Salary: $26.56 - $33.64 Hourly
Location : Polk County, East Grand Forks, MN
Job Type: Full Time Permanent
Job Number: 920-60
County: Polk County Social Service Center
Opening Date: 06/25/2026
Closing Date: 7/10/2026 4:30 PM Central
Classification Summary
Social Services has an opening for a full-time permanent Family Based Service Provider position in East Grand Forks, MN.
Under supervision, assists professional staff in the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect; works directly in the home to reduce the incidence of abuse and neglect and to prevent or shorten out-of-home placement; works toward reunification of family in out-of-home placements; and performs related work as assigned.
Polk County in northwestern Minnesota offers a variety of activities, including exploring parks and trails, visiting historical sites, and enjoying outdoor recreation.
East Grand Forks is characterized by small town friendliness and hosts several community events including Catfish Days, fishing tournaments, Heritage Days and Arts and Crafts exposition each year.
Polk County offers a highly competitive benefits package including affordable healthcare plans through BCBS with attractive low-cost family healthcare plans, dental, vision, life, long-term and short-term disability coverage; flexible spending accounts; PERA retirement with contributions made by the County, vacation and sick leave, and access to many other health and wellness programs.
Polk County Social Services is dedicated to providing quality services through social and financial assistance programs to individuals and families in an equitable, compassionate manner, which affirms the value and uniqueness of each individual.
These services are provided by a professional staff committed to enhancing the quality of life for people while ensuring the cost-effective expenditure of public funds consistent with state and federal requirements.
See examination process below for information on how to apply.
Examples of Duties
Merit System Examples of Duties
• Assesses family dynamics in conjunction with the social worker in order to determine needs and level of service to be provided family.
• Develops concrete goals and expectations in conjunction with the social worker and the family.
• Demonstrates and teaches clients parenting skills, nurturing skills, discipline methods and child growth and development.
• Demonstrates and teaches household, time and money management techniques.
• Teaches clients health, safety and nutritional needs of the family and how to meet these needs.
• Teaches clients how to effectively deal with/manage stress.
• Demonstrates and teaches verbal and nonverbal communication skills.
• Serves as an appropriate role model for families and provides on-going support and encouragement to clients in order to build self-esteem.
• Assists family members to understand and cope with separation and loss issues.
• Gives testimony in court for agency or may accompany client to court to give support.
• Recognizes and reports indicators of neglect and emotional, physical and sexual abuse of both children and adults.
• Makes appropriate referrals to other community agencies if signs or symptoms of other problems are exhibited.
• Guides the client in the development or restoration of socialization skills, including the ability to use recreation effectively.
• Documents significant information in case files and prepares written reports for social workers.
• Assists in the formation and implementation of parent education classes and encourages and assists parents in participating in them and other support groups.
• May serve as protective payee for client, which includes setting up budgets, negotiating with creditors, balancing checking accounts and distributing checks.
Minimum Qualifications
Minnesota Merit System Minimum Qualifications
High school graduate (or GED equivalent) and two (2) years of home management experience whichincludeschild care experience
(application must define timeframe and home/child care detailed work experience);
OR
Two (2) years of accredited, related, college coursework with emphasis in home economics, child development, health, social work, sociology, psychology, or a related behavioral science.
Candidates must indicate the total number of years of home management and child care experience on an attachment to the application.
Examination Process
The examination will consist entirely of a experience and training rating. Candidates will be asked to complete a supplementary questionnaire which covers:
- education;
- knowledge of child development and child care methods;
- experience providing training on a one-to-one basis or to small groups;
- experience working in an agency providing social services;
- knowledge of home management principles; and
- written communications.
Candidates must indicate the total number of years of home management and child care experience on an attachment to the application.
