What are the responsibilities and job description for the PROGRAM SPECIALIST - SECTION position at Arizona Department of Child Safety?
ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY
The Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) is a social and human services agency whose mission is to successfully partner with families, caregivers, and the community to strengthen families, ensure safety, and achieve permanency for all Arizona’s children through prevention, services, and support.
PROGRAM SPECIALIST - SECTION
Job Location:
Address: 157 N. Coronado
Sierra Vista, Arizona 85635
Posting Details
Salary: $27.8125 hourly
Grade: 20
Closing Date: 6/21/2026
Job Summary
With the goal of providing protection and safety, this position is responsible for a variety of difficult tasks, staff training, and ensuring the reliability of data within Guardian. In addition, this position provides support to the section Program Manager, Supervisors and assists the Regional Management Analyst IV with data collection and tracking.
Job Duties
Write detailed reports summarizing activities, transactions or production covering a specified period of time.
Complete data for scorecards, section-level huddles, and section-level accountability slides and charts.
Participate in the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) , National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), National Youth In Transition Database (NYTD) and Semi-Annual reporting Interprets program policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
Provides orientation and training to new staff as well as continued training to all staff as appropriate and in needed area.
Complete Guardian corrections and/or elevate issues to the Management Analyst team.
Conducts locate searches.
Assist in equalization, ongoing case assignment and case aide visitation request.
Participates and contributes to team management practice, conference; and designs and/or implements special projects. Conducts special studies and research projects.
Other duties as assigned.
Knowledge Of
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):
Federal and State laws, statutes, regulations and directives governing DCS services
Arizona's child safety model
Risk assessment practices and procedures
Developmental and behavior problems of children
Resources available in the community
Policies and procedures of the court system
Policy development and training procedures
Case management policy
Skill In
Evaluation and Decision making
Verbal and written communication
Report preparation and analyzing data
Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships as applied to contracts with families, children and representatives of court
Interviewing and supervision techniques
Ability To
Elicit information through interviews
Evaluate and make decisions on cases
Manage workload and personnel
Open discussions effectively and clarify the current situation
Remain open to all sides and stay focused on resolution
Close discussion with clear summaries
Work overtime, as needed
Maintain confidentiality
Travel in-state
Selective Preference(s)
The selected candidate will have a combination of on-the-job experience and specialized training/education.
Pre-Employment Requirements
Master's or Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university
OR- Three (3) years of combined DCS Specialist Trainee / DCS Specialist experience
OR - Three (3) years of combined DCS Specialist Trainee / Investigator Sr. experience.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card
The ability to secure and maintain clearance from the DCS Central Registry
If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then 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).
Benefits
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
In an effort to better serve our communities, DCS offers a Bi-Lingual Stipend to all interested and eligible DCS Employees who successfully complete a language proficiency exam. Qualifying employees will receive a $500 annual stipend paid in equal increments.
Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page
Retirement
Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
ASRS participation may begin immediately (if you were a previous member) or upon your 27th week of employment (if you have never been an ASRS member previously).
Contact Us
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.
The Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) is a social and human services agency whose mission is to successfully partner with families, caregivers, and the community to strengthen families, ensure safety, and achieve permanency for all Arizona’s children through prevention, services, and support.
PROGRAM SPECIALIST - SECTION
Job Location:
Address: 157 N. Coronado
Sierra Vista, Arizona 85635
Posting Details
Salary: $27.8125 hourly
Grade: 20
Closing Date: 6/21/2026
Job Summary
With the goal of providing protection and safety, this position is responsible for a variety of difficult tasks, staff training, and ensuring the reliability of data within Guardian. In addition, this position provides support to the section Program Manager, Supervisors and assists the Regional Management Analyst IV with data collection and tracking.
Job Duties
Write detailed reports summarizing activities, transactions or production covering a specified period of time.
Complete data for scorecards, section-level huddles, and section-level accountability slides and charts.
Participate in the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) , National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), National Youth In Transition Database (NYTD) and Semi-Annual reporting Interprets program policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
Provides orientation and training to new staff as well as continued training to all staff as appropriate and in needed area.
Complete Guardian corrections and/or elevate issues to the Management Analyst team.
Conducts locate searches.
Assist in equalization, ongoing case assignment and case aide visitation request.
Participates and contributes to team management practice, conference; and designs and/or implements special projects. Conducts special studies and research projects.
Other duties as assigned.
Knowledge Of
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):
Federal and State laws, statutes, regulations and directives governing DCS services
Arizona's child safety model
Risk assessment practices and procedures
Developmental and behavior problems of children
Resources available in the community
Policies and procedures of the court system
Policy development and training procedures
Case management policy
Skill In
Evaluation and Decision making
Verbal and written communication
Report preparation and analyzing data
Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships as applied to contracts with families, children and representatives of court
Interviewing and supervision techniques
Ability To
Elicit information through interviews
Evaluate and make decisions on cases
Manage workload and personnel
Open discussions effectively and clarify the current situation
Remain open to all sides and stay focused on resolution
Close discussion with clear summaries
Work overtime, as needed
Maintain confidentiality
Travel in-state
Selective Preference(s)
The selected candidate will have a combination of on-the-job experience and specialized training/education.
Pre-Employment Requirements
Master's or Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university
OR- Three (3) years of combined DCS Specialist Trainee / DCS Specialist experience
OR - Three (3) years of combined DCS Specialist Trainee / Investigator Sr. experience.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card
The ability to secure and maintain clearance from the DCS Central Registry
If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then 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).
Benefits
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.
- Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
- Competitive health and dental insurance plans.
- Life insurance and long-term disability insurance.
- Vision coverage.
- Short-term disability insurance.
- Deferred compensation plans.
- Supplemental life insurance.
- Employee wellness plans.
In an effort to better serve our communities, DCS offers a Bi-Lingual Stipend to all interested and eligible DCS Employees who successfully complete a language proficiency exam. Qualifying employees will receive a $500 annual stipend paid in equal increments.
Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page
Retirement
Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
ASRS participation may begin immediately (if you were a previous member) or upon your 27th week of employment (if you have never been an ASRS member previously).
Contact Us
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.
Salary : $500