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

Kinship Care Licensor | Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3)

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

Job Title: Kinship Care Licensor | Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3) Location: Tacoma, WA (This position includes a hybrid schedule which involves in-person office work, telework from home, field work, home visits, and attending meetings Closes: Thursday, June 4th, 2026 Salary: $67,992 - 91,464 Annually * The salary listed does not include the 2% general wage increase effective July 1, 2026.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is seeking a passionate and dedicated Social Service Specialist to join our Kinship Licensing team in beautiful Pierce County. 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.

At DCYF, we work alongside Washington's vulnerable children, youth, and families to foster safety, stability, and better outcomes by strengthening opportunities, connections, 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 every day to make a lasting difference in the lives of children and the caregivers who support them.

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 by conducting comprehensive kinship licensing assessments that thoughtfully 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, this position helps identify and overcome barriers that may impact a caregiver's ability to provide nurturing and supportive care while preserving important family, cultural, and community connections for children in the care and custody of the Department. This role requires strong clinical assessment skills, critical thinking, cultural responsiveness, and a commitment to aligning practice with DCYF's racial equity and social justice framework, while bringing compassion, professionalism, and dedication to ensuring child safety, permanency, and well-being.

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): Social Service Specialist 3:

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

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

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

• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with diverse populations.
• Demonstrated solid working foundation and understanding of agency policies, WAC, and RCW related to licensing kinship homes.
• Demonstrated program management experience in a regulatory or supervisory capacity for facilities providing care to children.
• Demonstrated 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.
• Ability to travel frequently within the position's region.
• Demonstrated skills in the 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)

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.