Caseworker I/Social Service Worker-Adoption Team, DCFS Southwest Region (Cedar City/St. George)

Caseworker I/Social Service Worker-Adoption Team, DCFS Southwest Region (Cedar City/St. George)

FT / PT Status – Full-Time
Benefits Eligibility – This position is eligible for a full benefits package.
Salary – See Position Description
Remote Work / In-Office – Hybrid

Recruiter – Eliana Sigler | esigler1@utah.gov |
Application Deadline – 10/11/2026*

*This job posting may close at any time after the minimum advertising period of three (3) business days has passed, should a sufficient applicant pool be received. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Caseworker I/Social Service Worker-Adoption Team

Under the supervision of a Therapist Supervisor, the Adoption Caseworker I/Social Service Worker serves as a subject matter specialist in adoption and permanency planning, providing assessment, consultation, intervention, pre and post-adoption support. The role includes, collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, and participation in permanency planning activities to promote safe, stable, and permanent family connections for children. The position may be based out of the DCFS Cedar City or St. George Office.

Click here to see a Caseworker at Work

These positions will be filled as a Caseworker I or Social Service Worker depending upon the qualifications of the applicant.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide adoption, permanency, pre and post-adopt services to children in DCFS custody and aftercare in the Washington, Kane, Garfield, Paiute, Beaver, Wayne, Sevier, Sanpete and Iron County service areas.

• Serve as an adoption, permanency, and adoption specialist by collaborating with DCFS case managers to identify, establish, and support long-term plans.

• Support children and families by answering their questions related to adoption or permanency. Help them to explore concerns and understand long-term support needs.

• Assessment of adoptive family matches

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with community partners, placement providers, and adoption agencies.

• Assess adoption subsidy needs, chair the Regional Subsidy Committee, present recommendations to committees, and track cases exceeding 18 months in care to address permanency barriers.

• Maintain accurate documentation, case records, and reports in accordance with DCFS and DHHS standards, including effective and timely archiving of adoption records.

• Coordinate with regional specialists to identify and resolve Medicaid related needs, including ICAMA coordination with other state agencies.

• Facilitate processing of adoption and guardianship paperwork with casemanagers, legal representation and the court in order to support permanency outcomes for children and families.

• Demonstrate fiscal responsibility through management and tracking of the Subsidy Committee budget with the support of the Regional ASM. This includes payment processing, grants and subsidy changes for children.

• Educate families on adoption and guardianship aftercare resources, supporting them in making effective permanency decisions.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of child welfare, adoption, permanency planning, and trauma-informed clinical practices.

• Ability to assess adoptive and guardian family strengths and needs.

• Knowledge of child welfare, adoption, permanency planning, and trauma-informed clinical practices.

• Ability to assess adoptive and guardian family strengths and needs.

• Strong organization and time management skills, adhering to permanency deadlines, thoughtful planning and accurate record keeping.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including documentation, collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, and court-related reporting and professional testimony as needed.

Supplemental Information

• Only applicants invited to interview will be notified.

• May require 24-hour on-call services/time. 24-hour on-call services response time to be determined by the agency.

• Department of Human Resource Management rules regarding promotions and transfers apply to current employees.

• Travel required; you may be required to use your personal vehicle to perform the duties of this position; approved mileage is reimbursable through State Finance.

• All DCFS job offers are contingent upon passing a Background Screening Application (BSA).

• Must have a valid Utah driver’s license.

• A position’s eligibility for hybrid work is established by agency management and is subject to change at their discretion at any time and for any reason.

• The State of Utah requires all employees to physically work inside the State of Utah Boundaries.

Physical Requirements

• Moderate - Some of the work performed requires some physical exertion. You may be required to stand; walk over rough surfaces; bend; crouch; stoop; stretch; reach; lift moderately heavy items (up to 50 lbs.), e.g. lifting a small child in a recurring manner and/or for long periods of time.

Working Conditions

• High Risk - Risks found in potentially dangerous or unusual environmental stress situations, e.g. working at great heights, working in extreme outdoor weather conditions, being subject to possible physical attack, etc.

• Some special risks which may require the use of special safety precautions e.g., entering clients homes, maybe working around contagious diseases, i.e. parasitic infections caused by head lice, bed bugs, scabies, etc. or chemicals, i.e. illegal substances, etc.

About the Role

Location –

DCFS Cedar City DCFS St. George Office
106 N 100 E 178 N 200 E
Cedar City, Utah, 84720 St. George, Utah, 84770
United States United States


Drivers License Requirement-Employees hired for this recruitment will be subject to the Driver Eligibility standards found at the following link: https://adminrules.utah.gov/public/search/driver%20eligibility/Current%20Rules
Background Check Required – Yes
Drug Test Required – No
Schedule Code – B - Competitive Career Service

Why You Should Join Our Team
In Utah, we believe hard work is important, but balance is essential. Finding work/life balance is a vital element to our culture. To find out more about WHY Utah, click here. Other benefits may include:

• Job Stability: Enjoy the security and reliability of employment within a well-established organization.
• Career Growth: Develop valuable skills and gain opportunities for leadership within a large organization.
• Meaningful Work: Contribute to an important service that benefits the community and supports organizational goals.
• Supportive Work Environment: Be part of a team that values cooperation, strong work ethics, and mutual support.

The Agency
The goal of Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) is to have communities where children grow up safe from abuse, neglect and dependency, where adults are protected from domestic violence, and where parents can be strengthened in their capacity to keep their family safe.

For more information about DCFS, Click Here

EEO Statement
The State of Utah is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. For accommodations, please contact (801) 957-9390.