DHHS/CFS Permanency Program Specialist

About the job

The work we do matters!
Hiring Agency:
Health & Human Services - Agency 25
Location:
Statewide, NE
Hiring Rate:
$24.862
Job Posting:
JR2026-00029702 DHHS/CFS Permanency Program Specialist (Open)
Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed, job is posted as open until closed):
10-22-2026
Job Description:
State of Nebraska, Department of Health and Human Services is hiring a Permanency Program Specialist to support adoption, guardianship, permanency planning, and related programs across Nebraska. This role provides program expertise, oversight, and consultation to help ensure children and families have access to safe, stable, and lasting permanency. You’ll work with CFS staff, families, providers, legal partners, and community stakeholders while helping shape and improve programs that directly impact children and families.

Location: Statewide, pending office space availability.

Examples of Work

• Oversee adoption, guardianship, permanency planning, and related CFS programs.
• Provide technical assistance, consultation, and training to staff, families, providers, legal partners, and stakeholders.
• Review and approve adoption and guardianship assistance requests and maintain related agreements, guidance, and procedures.
• Coordinate Adult Adoptee Search requests, program inquiries, referrals, websites, and databases.
• Monitor and analyze program data to assess compliance, trends, performance, and quality improvement.
• Serve as the CFS liaison for permanency programs and collaborate with providers and community partners.
• Support permanency planning and reviews for children and youth, including those at YRTCs and those legally free for adoption.
• Research laws, regulations, and best practices and develop policies, procedures, reports, and other program materials.
• Lead and support statewide permanency initiatives that help children achieve safe, stable, and permanent family connections through reunification, guardianship, adoption, or other permanent living arrangements.
• Lead and support statewide permanency initiatives that help children achieve safe, stable, and permanent family connections through reunification, guardianship, adoption, or other permanent living arrangements.
• Ensure Program Compliance and Integrity around administering adoption, guardianship, and related permanency programs in compliance with federal and state laws, regulations, policies, and best practices while maintaining program consistency across Nebraska.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for assigned permanency programs by providing consultation, technical assistance, training, and guidance to CFS staff, attorneys, providers, courts, and community partners.
• Ensure adoptive, guardianship, and prospective families receive accurate information, timely assistance, and appropriate support throughout the permanency process, including administration of adoption and guardianship assistance programs.
• Create, revise, and maintain policies, procedures, forms, SOPs, and program guidance that promote consistent statewide implementation and support evolving legal and program requirements.
• Monitor assigned contracts, grants, provider performance, and program deliverables to ensure quality services, accountability, and responsible stewardship of public resources.
• Provide specialized consultation and leadership for youth with significant permanency barriers, including youth residing at YRTCs and children legally free for adoption, helping identify and secure permanent family connections.

Requirements/Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent coursework/training, in public administration, social/behavioral sciences, healthcare, human services or other program related field. Professional experience working in a human/social service or health care agency with responsibility for planning or evaluation services, programs or operational policies and practices may substitute in lieu of the educational requirement.

Preferred Qualifications: Past CFS experience in Permanency case management. Past CFS experience with adoption and guardianship regulations, subsidies, and policies. Prior CFS training or supervision experience. Program knowledge preferred is extensive knowledge of CFS case management policy and procedures.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Skills in procedure and policy development, knowledge of federal and state child welfare laws/rules/regulations, public speaking and presentation skills, project management experience, and contract management experience.

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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.