CPS Wendy's Wonderful Kids Recruiter and ADO Prep Worker

WHY WORK FOR DFPS?

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is responsible for protecting the unprotected — children, elderly, and people with disabilities — from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. DFPS accomplishes this responsibility by employing over 12,000 workers who live up to the agency's Mission, Vision, & Values in service to the citizens of Texas. DFPS is not only a qualifying organization for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program but also offers excellent health benefits, special discounts on many products and services through the Discount Purchase Program, longevity pay, generous paid leave, access to the Wellness program, lifetime retirement annuity, Texa$aver 401(k) and 457 Programs under the Employees Retirement System of Texas.

Functional Title: CPS Wendy's Wonderful Kids Recruiter and ADO Prep Worker 
Job Title: CPS CVS Spec III 
Agency: Dept of Family & Protectve Svc 
Department: Region 6A CPS Dir Del - CVS 
Posting Number: 9775 
Closing Date: 10/14/2025 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Protective Services 
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-19 
Salary Range: $4,020.33 - $6,335.66 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift:  
Telework: Not Eligible for Telework 
Travel: Up to 75% 
Regular/Temporary: Regular 
Full Time/Part Time: Full time 
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt 
Facility Location:  
Job Location City: HOUSTON 
Job Location Address: 2525 MURWORTH 
Other Locations:  
MOS Codes: 0149,5805,5821,5822,5832,14N,14NX,183X,1N0X1,230X,311A,31D,351L,351M,35L,35M,42SX,43HX,4C0X1,4E0X1 
5IX,683X,68X,71SX,73A,783X,HM,INV,IS,ISS,IV,MST,NC,OAP12 
 
 

Brief Job Description:

The position works under the supervision of the adoption preparation program. This position has dual responsibilities as a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Adoption Recruiter and an Adoption Preparation Caseworker. The intent for this position is to partner with the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoptions, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program. A reduced Adoption Preparation caseload may also be carried, as needed. Primary job responsibilities will be as a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Adoption Recruiter.

Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Recruiters will connect youth who wait for permanent homes with families who wish to adopt by implementing and coordinating effective recruitment, matching and support services for a secondary caseload of 12-15 youth in active recruitment status. The recruiter will use the evidence-based, child-focused recruitment model to identify legally permanent resources for youth in the county’s permanent custody or APPLA status who are over the age of nine, have special needs and/or are part of a sibling group.

Adoption Preparation Caseworkers provide permanent planning and placement services to abused or neglected children. The position supports families and children in dealing with separation and attachment issues in preparation for permanent placements, actively seeks placement options for specific children, and recommends placements. The position interacts routinely with Texas Department of Family and Protective Services staff, children, foster/adoptive parents, child placement agencies, lawyers, court personnel, therapist, and other state agencies.

Essential Job Functions:

• Work in partnership with agency staff to identify youth for referrals
  Review the case record, interview the youth, primary caseworker, other agency staff with knowledge of the case and any available family members and/or other supportive connections to assist in the recruitment process.
• Utilize internet search tools to identify and locate resources within the youth’s network. 
• Develop an initial written adoption readiness assessment describing the youth’s understanding and feelings about adoption.
• Create child-focused recruitment plans for the youth.
• Frequency of contact with youth will be determined
• Communicate with the primary caseworker on a monthly basis to review the progress of the recruitment plan.
• Meet with family members and supportive connections to discuss the progress of locating permanent resources for the youth.
• Once matched, work with the primary caseworker, youth and the adoptive resource to ensure preplacement visits are implemented
  Assist with the development and coordination of the transition plan with the youth and matched family. Work with the youth and family during the transition process to assist with placement support.
• Work in conjunction with the primary caseworker to ensure that the adoptive family is working towards adoption finalization.
• Attend educational opportunities provided by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption including, but not limited to: WWK classroom training, online modules, database training, webinars, and the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Summit hosted by the Foundation
• Submit monthly data in the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids database.
  Recruits, identifies, and matches children with prospective adoptive families; and provides services to children in adoptive placement
• Maintains sufficient case documentation, including forms and contacts, to provide a complete and accurate written record
• Builds and maintains communication and working relationships within the program and region and community groups to ensure that the objectives of the agency are accomplished.
• Conducts assessments of current life situations of child or children and families to determine the presence of child abuse and neglect.
• Provides services after normal working hours and on weekends to maintain 24-hour coverage.
• Performs other duties as assigned and required to maintain unit operations.
• Promotes and demonstrates appropriate respect for cultural diversity among coworkers and all work-related contacts.
• Attends work regularly in accordance with agency leave policy.

Knowledge Skills Abilities:

• Belief that all children deserve legal permanency.
• Highly motivated self-starter.
• Knowledgeable regarding impact of trauma and trauma-informed practices.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and manage multiple projects and cultivate relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate strong working relationships with diverse populations, including public agency staff.
• Willingness to engage in cold calling people identified as current and previous connections of the youth.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Expertise in providing family support/excellent customer service.
• Ability and willingness to travel with the flexibility to work evenings and occasional weekends.
• Computer literacy and efficiency with MS Office software.
• Must have a commitment to work from a strength-based and/or youth development perspective.
• Knowledge of good child placement practices
• Skills in preparing children for adoptive placements
• Skills in developing and maintaining professional working relationships
• Ability to support families in dealing with separation and attachment issues
• Ability to assess child’s needs and progress in the placement process
• Ability to maintain timely documentation and effectively manage a caseload
• Ability to convey information in a clear and concise manner
• Ability to assess current life situations of children to determine the presence of child abuse and/or neglect

Registration or Licensure Requirements:
This position requires use of the applicant's personal motor vehicle to complete job functions.

