DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY

Tucson, Nogales, Sierra Vista, Yuma, Douglas, Benson, Arizona
 

This position is an unpaid Department of Defense (DoD) SkillBridge internship

This internship can be up to 6 months, depending on Service Member's availability  

If hired to a full-time role at the end of the internship the position salary would be 21.7068/hourly  

Grade: 17

Open Until Filled/Applications Reviewed Daily

The Arizona Department of Child Safety is offering DoD-SkillBridge internships for the position of Case Manager/Child Safety Specialist.

At the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS), we call ourselves "compassioneers" because everything we do is done with a compassionate heart. We work tirelessly to protect children, reunify families, ensure safe living environments and prevent unnecessary trauma. As an agency, we are proud to be a pillar of strength for our communities, and proud to do work each day that makes an impact on the world around us every day.

Becoming a Case Manager/Child Safety Specialist can be a life-changing event! If you have a passion to work with children and families, DCS is the place for you.

Together we can make a difference through service!


After completing an internship, if hired, Child Safety Specialists are eligible for incremental pay increases as follows:

Upon successful completion of the Arizona Department of Child Safety, 22 week CORE training program $22.59/hour
One year of Arizona Department of Child Safety Specialist service $24.11/hour
Two years of  Arizona Department of Child Safety Specialist service $25.96/hour
Three years of Arizona Department of Child Safety Specialist service $27.66/hour


If you’re good at what you do, you can work anywhere. If you’re the best at what you do, come work at DCS!

A Child Safety Specialist offers valuable support and assistance to children and families in need. This role requires strong time management and critical thinking skills. A Child Safety Specialist assesses child safety and risk while working with families, agencies and the courts for case planning. This is a fast-paced environment, which requires organization, a high degree of expertise and skill in maintaining established quality and accuracy in work assignments.  The essential job functions of a DCS Specialist Intern include, but are not limited to:

• Job shadowing Case Managers, Case Aides, Administrative Assistants and Central Office staff
• Providing tour opportunities at specialized offices such as the Placement Center
• Updating regional community resources directories
• Helping to support the Welcome Center team
• Attend meetings such as court hearings, Team Decision Making Meetings, Child and Family Team Meetings
• Provide care to children to include feeding, hygiene and supervision
• Special projects that may include research and data entry

Potential Placements/Opportunities:

-Investigations: The Department has received a potential concern (report) and makes attempts to engage with the family to assess child safety. A determination is made as to whether the family requires intervention and to what degree.

-Ongoing: The Department has taken an action against family and there is an open court case. Our role is to continuously assess parents/children to make sure the appropriate services are in place to help improve the situation.

-In-Home: There are concerns with the family but they do not warrant court involvement. This tole requires consistent contact with the family to help address concerns while children continue to reside with the parents.

-Young Adult Program (YAP): Teenagers that have a high likelihood of becoming an adult while in the care of the state. This role helps coordinate teens learning to live on their own and acquire basic life skills to help their transition to adulthood. 

-Adoptions: Parents have lost their rights to care for their children through a court order. This role strives to find the best solution for a long-lasting new home for the child/ren.

-Welcome Centers: As the legal caregiver for a child, DCS provides care and meets their needs while they wait for placement. 

Knowledge of:
Confidential principles; behavior modification, conflict resolution and counseling principles and techniques; intervention techniques; interviewing procedures; child development, family systems, family centered practice; behavioral indicators of mental health disturbance, impact of abuse and neglect, separation and loss issues and child welfare practices. Computers and software (Microsoft Office Suite); mobile devices, digital calendars (Outlook) & video conferencing (Microsoft Teams).

Skill in:
Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships; verbal and written communication; eliciting and gathering information; modeling professional behavior with clients; time management and multi-tasking; keen observation; sensitivity to needs, feelings and cultures; dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations; adaptability; and making independent decisions.

Ability to:
Complete work tasks thoroughly; lead, take responsibility; analyze information and use logic to address work-related issues and problems; recognize and address substance abuse issues in adults and children and develop necessary intervention strategies; prepare detailed documentation of client and professional contact to ensure records are accurately conveyed and reported; and enter, retrieve and correct data in a computer-based system; and acquire and renew CPR Certification.

Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card
                                                                                 
Must be able to pass a background investigation, Motor Vehicle Report check and DCS Central Registry check.

This position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business and the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

To view the full list of requirements for Case Manager/Child Safety Specialist visit our website at azdcs.gov/apply

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting 602-255-3141 or by email at ADA@AZDCS.GOV.   Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.  Should you have any further questions regarding the interview process you can reach out to a member of our recruitment team at 602-255-2903 or by email at recruiting@azdcs.gov.  The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.