What are the responsibilities and job description for the CHILD WELFARE SPECIALIST TRAINEE position at DCFS-Department of Children and Family Services?
Salary
$3,037.00 - $5,472.00 Monthly
Location
Lafayette, LA
Job Type
Classified
Job Number
226055.CWST.1-3.09.14.26.LB
Department
DCFS-Department of Children and Family Services
Opening Date
09/15/2026
Closing Date
9/20/2026 11:59 PM Central
About this Job
Department MISSION
To protect children, empower families, and strengthen communities so every child grows up safe, stable, and strong.
Department VISION
A future where every child thrives in a loving environment, supported by empowered families and resilient communities.
Department VALUES
Treating all people with dignity, compassion and respect, while providing services with integrity.
At the Department of Children and Family Services, our mission is to empower communities and improve lives by delivering responsive, inclusive, and forward-thinking public services. We are proud to serve the people of Louisiana with integrity, innovation, and a deep commitment to equity.
Join Our Team at DCFS: Child Welfare Specialist Trainee, 1-3
.The incumbent of this position is responsible for providing services to address the needs of young people ages 17-21 who are transitioning out of care and need individualized skill development and support to transition successfully into adulthood, specifically obtaining and maintaining safe and suitable housing, continuing their education, learning independent living skills, obtaining and maintaining employment, building a support system, obtaining permanency, and remaining free from legal involvement. The selected applicant may be required to be part of an on-call rotation on weekends and available to work flexible hours.
Minimum Qualifications
Three years of experience in child welfare; OR
Six years of full-time work experience in any field; OR
A bachelor’s degree.
EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTION:
Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:
Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent.
A current driver's license and access to a personal vehicle.
NOTE:
The incumbent of this position must not have been convicted or pled nolo contendere to a crime listed in R.S. 15.587.1 (c).
Job Specification
The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.
Job Duties and Other Information
Job Duties:
- The YVLifeSet specialist provides individual services to young adults in or exiting foster care in the home and community setting to assist the young adult with transition to adulthood, meeting a minimum of one time per week, most often face to face, and provide additional support via phone, text or in person as needed.
- Conducts ongoing assessment of the young person's needs and develops service plans annually with monthly updates, and documents all service contracts with the young adult within the timelines required by the organization.
- Prepares information in written reports to courts and administrative review panels, provides professional testimony during review hearings regarding compliance/progress/status of family members, and makes appropriate recommendations to court personnel regarding the agency's goal for foster children.
- Attends and participates in formalized training programs and seminars relative to youth/young adults.
Position-Specific Details:
Appointment Type: This position may be filled as a probational appointment or a job appointment that may last up to 48 months. Job appointments may convert to probational appointments. Also, it may be filled as a detail and promoted within 12 months or by promotion of a permanent classified employee.
Career Progression: This vacancy may be filled as a Child Welfare Specialist Trainee, 1, 2 or 3 depending on experience.
Compensation: The referenced positions have a Special Entrance Rate (SER) see below:
Child Welfare Specialist Trainee - SER: $1,649.60bi-weekly
Child Welfare Specialist 1 - SER: $1,764.80bi-weekly
Child Welfare Specialist 2 - SER: $1,820.80 bi-weekly
Child Welfare Specialist 3 - SER: $1,948.00 bi-weekly
Work Schedule: Typically, work hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday. Flexible work schedules are available after meeting certain criteria and is dependent upon the position you are applying for. Some positions require working shifts.
Work Location: Lafayette Parish
Career Progression: This vacancy may be filled as a Child Welfare Specialist Trainee, 1, 2 or 3 depending on experience.
Compensation: The referenced positions have a Special Entrance Rate (SER) see below:
Child Welfare Specialist Trainee - SER: $1,649.60bi-weekly
Child Welfare Specialist 1 - SER: $1,764.80bi-weekly
Child Welfare Specialist 2 - SER: $1,820.80 bi-weekly
Child Welfare Specialist 3 - SER: $1,948.00 bi-weekly
Work Schedule: Typically, work hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday. Flexible work schedules are available after meeting certain criteria and is dependent upon the position you are applying for. Some positions require working shifts.
Work Location: Lafayette Parish
Louisiana HB 420 requires all prospective DCFS employees to complete and clear multiple background clearances prior to employment with this agency.
Must possess a valid driver's license & access to a personal vehicle before appointment.
How To Apply:
No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.
Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.
Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in this application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.
Contact Information:
For further information about this vacancy, contact:
Eulanda Batiste
eulanda.batiste.dcfs@la.gov
DCFS is an "Equal Opportunity Employer" and Louisiana is a "State as a Model Employer for People with Disabilities"
Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.
As a state employee, you will earn competitive pay, choose from a variety of benefits, and have access to a great professional development program:
As a state employee, you will earn competitive pay, choose from a variety of benefits, and have access to a great professional development program:
Insurance Coverage More information can be found at https://info.groupbenefits.org/
Parental Leave – Up to six weeks paid parental leave
More information can be found at https://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/Parental-Leave/Default.aspx
Holidays and Leave – State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
- Mardi Gras,
- Good Friday,
- Memorial Day,
- Independence Day,
- Labor Day,
- Veteran's Day,
- Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.
Retirement – State of Louisiana employees are eligible to participate in various retirement systems (based on the type of appointment and agency for which an employee works). These retirement systems provide retirement allowances and other benefits for state officers and employees and their beneficiaries. State retirement systems may include (but are not limited to):
- Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (www.lasersonline.org). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
- Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (www.trsl.org),
- Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (www.lsers.net), among others
Salary : $3,037 - $5,472