Kinship Notification Unit Specialist | Program Specialist 2 (PS2) - Vancouver

Full Job Description

Job Title: Kinship Notification Unit Program Specialist 2 (PS2)
Location: Vancouver, WA - This is a full-time/hybrid position, which includes a flexible schedule of four (4) days working remotely, and one day in office. Although the position's duty station is listed as Vancouver, the incumbent may work from home anywhere within Washington state.
Closes: Friday, January 16th, 2026
Salary: $3,752 - $5,011 Monthly

We are looking for a Kinship Notification Unit Program Specialist 2 (PS2) to join our team to provide guidance, front line assistance and support to our kinship homes. KNU specialists focus on assisting our kinship homes, guiding them through our kinship care portal system, explaining the option of the initial license/provisional payment, and being the front-line contact from the kinship care licensing program. The KNU goal is to support, educate and guide the kinship family on our services available. If this sounds like you, we encourage you to apply and join us in working toward the common goal of eliminating child and youth outcome disparities based on race and ethnicity.

The Opportunity:
As a Kinship Notification Unit Program Specialist 2 (PS2) you will provide community and agency support and will utilize data to understand the placement of children with respect to kinship caregivers. To ensure timely home study referrals, this position will collect, assess, validate and assign to initiate the initial license and the kinship care home study process. This position will implement strategies to prevent delay in permanency outcomes for children, ensure timely home study referrals, at its earliest when children cannot be returned home. KNU promotes Kin-First Culture. KNU works in partnership with internal DCYF staff, licensing staff, regional licensing staff and our tribal partners. KNU's focus is to educate, assess and guide our kinship caregivers, while ensuring they are able to navigate the complexity of the kinship care portal.

Some of what you'll do:

• Ensure background checks are initiated for all required applicants and household members.
• Submit background checks for all required applicants and household members.
• Provide technical assistance to kinship applicants on completing background check clearances.
• Provide technical assistance to kinship applicants on Initial Licensing, Kinship Home Study or Reassessment Application.
• Outreach to kinship caregivers for engagement in the program.
• Provide technical assistance and interpretation of policy and statute governing home study and/or licensing process.
• Provide technical assistance to kinship caregivers to initiate the home study and/or licensing process.
• Provide technical assistance to kinship caregivers for set up through the foster care portal.
• Work collaboratively with other programs and divisions within DCYF in order to maintain safe and stable kinship placements.
• Provide backup to other Licensing Division KNU staff.
• Maintain Famlink and foster care portal system.
• Utilize independent judgment when there are program limitations and implement strategies for program success.
• Review early notification of placement and home study requests.
• Validate the accuracy of the placement and home study request.
• Validate and create person and provider in Famlink and/or foster care portal.
• Validate and eliminate duplication of applicants and household members in Famlink and/or the foster care portal.

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, social science, health care or a related field.

OR

• Equivalent education and experience totaling four (4) years of planning, policy analysis, coordination, and consultation with a variety of public and private agencies, organizations, and/or levels of government.

AND

1. The ability to take action to learn and grow.
2. The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• Previously demonstrated working understanding of agency policies, WAC, RCW related to kinship placement, kinship home studies, and licensing procedures.
• Experience in the field of child welfare.
• Experience understanding and working effectively with diverse populations.
• Experience compiling, organizing, and evaluating data into reports to inform policy and practice.
• Experience assessing and understanding program complexities and developing recommendations for improvement to meet outcome goals.
• Experience using business applications (Microsoft Office, FamLink, etc.)
• Knowledge of state and federal law related to child welfare.
• Knowledge of racial disproportionality and disparity in child welfare.

How do I apply?
In addition to completing the online application, applicants must attach the following documents to their profile in order to be considered for this position:

• Cover letter
• Resume (current/updated)

Supplemental Information
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214 or NGB Form 22, or other verification of military service.

Please blackout (redact) the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment or if you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact Veronica Jones (Talent Acquisition Specialist) at veronica.jones@dcyf.wa.gov. If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or email support@neogov.com.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (360) 664-1960.


2025-08726