To apply for this position:
Complete a Merit System application by clicking this link:
Family Based Services Provider
Wage range for this position is $26.56 - $33.64/hour. For more information about the position, please contact Alicia Kieckbusch at 218-470-8428. Deadline to apply is
July 10, 2026. Polk County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
An Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer
The following benefits may be available and vary by County, please check with the County directly to see what types of benefits they offer:
- Pension/Retirement Benefits
- Insurance Benefits, including health and dental
- Pre-Tax flexible spending accounts
- Health savings account
- Employer paid life insurance
- PTO - Vacation/Sick Leave
- Paid holidays
- Flexible work schedule
- Monday - Friday work week, weekends off
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
01
Verification StatementSome positions under the Merit System require a certain amount of specialized experience. I understand that any claims of experience in the following questions will be verified against the experience I have listed in my application. Any claims in these questions not substantianted by my experience will result in ineligibility for positions requiring it.
02
Education for Family Based Service Providers
- Master's degree in social work, psychology, counseling or closely related human services field.
- Completion of one year of graduate school with emphasis in social work, psychology, counseling or closely related field. (Minimum of 32 credits or the equivalent).
- Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, sociology, home economics, child development, health, or closely related field.
- Completion of two years of college with emphasis (23 quarter credits or 16 semester credits) in social work, psychology, sociology, home economics, child development, health, or closely related field.
- None of the above
03
Child development and child care methods Knowledge of child development and child care methods (child care experience)
- I have had at least 10 years of child care experience
- I have had at least 8 years of child care experience
- I have had at least 6 years of child care experience
- I have had at least 4 years of child care experience
- I have had at least 2 years of child care experience
- I have had no child care experience
04
Training/teachingExperience conducting training, which would include designing training programs and conducting ongoing training presentations, preparation of materials for training presentations, and evaluation of the effectiveness of the training.
- I have had experience designing training programs, preparing materials for training presentations, and conducting ongoing training presentations.
- I have had experience assisting in designing training programs, preparing materials for training and conducting ongoing training presentations
- I have had experience conducting ongoing training presentations
- I have had experience conducting training on a one-to-one basis
- I have no experience conducting training.
05
Experience in a social/human services agencyExperience includes paid or unpaid work experience for an agency providing services to economically disadvantaged clients
- I have worked for an agency providing social services to economically disadvantaged clients. I have assisted in developing new resources to meet clients= needs, referred clients to available community resources, performed case management services, determined eligibility for services and acted as an advocate for clients.
- I have worked for an agency providing social services to economically disadvantaged clients. I have had experience performing at least three of the following: developing new resources to meet clients= needs, referring clients to available community resources, performing case management services, determining eligibility for services and acting as an advocate for clients.
- I have worked for an agency providing social services to economically disadvantaged. I have had experience performing at least one of the following: developing new resources to meet clients= needs, referring clients to available community resources, performing case management services, determining eligibility for services and acting as an advocate for clients.
- I have worked for an agency providing social services to economically disadvantaged clients. I have provided basic program information to clients and have answered basic questions about available services.
- I have had no experience working for an agency providing social services.
06
Home management experience Experience includes paid or unpaid work experience in home management, which includes meal planning and preparation, budgeting, and maintaining a clean, safe environment.
- I have had at least 10 years of home management experience.
- I have had at least 8 years of home management experience.
- I have had at least 6 years of home management experience.
- I have had at least 4 years of home management experience
- I have had at least 2 years of home management experience.
- I have had no home management experience
07
Written CommunicationsExperience gathering information, analyzing information and writing a narrative report.
- I have experience gathering information, analyzing information and preparing a report which includes a recommendation on a course of action and justification for such action
- I have experience participating in data gathering and report writing. The final report was edited by other staff or my supervisor.
- I have experience gathering information and preparing final copy correspondence
- I have at least 16 semester credits or 23 quarter credits in English composition, report writing, journalism, or closely related subject.
- I have had some experience in preparing rough drafts of correspondence for approval
- None of the above
08
Recruitment Effectiveness: Where did you learn about this opportunity?
- Merit System Website
- County website
- College website (Please Specify below)
- Career Fair (Please Specify below)
- Alumni Newsletter (Please Specify below)
- Job Listserve (Please Specify below)
- U of MN Goldpass (www.goldpass.umn.edu)
- Landit.org
- Local Newspaper (Please Specify below)
- Non-profit agency (Please Specify below)
- Community website (Please Specify below)
- MN Council of Non-Profits Website (www.mncn.org)
- Professional Conference (Please Specify below)
- Other (Please Specify)
09
Please Specify as indicated above:
Required Question
