Child Welfare Specialist I/II/III

This position is located in Ponca City, Oklahoma.

Working in Child Welfare for Oklahoma's largest state agency means having the opportunity to positively impact the safety and well-being of children and families for generations to come. If you have a passion for social work and making a difference in your local community, OKDHS has a place for you! Join our team and create pathways to hope for all Oklahomans.


Extensive training will be provided to new employees.

Annual Salary

• Level I H23A - $37,280.75 + Full State Employee Benefits
• Level II H23B - $40,077.79 + Full State Employee Benefits
• Level III H23C - $43,968.62 + Full State Employee Benefits

Applicants who possess a Master's Degree in Social Work will be entitled to a salary incentive of an additional 5%.

On-call positions will receive an additional bonus ranging from $100 to $150 every two weeks, depending on responsibilities.

Hours worked may include on-call, extended and/or weekend hours.

Minimum Qualifications

Child Welfare Specialist, Level I

• Completion of 90 hours from an accredited college or university;
• OR 3 years of experience related to child welfare work;
• OR A combination of education and experience.

Child Welfare Specialist, Level II

• A bachelor's degree (in any field) to qualify;
• OR One year of experience as a Child Welfare Specialist.

Child Welfare Specialist, Level III

• A Master's degree;
• OR a Bachelors Degree plus one year of experience as a Child Welfare Specialist;
• OR Two years of experience as a Child Welfare Specialist.

Job Duties

This position job responsibilities may be in one or more of the following, within Child Welfare Programs.

Child Protective Services (CPS)

*Investigates allegations of child abuse or neglect.


*Protects the safety of children and provides services to help families with any barriers that can result in the safety of their children to be at risk.

Family Centered Services (FCS)


*Preserves and strengthen protective capacities of the parents to keep the child in their own home with a focus on increasing safety for the child and family to prevent unnecessary out-of-home placements.

Permanency Planning (PP)

*Provides services to families that include involving family members as participants in their own treatment plan.

*Provides placements for children which will meet their medical, educational, and physical needs.

*Returns children to their own homes as soon as their needs can be met in the home of their parent(s), and arranges a permanent plan when return to the home is not possible.

All New Employees will complete the Child Welfare Core Academy Training Program

• Learn treatment and preventive services;
• Visit children in placement and conduct assessments of children and families;
• Refer families and children to services in the community;
• Participate in investigations of abuse and neglect of children, and prepare case reports and other documentation;
• Attends court hearings and provides testimony;
• Consults with the District Attorney and other attorneys, and tribal partners regarding efforts to protect the child, reunite the family or other permanent plans for the child;
• Provides direct services to children in placement,
• And other duties as assigned.

Travel is EXTENSIVE - Must possess a valid driver's license and must maintain required car insurance. State vehicles will be available for use to carry out the duties of the position.

Click here to see what it is like to work in Child Welfare.

If you have questions, please contact [email protected]

OKDHS is a Fair Chance Employer.

This is a position in the Oklahoma Civil Service.

Announcement Number: 26-BC232


83002282/JR65531, 83002573/JR65533, 83005720/JR65534