Child Welfare Specialist

Maricopa County • Phoenix, AZ

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Come be a part of a dynamic legal team as a Child Welfare Specialist at the Office of the Legal Advocate! The Child Welfare Specialist serves as a key member of our legal team, working closely with attorneys who represent parents and children in dependency and severance matters, ensuring that the safety and well-being of the child and family are emphasized from placement through case closure. We are looking for a skilled problem solver who can diffuse situations and resolve conflicts using good judgment while providing the critical communication and support necessary to keep our most vulnerable community members safe. If this describes you and you highly value serving our community, join our team and make a difference!

Requirements

• One year of direct experience within the child protection system as a caseworker, family advocate, or social worker
• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Child Development, or other closely related fields
• Must possess or have the ability to obtain a valid Arizona driver's license by the time of hire
• Department of Public Safety Fingerprint Clearance Card eligibility

Nice To Haves

• Master's Degree in Psychology, Social Work, or other closely related fields
• Two or more years of direct experience working within a child protection system as a case worker, family advocate, or social worker
• Experience applying policies, procedures, and state/federal laws related to child welfare within the state of Arizona
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills

Responsibilities

• Reviews police reports, pictures of evidence collected by detectives, forensic interviews, medical records, psychological and psychiatric evaluations, developmental assessments, counseling records, parent aide reports, educational assessments, substance abuse treatment records, and any other potential exhibit pertaining to a child abuse and neglect case
• Confers with the authors of the above reports as well as with other persons with knowledge about the family’s circumstances
• Participates in meetings with other professionals/stakeholders to obtain additional and current information as the case progresses
• Interviews the child and observes his/her interactions with the family of origin and current caregivers
• Interprets all written, verbal, and nonverbal information obtained; advises other professionals/stakeholders regarding the direction a case should take or services that need to be provided to the child and/or family
• Facilitates during multi-disciplinary meetings with professionals/stakeholders to advocate for and advance the client’s best interest
• Testifies in court as an expert witness
• Presents information on developmental expectations, signs, and symptoms of childhood trauma, alternate treatment modalities, child welfare law, child protective services policies and procedures, available community resources, and current best practices in the field to ensure appropriate care and treatment are provided to the child and family
• Provides training to foster care agencies as requested to educate new and current foster parents as to the legal process

Benefits

• Tuition reimbursement
• Exceptional work-life balance, with hybrid work schedule options
• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County
• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents
• Child care benefits, including access to our on-site center Maricopa County Kids Club , dedicated to serving Maricopa County families
• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave
• Extensive wellness program, including an incentive
• Enrollment in the Arizona State Retirement System, a defined retirement benefit requiring a 11.98% per paycheck contribution rate that includes a 100% employer match on Day 1

What This Job Offers

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