Kinship Child and Family Services Specialist/Trainee- Lexington

State of Nebraska•Lexington, NE

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Health and Human Services is hiring a Child and Family Services Specialist/Trainee for relative and kinship care. The role assesses and supports relative/kinship foster care providers through home studies, case management, and ongoing family support using an evidence-based model. The work includes in-home visits, resource coordination, and participation in a rotating on-call schedule, with evening and weekend hours as needed. The training rate is $22.327; the rate after training is $26.183. Promotion is contingent on successful completion of degree requirements and required training. Frequent travel is required, and a state vehicle may be provided based on availability. Training is provided for NFOCUS.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in social work, human services, psychology, sociology, counseling, human development, mental health care, education, criminal justice, or a closely related area; applicants in the final semester of a bachelor's degree may be considered.
Promotion requires successful completion of degree requirements and required training.
Valid driver's license.
Frequent travel is required.
Must be available for evening and weekend hours as needed.
Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.
Ability to assess family needs and deliver targeted support.
Ability to manage multiple caseloads, prepare reports, and analyze data for trends.

Nice To Haves

Experience in Child and Family Services, case management, or child placing agencies.
Familiarity with NFOCUS and the Microsoft Office suite.
One year of relevant experience.

Responsibilities

Conduct initial assessments and home studies for relative/kinship placements, including emergency approvals.
Provide referrals, resources, and support to relative/kinship caregivers and their families.
Identify and address challenges to placement stability.
Ensure compliance with approval and licensing standards and regulatory requirements.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation in accordance with state and federal guidelines.
Conduct monthly in-person visits with caregivers and youth.
Support families through phone check-ins, team meetings, court hearings, and transportation assistance.
Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to meet the needs of children and families.
Use Outlook, Word, Excel, WebEx, and NFOCUS.
Facilitate training sessions, support groups, and events for kinship families.
Lead meetings with case team members to plan and coordinate services.
Fulfill on-call responsibilities as assigned.