Placement Resource Specialist (SHPC2) - Region 4/King County

Full Job Description

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy— thriving physically, emotionally, and academically, nurtured by family and community."

Job Title: Placement Resource Specialist (SHPC2)
Location: King County - Region 4 (Region Map). This position may travel within its assigned areas of work and travel to attend trainings and meetings in other locations.
Closes: 01/19/2026
Salary: $5,271 - $7,082 Monthly. King County Premium: The salary listed does not include the additional 5% premium granted to all King County employees.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), Region 4, is looking for a Placement Resource Specialist (SHPC2) to determine the caregiver support level/rate for children placed into care within DCYF. This position, previously known as a Foster Care Rate Assessor, works a hybrid schedule; one day per week in the office is currently required; however, this is subject to change. Additionally, you may need to go into a regional office/location occasionally for meetings and/or training. The official workstation may be negotiable and located at a Region 4/King County Office. Though the team is small (there are two Placement Resource Specialists in Region 4), you will work closely with all staff from your assigned offices within the region. If this sounds like something you would excel at, apply today!

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity:
This position is responsible for completing the caregiver support level determination promptly to determine the rate/level for children placed into licensed or unlicensed care. Caregivers are critical and valuable resources for DCYF and provide permanent and temporary homes for abused and neglected children. The Placement Resource Specialist supports the DCYF mission by accurately identifying the support level needs of children and youth in out-of-home care, which improves the quality and intention of our practice and achieves a reduction of children in out-of-home care by improving placement stability and access to needed services and supports. This position must identify and integrate strategies to address racial equity within the programs covered.

Some of what you will get to do:

• Complete the support level determination within the required timeframes to determine the foster care reimbursement.
• Enter information into the Foster Care Rate Assessment Tool to determine the assessed level.
• Validate the Caregiver Support Level assessment for children and youth using Health Care Authority (HCA) health history data available through DSHS RDA.
• Initiate and complete necessary Famlink approvals for payment and submit for entry by fiduciary specialists.
• Complete a re-assessment for each child and youth every 6 months and upon request due to significant changes in circumstances, using the Caregiver Support Level Tool and validation process.
• Maintain an up-to-date regional database.
• Validate and compare the Regional Database to the lnfoFamlink monthly report to ensure all youth are being captured in the database.
• Develop and maintain a tickler system to ensure on-time, six-month Foster Care Rate Assessment Level completion.

Required Qualifications:
Equivalent combination of education and experience in planning, administering, developing, or delivering social, financial, health, or chemical dependency treatment services programs, totaling four years.
OR
A Master's degree or higher in social work, health or social science, public administration, or a related field, AND two years of professional experience in planning, administering, developing, or delivering social, financial, health, or chemical dependency treatment services programs.
OR
A Bachelor's degree in social work, health or social science, public administration, or a related field AND three years of professional experience in planning, administering, developing, or delivering social, financial, health, or chemical dependency treatment services programs.
OR
One year of experience as a Social and Health Program Consultant 1.
AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• 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:

• Previous demonstrated knowledge and skill with the child welfare system, foster care, and matching the needs of children and youth to placement resources and services.
• Previous demonstrated knowledge of computer systems, negotiation, child development, ethics and professional standards, social casework principles and practices; safety framework, decision-making; and interviewing techniques.
• Previous experience or familiarity with FamLink or CWIS systems.
• Previous demonstrated strong oral and written communication skills.
• Previous demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, complex office environment with multiple conflicting priorities and audiences with ability to manage, prioritize and track a large volume of work.

How do I apply?
Complete your applicant profile and attach the following:

• Updated Resume
• College Transcripts (if applicable)
• Cover Letter outlining how you qualify for this position.

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.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal history will 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.

Must successfully complete formal training courses as required by law, policy, and regional requirements within twelve months of initial appointment.

Degrees must be obtained from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S.

Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent verified by a NACES-approved organization at naces.org.

Foreign Equivalency certification must be attached to the application for degrees obtained outside the U.S.

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

Benefits eligibility for this position may be different than what’s listed in the benefits tab of this recruitment announcement. For more information on employee benefits eligibility, visit: Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB).

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 black out (redact) the Social Security Number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veterans' Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

If you need an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact DCYF Recruiter.

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 the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 360-664-1960.

2026-00075