About us

Our mission is to promote positive, lifelong outcomes for Ohio youth through early intervention, quality education, and family support programs. At DCY, we offer our employees a rewarding work experience in public service helping Ohioans achieve a sustainable lifestyle that includes generous benefit options and a flexible work life balance making our agency a great place to work! To learn more about DCY, please visit our website at Department of Children and Youth | Ohio.gov.

Field Staff Worker

This position is designated as a field position. As a field worker, an employee spends the majority of his/her time traveling for their position performing duties to include, but not limited to inspections, monitoring, observing, training, technical assistance, site visits, conducting interviews, reviewing records, and data collection in various environments. Field workers are expected to manage their daily itineraries, report progress, and coordinate their travel schedule with their supervisor. This designation is determined and approved only by management. Field workers are also required to report to the DCY Office Space on a quarterly basis and based on operational need.

Frequent travel within assigned regions in Ohio, some with overnight stays, is required for this position. The selected candidate must provide their own transportation or, to operate a state vehicle, must have a valid driver’s license.

If you’re motivated by improving outcomes for children, families, and vulnerable adults, this role gives you a chance to influence how services are delivered across the state—not just in one office, but at a systems level.

What You’ll Do

In this role, you’ll work both independently and with a team to strengthen human services programs such as child protection, foster care and permanency, and adult protective services. A big part of your work will be shaping how these programs operate. You’ll research and interpret federal laws, court decisions, and policy guidance, then turn that into clear policies, procedures, and standards that agencies across the state follow.

You’ll also act as a trusted advisor to local partners—including county child welfare agencies, job and family services departments, courts, and private providers. That means helping them solve problems, improve performance, and meet federal and state expectations.

How You’ll Make an Impact

• Help local agencies improve outcomes for children and families in safety, permanency, and well-being
• Analyze program data to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvement
• Support agencies in meeting federal review standards and state performance goals
• Monitor programs to ensure compliance and consistency across counties
• Contribute to quality improvement efforts and corrective action plans
• Respond to questions and concerns from agencies, stakeholders, and the public
• Deliver training and guidance to strengthen service delivery systems

What the Work Feels Like

This is a mix of policy, data, and people-focused work. On any given week, you might:

• Review case or program data and translate it into actionable recommendations
• Meet with agency leaders to troubleshoot challenges
• Help develop strategies to improve outcomes in underperforming areas
• Write reports or guidance that influence statewide practice

You’ll collaborate regularly with state colleagues and local partners, and your work will directly shape how services are delivered in communities.

Pay Information

Unless required by legislation or union contract, starting salary will be step 1 of the salary range associated with this position. New hires advance to the next step in the range after 6 months and annually thereafter. Based on collective bargaining and legislative activity, there may be cost of living increases awarded annually. Additional longevity supplements begin after 5 years. The current wage progression for this position is in the table below.

Months of Employment

At Hire

6 months

18 months

30 months

42 months

54 Months

66 Months

78 Months

Pay Range

1199/13

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8

Hourly

$36.01

$37.75

$39.64

$41.53

$43.56

$45.72

$47.95

$50.37

Annual

$74,901

$78,520

$82,451

$86,382

$90,605

$95,098

$99,736

$104,770

Background Check Information

The final candidate selected for the position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

Status of Posted Positions

You can check the status of your application online be signing into your profile and clicking the “My Jobpage” tab to view completed submissions and submission details. If you have questions other than your applications status, please direct them to DCY.HumanResources@childrenandyouth.ohio.gov.

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS)& Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Completion of undergraduate core program in social or behavioral science, health services public administration, public policy management or comparable field; 36 mos. exp. in researching, developing or implementing policies related to social services, health services, public policy or comparable field; 12 mos. trg. or 12 mos. exp. in research methodology, measurement & testing, analysis of variance & survey sampling; 6 mos. trg. or 6 mos. exp. in use of computer hardware & software used for spreadsheets, statistical analysis, graphics presentation & word processing.
 
-Or completion of graduate course coursework in social or behavioral science, health services public administration, public policy management or comparable field; 24 mos. exp. in researching, developing or implementing policies related to social services, health services, public policy or comparable field; 6 mos. trg. or 6 mos. exp. in use of computer hardware & software used for spreadsheets, statistical analysis, graphics presentation & word processing.

-Or 24 mos. exp. as Human Services Specialist 2, 69452, with experience commensurate with duties to be assigned per posting of job opportunity (e.g., if assignment is in area of policy development for aid to dependent children, education, training &/or experience must have been in area of aid to dependent children).

-Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications For Employment noted above.

Job Skills: Human Services

The Ohio Department of Children and Youth does not provide employment-based visa sponsorship.

All answers to the supplemental questions must be supported by the work experience/education provided on your civil service application. Attachments will not be considered as part of your application.

Selection devices such as a structured interview, proficiency instrument, and/or assessment may be required for this position. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency with a passing score of applicable selection device to be considered for this position. Regardless of a passing or failing score, all results will be maintained for 6 months. Applicant with a passing score will be retained and utilized for a 6-month period. Applicant with a failing score in the same position may not re-take the same selection device for a 6-month period.

Travel required, as needed. Must provide own transportation or in order to operate a state vehicle, you must have a valid driver’s license.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs, and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.