Kinship Care Licensor | Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3) - Bellingham

Salary: $69,348.00 - $93,288.00 Annually
Location : Whatcom County - Bellingham, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Job Number:
Department: Dept of Children, Youth, and Families
Division: Licensing
Opening Date: 10/27/2026
Closing Date: 11/4/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Salary Information: The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step

Description
Job Title: Kinship Care Licensor | Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3)
Location: The official duty station is located at 1720 Ellis St, Bellingham, WA 98225, USA. (This position includes a hybrid schedule which involves in-person office work, telework from home, field work, home visits, and attending meetings)
Closes: Wednesday, November 4th, 2026
Salary: $69,348 - $93,288 Annually
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is seeking a passionate and dedicated Social Service Specialist to join our Kinship Licensing team in the Bellingham, Washington community. This is an exciting opportunity to become part of a strong, supportive, and mission-driven team committed to helping children, youth, and families thrive through connection, stability, and community. Our Kinship Licensing team plays a vital role in ensuring children remain connected to their families, cultures, and communities whenever possible. We are proud of our collaborative team culture and the meaningful work we do to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and the caregivers who support them.

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The Opportunity:
This position offers a unique and rewarding blend of specialized family support, clinical assessment, relationship building, and advocacy while supporting children and families through a kin-first approach.
In this role, the Kinship Care Licensor performs advanced-level work in complex and high-profile cases involving children and vulnerable adults. You will conduct comprehensive kinship licensing assessments that evaluate caregiver strengths, challenges, family history, parenting capacity, trauma-related experiences, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and available support systems. Through ongoing engagement, home evaluations, and collaboration with caregivers, you will help identify and address barriers that may impact a caregiver's ability to provide safe, nurturing care while preserving critical family, cultural, and community connections. This work requires strong clinical assessment skills, critical thinking, cultural responsiveness, and a commitment to DCYF's racial equity and social justice framework.

Some of what you will get to do:

• Conduct assessments through intensive interviews and information gathering to complete Family Home Studies for kinship placement, certification, and/or licensing in compliance with the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and Washington Administrative Code (WAC).
• Consult with applicants, refer them to services or training, and support them throughout the home study and licensing process.
• Prepare clear and thorough written assessments describing caregiver family history, strengths, and areas of concern.
• Assist caregivers in overcoming barriers that may hinder their ability to care for children or become licensed.
• Complete in-person inspections of homes, outbuildings, and surrounding premises to assess safety and licensing compliance.
• Review completed background checks, collateral information, waivers, and disqualifications.
• Provide technical assistance and interpretation of policies and statutes governing licensing functions while supporting caregivers through the certification and licensing process.
• Communicate timely kinship licensure updates to Placement Coordinators, fiduciaries, tribal partners, contracted providers, and other administrations, as appropriate.
• Collaborate with Child Welfare programs, DCYF divisions, and partner administrations to support communication and preserve safe, stable placements during the home study process.
• Interview caregivers, household members, and verbal children while observing caregiver-child interactions and coordinating with other professionals to support safe and healthy placements for children.
• Partner with Licensing Division programs during investigations involving allegations of CA/N or WAC violations and provide technical assistance, resources, and support to foster parents.
• Provide testimony and written declarations during administrative hearings and court proceedings related to home studies and licensing actions.

What we are looking for (Required Qualifications):

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

OR

• A master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or a master's degree that includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services 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

• A bachelor's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or bachelor's degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services 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

• One (1) year as a Social Service Specialist 2 (SSS2).

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 (1) year assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.

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

• Work cooperatively with diverse populations.
• Working foundation and understanding of agency policies, WAC and RCW related to licensing kinship homes.
• Program management experience in a regulatory or supervisory capacity for facilities providing care to children.
• Ability to clearly and concisely communicate verbally and in writing with management, peers, clients, and the public as required to carry out the assigned duties of the position.
• Able to travel without restrictions.
• Use of MS Office (Word and Outlook) and Department databases.

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

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

Worker Core Training:

As a Social Service Specialist, you are required to successfully complete a mandatory 9.5-week Worker Core Training (WCT). This training provides the foundational knowledge and skills needed to perform core job functions, including assessing risk and safety, supporting child well-being, gathering information, and conducting case and permanency planning. During the training, you will have opportunities to practice these skills through classroom activities, simulation exercises, and debriefs. Upon hire, you will be assigned to the nearest available training cohort. The training includes four (4) weeks at our Seattle training site (scheduled for Weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8). For those eligible for travel from their assigned duty location, DCYF covers hotel accommodations and per diem costs.

The WCT curriculum is designed to prepare Social Service Specialists for the responsibilities of the role, including:

• Understanding the child welfare system
• Familiarity with the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) related to child welfare
• Policies, procedures, and best practices
• Assessing child safety through environmental observation, interviews with children and caregivers, and collateral contacts
• Collecting records and collaborating with community partners, including medical providers, law enforcement, and chemical dependency services
• Completing assessments and documenting case notes
• Writing dependency petitions and court reports
• Preparing for and testifying in court

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 goal 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.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Incumbent must hold a valid driver's license when operating a state or privately-owned vehicle while on official state business.

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

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:

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

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