Kinship Care Licensor | Social Service Specialist - Vancouver

Kinship Care Licensor | Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3)

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:

Kinship Care Licensor | Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3)

Location:

The official duty station is located at 501 SE Columbia Shores Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98661. (This position includes a hybrid schedule which involves in-person office work, telework from home, field work, home visits, and attending meetings) Closes:
Sunday, September 27th, 2026 Salary: $69,348 - 93,288 Annually

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is seeking a passionate and dedicated Social Service Specialist to join our Kinship Licensing team in the Vancouver, Washington community. This is an exciting opportunity to become part of a strong, supportive, and mission-driven team committed to helping children, youth, and families thrive through connection, stability, and community. At DCYF, we work alongside Washington's vulnerable children, youth, and families to foster safety, stability, and better outcomes by strengthening opportunities, connections, and community.

Our Kinship Licensing team plays a vital role in ensuring children remain connected to their families, cultures, and communities whenever possible. We are proud of our collaborative team culture and the meaningful work we do each day to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and the caregivers who support them. This position offers a unique and rewarding blend of specialized family support, clinical assessment, relationship building, and advocacy while supporting children and families through a kin-first approach.

In this role, the Kinship Care Licensor performs advanced-level specialized case management in high-profile or complex cases involving children and vulnerable adults by conducting comprehensive kinship licensing assessments that thoughtfully evaluate caregiver strengths, challenges, family history, parenting capacity, trauma-related experiences, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and available support systems. Through ongoing engagement, home evaluations, and collaboration with caregivers, this position helps identify and address barriers that may impact a caregiver's ability to provide nurturing and supportive care while preserving critical family, cultural, and community connections for children in the care and custody of the Department.

This role requires strong clinical assessment skills, critical thinking, cultural responsiveness, and a commitment to aligning practice with DCYF's racial equity and social justice framework. The Social Service Specialist uses a kin-first culture to support families, ensuring children maintain important cultural and community ties throughout the life of the case, while meeting all casework management directives as required by law.

Additionally, the nature of this work requires the ability to function effectively in high-stress environments and adapt to evolving policies, procedures, and program needs. Discretion, sound judgment, and clear communication regarding worker whereabouts are essential to supporting both worker safety and the safe, consistent delivery of services to children, families, and caregivers.

Some of what you will get to do:

• Conduct assessments through intensive interviews and information gathering to complete Family Home Studies for kinship placement, certification, and/or licensing in compliance with the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Washington Administrative Code (WAC).
• Consult with applicants, refer them to services or training, and support them throughout the home study and licensing process.
• Prepare clear and…