Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) - Child Protective Service (CPS) (Social Service Specialist 1)

About the role

The Oregon Department of Human Services is seeking an Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) – Child Protective Service (CPS) Caseworker (Social Service Specialist 1) to join the Child Protective Services Unit of its ICWA Program. This role is part of a team dedicated to serving American Indian and Alaska Native children and families.

Responsibilities

• Communicate and partner with Tribal entities, community partners, and culturally relevant service providers to support children and families.
• Provide Active Efforts to prevent placement of children in substitute care and continue those efforts toward the return of children to their own homes when they have been placed out of their home.
• Respond to reports of alleged child abuse or neglect and conduct family assessments using the Oregon Safety Model.
• Prepare and present court reports, including reviews by the Citizen Review Board (CRB) and dependency hearings, and make recommendations about custody and guardianship.

Requirements

• Per ORS 419B.021, any position engaged in child protective investigations and/or custody determinations must meet the educational requirements.
• A bachelor’s degree in Human Services or a related field, or a bachelor’s degree unrelated to Human Services and one year of Human Services related experience, or completion of coursework equivalent to certification consistent with Oregon Caseworker Competency.
• Experience supporting Tribal Sovereignty, respecting and upholding the inherent authority of Tribes to govern their own communities.
• Experience communicating in a way that respects Tribal protocols, values, and communication styles.
• Experience screening & assessing allegations of abuse and neglect of children.
• Experience preparing and maintaining narrative documentation of the activities concerning individual client cases.
• Experience communicating effectively with people over the telephone, in writing, and in person.
• Demonstrated understanding and effectively engaging and working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience using a variety of computer software, Microsoft Word and Outlook, to produce accurate work and meet timelines.
• Experience working with people impacted by complex trauma.

Qualifications

• Experience working with Tribal populations and communities is preferred.

Essential Attributes

• Experience supporting Tribal Sovereignty, respecting and upholding the inherent authority of Tribes to govern their own communities.
• Experience communicating in a way that respects Tribal protocols, values, and communication styles.
• Experience screening & assessing allegations of abuse and neglect of children.
• Experience preparing and maintaining narrative documentation of the activities concerning individual client cases.
• Experience communicating effectively with people over the telephone, in writing, and in person.
• Demonstrated understanding and effectively engaging and working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience using a variety of computer software, Microsoft Word and Outlook, to produce accurate work and meet timelines.
• Experience working with people impacted by complex trauma.

Skills

• Experience supporting Tribal Sovereignty, respecting and upholding the inherent authority of Tribes to govern their own communities.
• Experience communicating in a way that respects Tribal protocols, values, and communication styles.
• Experience screening & assessing allegations of abuse and neglect of children.
• Experience preparing and maintaining narrative documentation of the activities concerning individual client cases.
• Experience communicating effectively with people over the telephone, in writing, and in person.
• Demonstrated understanding and effectively engaging and working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience using a variety of computer software, Microsoft Word and Outlook, to produce accurate work and meet timelines.
• Experience working with people impacted by complex trauma.

Benefits

• Cost of Living Adjustments.
• Annual salary increases (until you reach the top of the listed salary range).
• Awesome benefits package.
• Possible eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Pay

$4,954 - $7,592 per month.

Schedule

Monday - Friday from 8 am - 5 pm PT; hours may fluctuate based on service needs.