Kinship Child and Family Services Specialist/Trainee- Lincoln

Hiring Agency: Health & Human Services - Agency 25
Location: Lincoln, NE

About the role

Join the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) as a Child and Family Services Specialist/Trainee focused on relative/kinship foster care. In this role, you will assess and support kinship providers through home studies, case management, and ongoing family support using an evidence-based model. Responsibilities include in-home visits, resource coordination, and flexible scheduling, including a rotating on-call schedule.

Learn more about this role.

Responsibilities

• Conduct initial assessments and home studies for relative/kinship placements, including emergency approvals.
• Deliver referrals, resources, and support to relative/kinship caregivers and their families.
• Identify and address challenges to placement stability.
• Ensure compliance with approval, 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.
• Utilize platforms such as Outlook, Word, Excel, WebEx, and NFOCUS (training provided).
• 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.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, psychology, sociology, counseling, human development, mental health care, education, criminal justice, or a closely related field. Consideration will be given to applicants enrolled in the final semester of their degree.
• Promotion is contingent on successful completion of degree requirements and required training.
• Valid driver’s license is required.
• Frequent travel required; state vehicle may be provided based on availability.
• Must be available for evening/weekend hours as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

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

Skills

• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.
• Proficient in assessing family needs and delivering targeted support.
• Capable of managing multiple caseloads, preparing reports, and analyzing data for trends.

Pay

Pay rates are $22.327 during training and $26.183 after training.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package including pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement, and professional development opportunities. Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency, and employment status.

For more information on benefits, visit: State of Nebraska Benefits.