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.

In this role, you will serve as a statewide leader in partnership with Ohio’s Public Children Services Agencies (PCSAs), Title IV-E Courts, and private providers in delivering high quality, compliant children services. Your work will blend policy expertise, operational oversight, staff leadership, and relationship building across county, state, and federal partners.

What You’ll Do Day to Day

• Lead Statewide Monitoring and Quality Improvement Efforts - You will oversee Ohio’s Children Services Quality Assurance and Continuous Quality Improvement programs. This includes ensuring counties and providers comply with all relevant state and federal rules, and that child protective services practices meet high standards of safety, consistency, and integrity.
• Develop and Interpret Policy - You will analyze pending and current laws and regulations, determine their impact on the field, and collaborate in establishing program policies, procedures, goals, and operating guidelines. Your expertise will help counties understand what’s required and why, and you’ll play a key role in shaping Ohio’s overall child welfare strategy.
• Provide Technical Assistance - You’ll collaborate closely with PCSA staff and administrators, Title IV-E Courts, and Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY) staff to strengthen local practice and improve outcomes for children and families.
• Guide Operational Strategy - You will design statewide implementation plans to enhance how technical assistance and monitoring are delivered. This includes evaluating current practices, proposing improvements, and making recommendations on fiscal and resource impacts.
• Represent the Bureau Across the State - Conferences, meetings, briefings, and trainings will be a regular part of your schedule. You may draft speeches, write position papers, and respond to inquiries from government officials and partner agencies.
• Produce Reports and Documentation - You will create comprehensive reports that summarize monitoring results, describe program performance, and provide recommendations. Clear communication—written and verbal—is essential.

You will supervise assigned staff, which includes setting goals, assigning work, reviewing performance, providing coaching, approving leave, and recommending hires or disciplinary actions. You’ll run staff meetings and support your team’s professional development.

Additional Expectations

• Attend meetings, trainings, and travel statewide as needed
• Use a computer daily to prepare reports, correspondence, and documentation
• Maintain logs, files, and program records
• Take on other duties that support the bureau’s mission and statewide child welfare efforts

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.

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.

72 mos. exp. in researching, developing, or implementing policies related to social services, health services, public policy, or comparable field; 12 mos. exp. in delivery of human services in a governmental, community, or private human support services agency.

-Or completion of undergraduate core program in social or behavioral science; 48 mos. exp. in researching, developing, or implementing policies related to social services, health services, public policy, or comparable field; 12 mos. exp. in delivery of human services in a governmental, community, or private human support services agency.

-Or completion of graduate core program in social or behavioral science; 36 mos. exp. in researching, developing, or implementing policies related to social services, health services, public policy, or comparable field; 12 mos. exp. in delivery of human services in a governmental, community, or private human support services agency.

-Or 12 mos. exp. as Human Services Developer, 69463.

-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.