preparation and presentation of cases in juvenile court hearings.

Per pursuant to ORS 419B.021, states that any position engaged in child protective investigations and/or custody determinations must meet the educational requirements. Experience alone will not meet the minimum qualifications for those positions. Degree must be completed, not in progress.

• A bachelor’s degree in Human Services or a field related to human service.
• A bachelor’s degree unrelated to Human Services and either one year of Human Services related experience, or completion of coursework equivalent to certification consistent with Oregon Caseworker Competency.
• An associate degree and either two years of Human Services related experience, or one year of Human Services…