Child Protective Services (CPS) Careers

This is an unpaid internship opportunity. Internship hours count towards years of service with HHS when applying for full-time positions.

Internship hours are typically Monday-Friday between 8:00 AM- 4:30 PM. 

As a social work intern, you will primarily spend your time alongside a social work case manager and experience what it is like to manage a caseload. Interns will have the opportunity to see all aspects of a case by also shadowing a child protection worker as they complete initial abuse assessments.

1. Currently enrolled as a student at a college or university.
2. Ability to work in the United States.
3. A valid driver’s license is required.
4. If offered the internship, you will be required to Pass a level 1 background check (Criminal History, Child and Adult Abuse Registry, Sex Offender Registry and National Criminal History).

Preference is often given for individuals with lived experience or the ability to speak more than one language. Lived experience could include experience with foster care or other HHS services. Please list examples of lived experience and any additional languages you speak in your application.

Fill out the Intern Interest Form

Black Hawk County

Assess

Rapidly respond to and assess child safety and wellbeing. De-escalation skills are critical to ensure safety of all and prevent further trauma to children.

Collaborate

Collaboration includes building and maintaining ongoing relationships with families, contracted providers, community resource agencies, attorneys, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the Court.

Strategize

Lead a team to help determine outcomes and strategies for each family you serve. This can include appropriate referrals for services and coordination with other HHS staff to ensure a successful case plan and family reunification.

This is a full-time opportunity, Monday – Friday with typical hours being from 8:00 AM- 4:30 PM. Hybrid telework options may be available after the probationary period.

The position is based in the assigned county and will serve clients in that and surrounding counties. 

Applicants must have one of the following experience options:

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university
• Four years of full-time work experience involving direct contact with people in overcoming their social, economic, psychological, or health problems
• Four years of combined education and experience (thirty semester hours = 1 year)
  • Example: 3 years of full-time work experience + 30 semester hours

Carroll County

Cerro Gordo County

Linn County

Polk County

Polk County (Part time)

Observe

Observe relationships, behaviors and home environments to identify reasonable facts, data, or other information to draw accurate conclusions.

Engage

All cases assigned to persons in this position require home visits, detailed interviews, and thorough narrative documentation. CPWs are expected to respectfully engage families as partners in planning for safety and reunification.

Communicate

Communication skills are key, along with the ability to provide good written documentation in a timely manner. It is important to communicate calmly when faced with crises and other high stress situations.

This is a full-time opportunity, Monday – Friday with typical hours being from 8:00 AM- 4:30 PM and paid overtime as needed. This position has an on-call rotation and will require working some evenings, weekends, and holidays. Hybrid telework options may be available after the probationary period.

The position is based in the assigned county and will serve clients in that and surrounding counties. 

Applicants must have one of the following experience options:

• A bachelor's degree in any field and three years of full-time experience in a social work capacity
• A bachelor's degree in social work and two years of full-time experience in a social work capacity
• A bachelor's degree in any field and three years of combined graduate education and full-time social work experience  (thirty semester hours = 1 year)
  • Example: bachelor's degree + 1 year of full-time experience + 60 semester hours of graduate education in the social or behavioral sciences
• A bachelor's degree in social work and two years of combined graduate education and full-time social work experience  (thirty semester hours = 1 year)
  • Example: bachelor's degree in social work + 1 year of full-time experience + 30 semester hours of graduate education in the social or behavioral sciences
• A master's degree in social work from an accredited college or university
• Current employees in the state executive branch with at least one year of full-time experience as a Social Worker 2 

Pottawattamie County

Sioux County