Child and Family Services Specialist-Family Finding

The work we do matters!

Hiring Agency

Health & Human Services - Agency 25

Location:

Statewide, NE

Hiring Rate

$21.836

Job Posting

JR2026-00026030 Child and Family Services Specialist-Family Finding (Open)

Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed, job is posted as open until closed):

05-26-2026

Job Description

Family Finding specialists work independently under the direct supervision of their assigned supervisor to assist Child and Family Services Specialists (CFSS), Relative Kin Services Specialists (RKSS), and placement team with following federal guidelines under the “Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoption Act of 2008”. The Family Finding specialists role will be one of support to ensure that every child is able to maintain connections to their family and community while obtaining safety and stability. This role conducts comprehensive kinship searches and coordinates respite options with individuals known and trusted by the child, reducing placement disruptions and strengthening permanency outcomes. The goal of family finding is to ensure that every youth whose life is touched by Child Protective Services either through the court or non-court services, can maintain a relationship with their family, kin, and/or community while being served by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Family Finding is a fast-paced position that is utilized immediately upon a child’s life being touched by NE DHHS. Services provided are fast-paced and multitasking is a must to successfully complete the task assigned.

THIS POSITION IS POSTED STATEWIDE CONTIGENT UPON OPEN OFFICE SPACE

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITES & DUTIES

• Identify family and kinship supports for every child served. This is done through a variety of services to include genograms, file mining and family mapping to name a few.
• Maintain professional communication with both internal employees and members of the community.
• Must have the knowledge to access and utilize online search engines and sites both private and public to conduct searches for family members and community members.
• Family Finding will assist in creating genograms using Genopro for every non-court and court involved family and upload the genograms into document imaging.
• Locate and when requested, attempt contact of family/kinship that are able and willing to help support the parent and/or child through various means. Contacts can be for placement, permanency or support of other kinds.
• Submit background checks when requested.
• Must be able to document information in a variety of areas to include kinship contacts and entering relative notices and relationships into the state database system N-FOCUS.
• Must be able to generate relative notice letters and follow up letters when contacting relatives or upon request of CFSS.
• Maintain organization to assist in managing the Family Finding email and track their assigned cases.
• Family Finding can assist in locating suitable safety plan participants if a safety plan can be utilized to prevent a removal.
• When requested, complete family mapping by speaking with parents and/or youth when age appropriate to help brainstorm other possible supports.
• When requested and it’s logistically feasible, go into the community and meet with children and / or parents when family mapping is requested by CFSS.
• Assist with locating non-custodial parents.
• Family Finding will be on-call.
• Family Finding will work with RKSS to identify and engage supporting relatives and other significant adults in a child’s life to promote placement stability or respite relief.
• Initial screening of respite providers by ensure background checks, training, and walk-throughs are completed
• Coordinate respite when the need is identified by a DHHS supported foster home.
  
  

Requirements / Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, human development, mental health care, education, criminal justice, or other related fields. Consideration will be given to applicants who are enrolled in the final semester of their bachelor’s degree. Promotion to a Child and Family Services Specialist is contingent on successfully completing degree requirements and required training.

Preferred Qualifications: Currently in Child and Family Services Specialist Role. Strong communication, organization, and customer service skills are important for this role. Bilingual skills in English and Spanish are strongly preferred to help serve a high number of Spanish-speaking clients.

Other: Valid Driver's license is required. If still a Child and Family Services Specialist Trainee, rate will be Trainee rate until promotion to Child and Family Services Specialist.

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Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation.

Check out all that the State of Nebraska has to offer! Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency and employment status. For more information on benefits, please visit: https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits

Equal Opportunity Statement

The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex. age, national origin, disability, marital status or genetics.