Permanency Specialist

About the role

The Permanency Specialist supports children and families throughout the child welfare process by managing cases after children have been removed from their homes and placed in substitute care. This role assesses each child’s needs, coordinates services and evaluations, conducts kinship home studies, and ensures caregivers have the resources and information needed to provide safe, stable care. The Specialist works closely with children, families, foster caregivers, community partners, and legal stakeholders to develop permanency plans, identify permanent living arrangements, facilitate reunification when appropriate, and advocate for the child’s well‑being. The position reports to the Mentor Program Specialist and may be filled at the Permanency Specialist I‑IV level based on education, experience, and demonstrated competencies.

Primary Responsibilities

• Receive cases from investigators after children are removed from their homes and placed in care outside their homes.
• Determine each child’s needs and ensure appropriate referrals for testing, evaluations, records, or further assessments are made, focusing on positive permanency outcomes.
• Work with children, families, and communities to plan for a child’s permanency.
• Identify potential permanency resources for the child through ongoing contact with parents, family members, and other important individuals.
• Conduct searches for potential kinship providers throughout the life of the case.
• Complete home studies of a child’s family members or family friends (kinship providers) who might care for the child.
• Meet with parents to assess child safety and risk factors, identify necessary behavioral changes, and connect families to appropriate services and resources.
• Participate in case meetings and conferences with children, parents, relatives, family friends, foster families, and other parties in homes, community settings, or other appropriate locations.
• Collaborate with the Placement Team, including Kinship staff, to identify, coordinate, and support appropriate placement options for children.
• Conduct monthly visits with children to assess safety and well‑being, plan for permanency, and discuss needs, wishes, and progress.
• Attend and participate in court hearings, prepare court reports and documentation, and provide testimony regarding the child’s needs, family progress, and case activities.
• Maintain timely communication with children, parents, caregivers, court‑appointed attorneys, guardians ad litem, and other appropriate parties regarding case circumstances and significant events.
• Collaborate with kinship caregivers and foster parents to ensure they have needed resources, providing timely updates, answering questions, and, in some areas, offering after‑hours support (24/7 availability as required).
• Transition children home during reunification services and provide support to the family until the legal case is closed.
• Supervise adoptive placements until the adoption is final or until the case is transferred to an adoption caseworker.
• Document case records by completing forms, narratives, and reports to create a written record for each client.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with Child Protective Investigations staff, law‑enforcement officials, judicial officials, legal resources, medical professionals, and other community resources.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Criminal Justice, Psychology, Human Development and Family Studies, Education, or Public Health (relevant experience may be considered in lieu of education).
• Minimum one (1) year case management experience in CPS, CPI, or DFPS.
• Previous professional or volunteer experience in a government agency, nonprofit, child protection, foster care, juvenile justice, mental health, or substance‑abuse services.
• Familiarity with trauma‑informed care and/or experience conducting interviews or assessments with children and families.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience providing mentorship, coaching, or guidance to staff in CPS, CPI, or DFPS roles.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of child development and family dynamics.
• Skilled in effective verbal and written communication.
• Skilled in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Skilled in problem‑solving techniques to assess situations, identify appropriate solutions, and address case‑related challenges.
• Proficiency with personal computers and standard office software applications.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, community partners, and multidisciplinary professionals.
• Ability to demonstrate cultural awareness, sensitivity, and respect when working with diverse children, families, caregivers, coworkers, and community partners.
• Ability to use effective time‑management skills to ensure all key tasks are completed.
• Ability to travel and attend child and family visits as well as other work‑related appointments and meetings after 5 p.m.
• Ability to be on‑call on a rotating basis and work irregular hours.
• Ability to work in an emotion‑filled environment, which may require conducting home visits in isolated or high‑crime areas and may involve exposure to substandard and unsanitary living conditions.

Work Conditions

• Environment: Home‑based.
• Schedule: Monday – Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Travel: Frequent (must have reliable transportation, a valid Texas driver’s license, and current auto insurance).