Dcs Section Program Specialist

ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY 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. SECTION PROGRAM SPECIALIST

Job Location:

3000

E. Valencia Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85706 Posting Details:
Salary: $27.8125 hourly / $57,850.000 annual
Grade: 20
Closing Date: 8/4/2026

Job Summary:

With the goal of providing protection and safety, this position is responsible for a variety of difficult tasks, staff training, and ensuring the reliability of data within Guardian. In addition, this position provides support to the section Program Manager and Supervisors, and assists the Regional Management Analyst IV with data collection and tracking.

• Write detailed reports summarizing activities, transactions or production covering a specified period of time.
• Complete data for scorecards, section-level huddles, and section-level accountability slides and charts.
• Participate in the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) , National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), National Youth In Transition Database (NYTD) and Semi-Annual reporting Interprets program policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
• Provides orientation and training to new staff as well as continued training to all staff as appropriate and in needed area.
• Complete Guardian corrections and/or elevate issues to the Management Analyst team.
• Conducts locate searches.
• Assist in equalization, ongoing case assignment and case aide visitation request.
• Participates and contributes to team management practice, conference; and designs and/or implements special projects. Conducts special studies and research projects.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Federal and State laws, statutes, regulations and directives governing DCS services
• Arizona's child safety model
• Risk assessment practices and procedures
• Developmental and behavior problems of children
• Resources available in the community
• Policies and procedures of the court system
• Policy development and training procedures
• Case management policy

• Evaluation and Decision making
• Verbal and written communication
• Report preparation and analyzing data
• Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships as applied to contracts with families, children and representatives of court
• Interviewing and supervision techniques

• Elicit information through interviews
• Evaluate and make decisions on cases
• Manage workload and personnel
• Open discussions effectively and clarify the current situation
• Remain open to all sides and stay focused on resolution
• Close discussion with clear summaries
• Work overtime, as needed
• Maintain confidentiality
• Travel in-state

The selected candidate will have a combination of on-the-job experience and specialized training/education.

• Master or Bachelor Degree from an accredited college or university
• OR
  - Three (3) years of combined DCS Specialist Trainee / DCS Specialist experience
• OR - Three (3) years of combined DCS Specialist Trainee / Investigator Sr. experience.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card
• The ability to secure and maintain clearance from the DCS Central Registry

This position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, and the following requirements apply:
Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

As an employee of the Department of Child Safety you will be entitled to a comprehensive benefits package that can become effective as soon as two weeks after starting!

Benefits include:

• Paid sick leave.
• Paid vacation that includes ten (10) holidays per year.
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Competitive health and dental insurance plans.
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance.

We also offer optional employee benefits that include:

• Vision coverage.
• Short-term disability insurance.
• Deferred compensation plans.
• Supplemental life insurance.
• Employee wellness plans

Bi-Lingual Stipend

In an effort to better serve our communities, DCS offers a Bi-Lingual Stipend to all interested and eligible DCS Employees who successfully complete a language proficiency exam. Qualifying employees will receive a $500 annual stipend paid in equal increments.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page.

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).

ASRS…