The Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) was created in 2018 to be the comprehensive state agency delivering public services to promote the health, safety, and well-being of children and youth. Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy—thriving physically, emotionally, and academically, nurtured by family and community."

This team operates exclusively in partnership with the King County Family Treatment Court (KCFTC), a therapeutic division of the King County Superior Court's child dependency division. Our child welfare caseworkers are specifically trained in providing services and engagement for parents experiencing substance use disorders. With our court partners, we wrap around families with support, encouragement, and accountability as they take on the challenging journey of treatment, recovery, and reunification with their children out of the foster care system.

Focus: Direct engagement with parents, children, and caregivers involved in Family Treatment Court.

Activities May Include:
-Observing and supporting caseworkers in engaging families affected by substance use and child welfare involvement.
-Practicing trauma-informed, strengths-based communication during case reviews and interactions.
-Assisting with service coordination, such as connecting families to treatment programs, parenting classes, and housing supports.
-Supporting goal-setting and progress monitoring for parents in reunification plans.
-Gaining insight into challenges faced by individuals navigating multiple systems (child welfare, courts, behavioral health).

Focus: Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and participation in program- and community-level processes.

Activities May Include:
-Attending and contributing to multidisciplinary team meetings involving DCYF staff, legal professionals, substance use providers, and court-appointed advocates.
-Participating in case staffings and Family Treatment Court hearings that promote coordinated service delivery.
-Observing the dynamics of cross-system collaboration in supporting family-centered care.
-Learning about and interacting with community assets that promote recovery and safe parenting, such as parenting programs, peer support services, the treatment service array, and recovery communities where appropriate.
-Contributing to feedback loops and program development in both DCYF and KCFTC to improve service integration and collaboration between agencies.

Focus: Understanding and engaging with systemic, policy-level, and institutional practices.

Activities May Include:
-Analyzing how state-level policies and laws (e.g., child welfare mandates, substance use treatment access, insurance and funding sources) affect families in the child welfare system.
-Examining the impact and taking on the root causes of systemic inequities, such as racial disproportionality, in the context of family court.
-Engaging in policy discussions or research related to improving court practices or DCYF procedures.
-Reflecting on advocacy strategies to address gaps in services or barriers to equitable family outcomes.

Candidates should have a valid drivers license as this field placement involves independent travel to family homes, court, and other off-site meetings (agency vehicles are available to check out).

Candidates must complete a background check.

We welcome both BASW and MSW students for this field placement. No prior experience in child welfare, courts, or substance use treatment is required. We are committed to providing a supportive, educational environment that meets each intern where they are in their professional development.

Ideal candidates will bring:
-A commitment to learning about social work practice across systems (child welfare, behavioral health, legal).
-An interest in working with children, families, and parents navigating complex challenges.
-A willingness to engage in reflective practice and supervision.
-Strong interpersonal skills, cultural humility, and a trauma-informed perspective (or willingness to develop these).
-The ability to maintain confidentiality, boundaries, and professionalism in diverse settings.
-Learning experiences will be individually tailored to align with each intern’s academic level, learning goals, and prior experience, ensuring meaningful skill-building and exposure to core social work competencies.

Email supervisor Charles Loeffler at charles.loeffler@dcyf.wa.gov. Please include your name, contact information, your current academic program, any prior experience or education (a resume or CV is helpful but not required), and a brief statement of why you are interested in placement with the DCYF Family Treatment Court unit.