DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY

The Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) is a social and human services agency whose mission is to successfully engage children and families to ensure safety, strengthen families, and achieve permanency. DCS has field office locations located throughout the state of Arizona, with its central office located in Downtown Phoenix. DCS employs over 2,800 employees who share the common vision of ensuring children thrive in family environments free from abuse and neglect.

3003 N. Central Ave. Phoenix,  AZ 85012

Salary: $25.00 per hour 

Grade: 19

Closing Date: January 13, 2021

Do you like and have experience working with older youth experiencing foster care, ensuring they are meeting their educational goals and milestones? If so, DCS may be the perfect place for you to grow your career!
The PSE 2 will develop and support relationships with Department of Child Safety (DCS) professional staff, Department of Education personnel, school districts, post-secondary education institutions and community providers to enhance the educational experiences for youth in foster care. Provide educational support for youth experiencing foster care by promoting individualized academic and personal success through an educational plan individually designed with the youth, caregivers, DCS Specialists, schools, FosterEd and community supports to ensure educational success and high school graduation. Provide technical assistance and consultation to Department of Child Safety professional staff and community providers regarding the complex federal and state laws and policies relating to the education process and educational assistance available to current and former former foster youth. Will assist youth, Department of Child Safety professional staff, and community providers with the Federal Education Voucher (ETV) application and and Promote and align work with the Youth Thrive Framework.

- Assist current and former foster youth, DCS staff, and community providers with the Federal Education Training Voucher (ETV) application, as well as other grant and scholarship opportunities; and will participate in the support of the ETV program.
- Collect data on program youth and compile annual report that is distributed to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Secretary of State.
- Provide training, technical assistance and consultation to DCS staff, current/former foster youth and community providers regrading the education needs and assistance available to the current/former youth in foster care.
- Develop and support relationships with Department of Child Safety (DCS) professional staff, Department of Education personnel, school districts, post-secondary education institutions and community providers to enhance the educational experiences for children in foster care.
- Engage and coordinate with the DCS staff , caregivers, community supports and current youth in foster care in the development of educational plans to assure school success, high school graduation, and the passing of statewide assessments.

Knowledge of:
-Complex federal/state regulations relating to education including IDEA and ESSA and child welfare.
-Social services and educational systems and available resources in the community for this subject.
-Youth Thrive Framework
-Principals of training adults, methods and techniques for monitoring and evaluation.

Skill in:
-Situational analysis and problem solving.
-Training adults, strong verbal and written communication.
-Procedure development, planning, organization, prioritization., monitoring and evaluation.
-Facilitation and leadership, public speaking and public relations.
-Interfacing and coordinating with other programs, agencies and departments.

Ability to:
-Establish and maintain effective relationships with other programs, agencies and departments.
-Write and speak with clarity and effectiveness.
-Represent and make appropriate decisions for DCS when working as a liaison in regard to interactions with DCS Staff, other agency personnel, and community partners and providers.
-Identify the need for, and content of, training related to education and children involved in the child welfare system.

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in education, social work, psychology, counseling or other related fields with two years of experience working with transitional age youth experiencing foster care.

In-state travel is sometimes required. Requires possession of and ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver’s license appropriate to the assignment. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records and must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.).

The ability to secure and maintain a Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card; and the ability to secure and maintain clearance from the DCS Central Registry.

As an employee of the Department of Child Safety you will be entitled to a comprehensive benefits package that can become effective as soon as two weeks after starting!
Benefits include:
- Paid sick leave.
- Paid vacation that includes ten (10) holidays per year.
- Competitive health and dental insurance plans.
- Life insurance and long-term disability insurance.
We also offer optional employee benefits that include:
- Vision coverage.
- Short-term disability insurance.
- Deferred compensation plans.
- Supplemental life insurance.
- Employee wellness plans

For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
Enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by contacting 602-255-2903.
Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. Arizona State Government is an AA/EOE/ADA Reasonable Accommodation Employer.