Child Protection Specialist (Region 5 - Western)

State of Montana • Polson, MT

11h

About The Position

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), Child and Family Services Division, is hiring a Child Protection Specialist to support children and families in Region 5, which includes Missoula, Hamilton, Polson, and Superior. The role involves investigating child maltreatment, engaging with families facing difficult circumstances, providing advocacy and support, and connecting families to resources. The work can involve complex and sometimes hostile situations and requires empathy, resiliency, and an understanding of social systems.

The specialist conducts assessments under state and federal statutes and agency policy, maintains case documentation, coordinates with partner agencies, participates in court and multidisciplinary proceedings, and develops and monitors case plans and placements. The position requires frequent travel, home visits, and interviews. It may include out-of-state travel, for which appropriate travel documents are required. A standard schedule applies, but critical business needs may require evening, weekend, or holiday work, and the specialist is assigned a rotating on-call schedule. The position may be eligible for partial telework within Montana, subject to supervisor-defined conditions and state policy. Work locations vary based on availability and community needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in social work, human services, psychology, or a related field.
• Two years of social services or directly related work experience with children and families in difficult and sometimes volatile situations.
• Ability to make critical decisions by integrating information from multiple sources, including discrepant information, in high-stress situations.
• Ability to engage children and families under difficult circumstances and gather enough information to make accurate, precise decisions.
• Ability to remain calm when confronted and build and maintain constructive, cooperative working relationships, including with people who may be angry or violent or hold different views.
• Ability to operate a personal computer and general office equipment, including spreadsheet, word-processing, database, email, internet, and other computer programs.
• Ability to travel frequently and conduct home visits and interviews; willingness to have appropriate travel documents for potential out-of-state travel.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, or holidays when required by critical business needs and participate in a rotating on-call schedule.
• Stress tolerance, self-management, sound decision-making, advocacy, and teamwork skills.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with tribal government entities and/or other organizations of Native peoples.
• Knowledge of child development, child maltreatment prevention and treatment, and family-centered social work practice.

Responsibilities

• Conduct timely assessments of reports of child maltreatment using standardized safety assessment tools and decision-making guides, consistent with statutes and agency policy.
• Carry a caseload and keep case file documentation current.
• Collaborate with law enforcement, welfare professionals, and other agencies.
• Prepare for and testify at court proceedings, preliminary hearings, multidisciplinary team meetings, family partnership meetings, and court hearings.
• Place children in out-of-home care when necessary, ensuring placements are safe, comply with statutory and policy preferences, and serve the children's best interests.
• Identify available resources and connect families and children with them.
• Ensure children are evaluated and assessed to determine medical and psychological needs throughout the case.
• Prepare assessments and case plans, evaluate participant progress, and make and monitor appropriate placements.
• Conduct frequent travel, home visits, and interviews; travel may include out-of-state trips.
• Participate in a rotating on-call schedule and work evenings, weekends, or holidays when critical business needs require it.

Benefits

• Healthcare coverage
• Retirement plans
• Paid vacation
• Sick leave
• Paid holidays
• Work/life balance
• Eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
• Advancement opportunities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level