Child Development Jobs in Baton Rouge, LA (NOW HIRING)

Salary: Depends on Qualifications
Location : Statewide, LA
Job Type: Classified
Job Number: COVCWST1-3CP12ndShift6-12-27
Department: DCFS-Department of Children and Family Services
Opening Date: 06/15/2026
About this Job
Department MISSION
DCFS is working to keep children safe, helping individuals and families become self-sufficient, and providing safe refuge during disasters.
Department VISION
We care for the well-being and safety of Louisiana's people.
Department VALUES
Treating all people with dignity, compassion and respect, while providing services with integrity.
This is a second-shift opportunity, offering a consistent 4-day workweek (10-hour shifts from 1:30 PM to midnight), with three days off each week-including every other weekend. This schedule includes some weekends and holidays, providing a unique opportunity for work-life balance while making a meaningful impact in your community.
Help make a difference and join our team today. To see if this job is right for you, please view our job preview video here:Learn more about the benefits to working for DCFS by visiting our careers page.
This announcement serves to fill vacancies in one of the following parishes: Livingston, Tangipahoa, St. Tammany, and Washington.
Minimum Qualifications
Three years of experience in child welfare; OR
Six years of full-time work experience in any field; OR
A bachelor's degree.
EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTION:
Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:
Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent.
A current driver's license and access to a personal vehicle.
NOTE:
The incumbent of this position must not have been convicted or pled nolo contendere to a crime listed in R.S. 15.587.1 (c).
Job Specification
The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.
Job Duties and Other Information
Job Duties:

• Conduct investigations into allegations of child abuse and or neglect.
• Support first-shift staff by assisting with backlog cases.
• Gather and document detailed case information and records for court proceedings and provide testimony during court proceedings.
• Make timely and appropriate referrals to family services, foster care programs, and other community-based resources to address the needs of children and families

Position Specific Details:
Appointment Type: Job Appointment
Career Progression Group: Child Welfare Specialist Trainee/1/2/3 (based on experience).
Location: Placement will be determined by parish availability and your location preferences.
Compensation: The referenced positions have a Special Entrance Rate (SER) see below:
Child Welfare Specialist Trainee - SER: $1,649.60bi-weekly
Child Welfare Specialist 1 - SER: $1,764.80bi-weekly
Child Welfare Specialist 2 - SER: $1,820.80 bi-weekly
Child Welfare Specialist 3 - SER: $1,948.00 bi-weekly
How To Apply:
No Civil Service Test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.
To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.
*Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in this application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.
Contact Information:
For further information about this vacancy, contact:
Miranda Batiste via email at
DCFS is an "Equal Opportunity Employer" and Louisiana is a "State as a Model Employer for People with Disabilities"
Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.
As a state employee, you will earn competitive pay, choose from a variety of benefits, and have access to a great professional development program:
Insurance Coverage More information can be found at
Parental Leave - Up to six weeks paid parental leave
More information can be found at
Holidays and Leave - State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
• Mardi Gras,
• Good Friday,
• Memorial Day,
• Independence Day,
• Labor Day,
• Veteran's Day,
• Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

***** Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor
State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.
Retirement- State of Louisiana employees are eligible to participate in various retirement systems (based on the type of appointment and agency for which an employee works). These retirement systems provide retirement allowances and other benefits for state officers and employees and their beneficiaries. State retirement systems may include (but are not limited to):

• Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
• Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (),
• Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (), among others

01
Do you have any immediate family members or relatives who are currently employed with DCFS? Immediate family member is defined as children (blood, step, adopted), spouse, brother, sister, father, mother, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, daughter-in-law, son-in-law, mother-in-law and father-in-law. Relative includes immediate family members previously defined and also includes grandfather, grandmother, grandson, granddaughter, uncle, aunt, niece and nephew.

• Yes
• No

02
If you answered "yes" to the above question, please list the name of your immediate family member and/or relatives currently employed by DCFS. If you answered "no" to the above question, enter N/A.
03
This position requires coverage of the second shift for Child Protective Service investigations, including nights, weekends, and holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. Are you available to working outside the standard Monday through Friday schedule?

• Yes
• No

04
This position involves investigating suspected child abuse or neglect, assessing the risk of children remaining in the home, conducting interviews with children, caregivers, and professionals, making safety recommendations, and connecting families to services across diverse socioeconomic and living situations. With specialized training provided, are you comfortable with the responsibilities and demands of this role?

• Yes
• No

05
If selected for this position, you may be required to travel across multiple parishes within your assigned region during your shift. Are you comfortable with this requirement?

• Yes
• No

06
All investigators must have reliable transportation, a valid Louisiana driver's license and registration, and an acceptable driving record, as duties may include transporting children and families. Do you meet these requirements or, if relocating, can you meet these requirements with 30 days of establishing residency?

• Yes
• No

07
This position has a start date of September 15, 2025, and does not offer or cover relocation incentives. Are you comfortable with these conditions?

• Yes
• No

08
6. How did you hear about this posting: Indeed, LinkedIn, Handshake, State Civil Service, or Other?

• Indeed
• LinkedIn
• Handshake
• State Civil Service
• Other

09
Do you possess a high school diploma or equivalent?

• Yes
• No

10
Please list at least 3 parishes you are willing to work in?

• Livingston
• Tangipahoa
• St. Tammany
• Washington

Required Question