Child Welfare Social Worker

This is the first of a six-level Child Welfare job series. This Child Welfare Social Worker level is designated for persons with general social work qualifications who have no prior child welfare experience. Incumbents serve a nine-month probationary period and participate in the Child Welfare Academy in order to learn Idaho child welfare practices and standards and complete Child Welfare Academy assignments. During the nine-month probationary period, incumbents carry a reduced child welfare caseload under the guidance of child welfare supervisors or designated experienced child welfare social workers to gain knowledge and expertise necessary to provide professional child welfare social work services to children and families who are subjects of child abuse or neglect.

Qualifications:

• Licensure as a Social Worker in Idaho in accordance with Idaho Code 54-3201 et.seq. Requires a degree in Social Work.
• Valid Driver’s License. 

This is the second of a six-level Child Welfare job series. These positions are considered full journeyman or professional level Child Welfare Social Workers and incumbents carry a full caseload. Incumbents work on child abuse or neglect cases and have decision making authority for developing appropriate case/treatment plans for child safety, permanency, and well-being. They deliver or provide direct services to children and families and must work effectively with individuals and families under stress and difficult circumstances and with persons from diverse backgrounds. They recruit for and cultivate foster parents for child placements. Incumbents receive guidance and mentoring from a Child Welfare Social Worker 3 on more difficult cases. Incumbents in these positions provide emergency, crisis intervention, and after hours on-call services.

Qualifications:

• Licensure as a Social Worker in Idaho in accordance with Idaho Code 54-3201et.seq.
• Two years of experience in a public child welfare system or child welfare agency and completion of the Child Welfare Academy within the first year of appointment; OR Master of Social Work degree and completion of the Child Welfare Academy within the first year of appointment.
• Valid driver’s license.

Example of Duties:

 

Child Well-Being Support

• Track child medical appointments and coordinate follow-up services for vision, dental, medical, and medication care
• Collect medical records and upload to electronic file system
• Complete, submit, and track residential admissions paperwork, to include Medicaid process
• Make referrals to Idaho Infant Toddler Program, per Standard guidance
• Complete formal referrals for mental health services
• Assist with coordination of school transportation for foster youth
• Administer Independent Living assessment tool and make Independent Living referrals
• Coordinate parent participation in child routines and activities

Concurrent Planning Support

• Organize family team meetings and coordinate follow-up tasks
• Complete Child and Family Social and Medical Information Forms, to include paternity identification and assist with process establishment; Tribal identification and assist with sending Tribal notices; and identify relative supports and assist with making relative locate referrals
• Complete outgoing Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) applications
• Coordinate parent/child visits
• Coordinate and track compliance with appropriate child court notifications
• Complete collateral contacts with service providers

 

Qualifications:

• Requires a bachelor's degree in social work, behavioral science, education, or healthcare from a nationally accredited university or college that included at least twenty-one (21) semester credit hours (or quarter hour equivalent) in human service fields such as psychology, social work, special education, counseling, and psychosocial rehabilitation.
• Computer literacy for data entry, electronic mail, composing reports and letters, and storing and retrieving documents.
• Possess a valid driver's license.

Example of Duties:

 

• Provide transportation and support services to child welfare clients in a variety of settings
• Act as a role model and monitor family and child visits and report observations
• Monitor client follow-through and achievement of goals and agreements, including court agreements
• Mentor and coach parents on providing age appropriate, interactions, redirection, supervision and write progress notes
• Guide clients in completing documents necessary to implement services
• Explain applicable laws, policies, and procedures to clients
• Teach skills such as money/budgeting, parenting, personal hygiene, and social skills
• Instruct clients in homemaking, daily living, and job attainment skills
• Testify in court regarding parents' interactions and abilities in parenting their children
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and collaborate with teams and service providers
• Develop documents in Word using a computer; enters information in child welfare database

 

Minimum Qualifications:

• Good knowledge of home sanitation and safety
• Experience working with clients who may be behaviorally, socially, physically and/or mentally challenged
• Experience observing and recording clients' behaviors, treatment responses, and progress
• Ability to read and write English
• Ability to perform basic arithmetic
• Experience operating household appliances and performing homemaking skills
• A valid driver's license

The Idaho Child Welfare Scholars program exists through a partnership between the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) and the universities and colleges that serve Idaho students. The program provides tuition reimbursement to promising bachelor's and master's level social work students who are committed to practicing social work in Idaho in the field of child welfare. Title IV-E of the Social Security Act provides funding for these stipends. The primary goal of the program is to prepare competent social workers in the areas of foster care and adoption for career positions with IDHW, Child and Family Services (CFS).

Students accepted into the Child Welfare Scholars program are placed in public or private child welfare agencies in Idaho for their field practicum and have access to a variety of child welfare training opportunities and resources. The Scholars stipend program is available for both current and potential Health and Welfare employees. Recruitment of potential employees and retention of current employees are central to the purpose of the program.

Scholars Program Eligibility

• Child Welfare Scholar applicants are selected from those admitted to a BSW/MSW program at Eastern Washington University, Boise State University, Idaho State University, Lewis-Clark State College, or Northwest Nazarene University.
• Demonstrate a desire to pursue a career in child welfare or be a full-time employee with CFS for one continuous year.
• Agree to the educational requirements of the Scholars program and remain in good academic standing.
• Have a confirmed field placement in an approved child welfare setting.
• Commit to work for CFS for a designated period of time after graduation to complete the requirements of the Child Welfare Scholars program.
• Understand fully that the stipend must be repaid if program commitments are not met.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien, which can include a permanent resident, granted asylum under Section 208, and a refugee under Section 207.
• Submit to and pass a criminal background check.

Family and Community Services and the Division of Behavioral Health works with university social work programs to provide internships. These opportunities are posted with each universities social work programs.

Internships are typically with Children’s Mental Health, Adult Mental Health, Court and Crisis Team, or Access Team. Interns can gain experience with government agencies, court systems, crisis cases, counseling, risk assessment and case management, Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, policies, intake, and more. Interns may collaborate with DHW employees, police, courts, families, and community agencies.

Internships are filled on an as-needed basis.  

For more information, contact DHWJobs@dhw.idaho.gov