Applicants for positions must have a reliable motor vehicle, and acceptable driving record for the past five years, and a current, valid Texas driver's license appropriate for the vehicle and passenger or cargo load. Applicants must provide proof of driving record, insurance and license.

Initial Screening Criteria:
Relevant experience in child welfare including experience of issues surrounding foster care, adoption, trauma, medical and developmental needs and the importance of legal permanency are recommended as well as familiarity with state child welfare rules and procedures and the juvenile and/or probate court systems.

***Preferred four years CVS experience. Can be substituted for 2 years Adoption Preparation experience. Adoption Preparation experience is preferred.
Child Protective Services Specialist I: An accredited Bachelor's degree OR accredited Associate's degree plus two (2) years of relevant work experience OR 60 accredited college credit hours plus two (2) years relevant work experience OR 90 accredited college credit hours plus one (1) year of relevant work experience.

Examples of relevant work experience in social, human, or protective services include paid or volunteer work within social service agencies or communities providing services to families or other at-risk populations.

Child Protective Services Specialist II: Employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist I for 9 months AND have received Child Protective Services Specialist Certification OR currently employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist II in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist II in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Child Protective Services Specialist III: Employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist II for 9 months AND have received Advanced Child Protective Services Specialist Certification OR currently employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist III in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist III in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Child Protective Services Specialist IV: Employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist III for 24 months AND have received Senior Advanced Child Protective Services Specialist Certification OR currently employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist IV in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services OR previously employed as a Child Protective Services Specialist IV in Texas Department of Family and Protective Services.

Additional Information:
Successful completion of any associated writing assessment.

This position may be filled at any level from a CPS Specialist I to CPS Specialist IV. Factors such as education and experience may be considered when establishing the starting salary.


COMPETENCIES REQUIRED/ACQUIRED DURING THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF EMPLOYMENT:

PROCESS COMPETENCIES
A process competency refers to a general approach to practice that can be observed in a newly hired CPS Specialists' interactions with children, families, and safety networks.

Engaging

• Understands and can articulate how family engagement is critical to achieving safety, permanency, and well-being.
• Can identify basic strategies for engaging children and families.
• Understands and appreciates the different views, expertise and experience of others; takes into account the perspectives of other individuals

Teaming

• Understands the need to expand the child's safety network beyond caregivers and to other adults who care about the child and can participate in day-to-day safety of the child.
• Interviews caregivers to identify individuals who may be supportive of the caregiver and/or child.
  Interviews children to identify individuals who may be supportive of the child and/or caregiver.

Assessing

• Understands and is able to articulate the concept of child safety.
  Is able to identify one's own biases and is willing to challenge one's own thinking.
• Regularly seeks information from a variety of sources to make and revise assessments.
• Understands the importance of and is able to make judgments based on factual information vs. assumptions.

Planning

• Considers ways to ensure personal safety in addition to safety of children and families during interviews and other meeting.

Intervening

• Understands and is able to articulate what an intervention is and the variety of interventions CPS might use under which circumstances.

Evaluating

• Understands and is able to articulate personal responsibility for outcomes in a case.
  
  

CONTENT COMPETENCY
A content competency refers to a specialized domain of knowledge that should be integrated into process competencies.

Domestic Violence

• Understands and is able to identify power and control.
• Distinguishes domestic violence from other types of violence
  Is able to identify and refer both victims and perpetrators of domestic violence to appropriate services.

Mental Health

• Can articulate symptoms of broad mental health diagnostic categories.
• Is able to make appropriate referrals for crisis intervention, psychological and psychiatric evaluations.
• Can articulate mental health resilience factors and recovery process.
  
  Substance Abuse
• Distinguishes between substance use, abuse, and chemical dependency.
• Can articulate physical and behavioral warning signs of substance use and abuse.
• Administers and/or makes referrals for drug testing as appropriate.
• Makes referrals to community and contracted services available to treat substance abuse.
• Can articulate substance abuse resiliency factors and recovery process.
  
  

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES

• Demonstrates a basic understanding of the following
  Federal and state law, regulations and rules for the operation of child protection programs.
• The Statutory Responsibility for reporting suspected abuse and neglect
• Roles and responsibilities of participants in the global child welfare system, including children, families, child protection, various courts, and other child/family serving agencies
• Legal definitions and concepts, including ethics, and is able to apply them within the law to casework and judicial process
  
  

Establishes Effective Relationships with Colleagues

• Is willing to accept and provide support and assistance from/to co-workers, supervisors and other child protective services employees
• Is able to build and maintain effective working relationships with external stakeholders

Follows policy and procedures

• Is able to learn and understand the specific policies and procedures for child protective services
• Understands the policy requirements of ethical practice and the ramifications to staff and clients when this does not occur.
• Demonstrates adherence to policy and best practice

Review our Tips for Success when applying for jobs at DFPS, DSHS and HHSC.

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor’s Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions. You may also contact the DFPS Military Liaison at dfpsmilvets@dfps.texas.gov with additional questions.

Applicants selected for hire must pass a background check and if applicable a driver’s record check.

State of Texas employees are required to maintain the security and integrity of critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2), State of Texas Business and Commerce Code. Applicants selected for hire comply with this code by completing related training and abiding by agency cybersecurity and communications system usage policies.

As a state agency, DFPS is required by Texas Administrative Code (TAC 206 and 213) to ensure all Electronic Information Resources (EIR) follow accessibility standards. The staff must be familiar with the WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 to create accessible content including but not limited to; Microsoft Office documents, Adobe PDFs, webpages, software, training guides, video, and audio files. 

DFPS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Employees must provide documentation to DFPS to show their identity and authorization to work in the US. Please review the following link for authorized documents: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents .

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS/DFPS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS/DFPS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.