Specialized Adoption Recruiter (SSS3) - Tacoma

Full Job Description

Job Title: Specialized Adoption Recruiter (SSS3)

Location: Tacoma, WA (This is a hybrid/telework position, and the selected candidate can choose a workstation from any DCYF Region 5 office.

This position requires travel to meet with children within and outside Region 5, as well as out of state. Travel is dependent on the youth’s location.

For a detailed view of DCYF's regional boundaries, Click Here.)

Closes: 2/17/26

Salary: $5666 - $7622 Monthly

We are inviting a passionate Specialized Adoption Recruiter to join our team in making a meaningful impact for young people in foster care.

In this position, the Specialized Adoption Recruiter will be working to help facilitate relational and legal permanency through utilizing strategies in the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids (WWK) Child-Focused Recruitment model.

If you are a social services professional searching for a unique way to support Washington State children, youth, and families, we encourage you to apply and join us at DCYF!

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity:

The Specialized Adoption Recruiter should have knowledge of advanced-level case management support for families and children while understanding the permanency process, effects of adverse early childhood experiences, trauma effects, grief and loss issues, mental health conditions and treatment, and crisis intervention strategies. These individuals will work directly with dependent children and youth, as well as kinship and unrelated families interested in being an adoptive resource or permanent connection for children.

Some of what you will get to do:

• Conduct initial referrals and ongoing monthly meetings with the assigned caseworker for ongoing recruitment planning.
• Complete in-person meetings at least monthly with children and youth for relationship building, recruitment planning, and adoption preparation.
• Conduct in-depth reviews of DCYF case files to identify connections that could be potential adoptive resources.
• Interview children and their networks to identify connections that could be potential adoptive families.
• Meet with significant adults in child networks and maintain regular contact, including caseworkers, foster parents, attorneys, CASA volunteers, teachers, therapists, relatives, mentors, faith-based representatives, and extracurricular activity leaders.
• Develop, review, and update a comprehensive recruitment plan based on input and engagement with children or youth, interviews, and file reviews.
• Conduct continuous, diligent searches for potential adoptive families from connections identified in file reviews and interviews.
• Develop written assessments regarding child strengths, needs, and adoption readiness.
• Provide adoption preparation to children and families through recruitment, transition, and adoption finalization process.
• Provide consultation regarding adoption and permanency recruitment.

What we are looking for (Required Qualifications):
Social Service Specialist 3:

• Six (6) years of paid social service experience* AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline.

OR

• Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or Bachelor’s degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND Two (2) years of paid social service experience* in planning, administering, developing, or delivery of public child welfare, social, health, or chemical dependency treatment programs.

OR

• Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or Master's degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Service discipline AND One (1) year of paid social service experience* in planning, administering, developing, or delivery of public child welfare, social, health, or chemical dependency treatment programs.

OR

• One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 2.

AND

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

*Paid Social Service experience must include at least one year of assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.

Required Competencies:

• Ability to use effective verbal and written communication and comprehension skills to communicate with management, peers, clients, community colleagues, and the public.

• Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply current applicable laws, rules, and policies on the delivery of child protective and child welfare services and deliver services accordingly.

• Ability to partner effectively with community members and professionals to develop and maintain resource teams to support children and families.

• Ability to develop and maintain good working relationships with the children and youth, their caregivers (parents, foster parents, relatives, kin, or facility staff).

• Ability to evaluate, analyze, and assess risk and safety in all cases, as defined by law and best practice.

• Knowledge of issues related to child abuse and neglect, trauma, and trauma-informed care.

• Knowledge of permanency and permanency-related concepts.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

How do I apply?

Complete your applicant profile and attach the following:

• Transcripts (Unofficial transcripts are acceptable for application submission)
• Cover Letter
• Current resume detailing experience and education.

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 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.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

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

This position requires a minimum of at least two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license.

The incumbent must successfully complete formal training courses as required by law, policy, and regional requirements within one year of their 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.

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 Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

For more information about this position or if you need an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, please 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.

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