The Children’s Services Department (CSD), which includes the Home Study and Post Release Services Program, is driven by a mission that promotes the safety and well-being of unaccompanied children as they reunify with their families across the United States. As a department, our approach to care is through a child-centric and trauma-responsive lens and is tailored to the unique needs of the children and families we walk alongside. To fulfill our mission, we employ shared guiding principles of integrity, compassion, cooperation, accountability and belonging. The Children’s Services Department launched inaugural programming to serve unaccompanied children in 2021. In 2025, in partnership with the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), CWS provides home study and post release services throughout the United States.

Compensation is $1,200 + per completed home study.

Imagine waking up every morning with the chance to change someone's life. Imagine knowing your efforts will benefit both your career and our neighbors around the world. At CWS, our team knows they are making a difference every day. Whether you're in our U.S.-based offices supporting refugees, asylees or unaccompanied children ... implementing hygiene initiatives in Cambodia or rebuilding projects in Central America ... or even connecting remotely from your home on fundraising campaigns, grant reports, or critical communications - you have the opportunity to work towards a world where everyone has food, a voice and a safe place to call home.

The Home Study Contractor will conduct home study assessments for unaccompanied children in ORR care. The Home Study Contractor conducts document reviews, interviews, and home visits to evaluate the proposed placement and prepares the sponsor to receive and care for the child. Home Study services are conducted expeditiously, within 10 business days or less, using trauma-responsive, strengths-based, child-centric approaches. The Home Study Contractor provides a thorough, fact-based, written assessment of the placement and a recommendation for or against reunification based on all available information. Home studies may become available anywhere in the U.S. on short notice.

Contractors must cover a state or region or be willing to travel with limited notice within the U.S. and its territories. Contractors with hyper-local availability only will not be considered.

While CWS maintains an active roster of HS Contractors, assignments are based on business need and there is no guaranteed caseload or frequency of assignment. This is a contract role and not an employee position.

• Conduct document review to understand available information about the child’s history and identify any inconsistencies or significant gaps in information.
• Schedule and conduct interviews on short notice with unaccompanied children, their case manager and clinician, proposed sponsor, family in home country, and others, as appropriate.
• Conduct home visits to assess the physical space, with particular attention to the child’s proposed sleeping arrangements.
• Engage other household members in the interview and home visit, as appropriate.
• Provide psychoeducation on identified concerns and reasons for referral and assess the proposed sponsor’s ability to apply the information and provide care for the child.
• Address any discrepancies in information identified through the document review, interviews, and home study process.
• Screen for trafficking, potential labor exploitation threat or other risks presented by the sponsor or other household members.
• Identify viable resources in the sponsor’s community that are tailored to the needs of the family.
• Assist sponsors in accessing needed resources that should be in place to prepare for the child’s reunification.
• Assist the sponsor in mitigating any concerns identified to facilitate reunification, when safe and appropriate.
• Complete a thorough home study report and recommendation for or against reunification.
• Participate in training with the Senior Officer during regular business hours. Training required prior to beginning work, as needed to address policy changes (sometimes with limited notice) and renewal on an annual basis.
• Regularly check email and stay up to date on policy changes, often with short notice.
• Participate in regular case consultation with the Senior Officer during regular business hours.
• Complete any required edits to the home study report or additional assessment in a timely manner.
• Submit final home study report/recommendation within 8 business days.
• Complete significant incident reports as required by ORR, including mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect.
• Conduct home study activities 7 days a week, including evenings and weekends.
• Enter documentation in the CWS and government client databases.
• Conduct abbreviated home study assessments and addendums when new information is made available, as needed.

Experience:

Work with children and youth, family reunification/preservation, and/or foster care/child welfare and previous work experience and interest in working with foreign born populations is required. Ability to provide trauma-informed, child-centered services tailored to the unique needs of the children and families served by CWS.

Skills:

• Fluency in Spanish and English or English and another language commonly spoken by unaccompanied children.
• Knowledge of local community social services and other resources and be skilled in identifying resources in unfamiliar areas.
• Navigating complex systems (child welfare, immigration, court systems, etc.)

Education and Certifications:

• Masters in social work with 3 years' experience (5 years' experience with a BSW). Other degrees in behavioral health / science considered with relevant clinical experience.

• Social work (or similar) license preferred.
• Valid driver's license and insurance.
• Personal vehicle.
• Ability to travel within your region or nationally with limited notice.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends to meet home study timeframes.
• Maintain professional liability insurance.
• Maintain an adequate workspace to conduct sensitive and confidential interviews and other work tasks.
• Must be comfortable conducting visits in the client’s home, including in unfamiliar areas.
• Must be comfortable conducting home visits in the community in diverse areas of socio-economic backgrounds.
• Successfully pass PREA, FBI criminal and Child Abuse and Neglect Checks, and federal Suitability Determination by third party vendor (not affiliated with CWS).
• Reasonable proximity to airport.
• Requires a demonstrated commitment to fair and respectful treatment of all individuals.