• This position is open until filled, with an initial application review to take place after February 11, 2026.
• The salary for this position is budgeted at $6,933.20 per month.

The HHSA/SDSU Liaison serves as the primary point of coordination between San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), Child and Family Well-Being (CFWB), and the SDSU School of Social Work California Title IV-E Program. This role ensures the effective implementation of Field Practicum requirements and compliance with California Title IV-E Child Welfare Stipend Program guidelines.

The position oversees comprehensive coordination and tracking of SDSU School of Social Work interns and field instructors across the greater San Diego HHSA regions/programs. In collaboration with the Cal IV-E Project Coordinator, the HHSA/SDSU Liaison develops, implements, and supports service delivery aligned with California Title IV-E child welfare competencies.

Responsibilities:

The Program Specialist I is responsible for, but not limited to, the following:

• Participate in the practicum placement process for California Title IV-E MSW and BASW students in accordance with SDSU policies and procedures.
• Identify, recruit, screen, develop, and evaluate child welfare service (CWS) programs and field instructors for California Title IV-E placements.
• Provides training and facilitates CWS meetings to interpret and reinforce SDSU School of Social Work policies, field instruction standards, and supervision practices.
• Offer ongoing consultation and collaboration with field instructors to support student learning, address concerns, mediate challenges, and strengthen integration of classroom and field education.
• Serve as a liaison between SDSU, San Diego County, and community child welfare agencies to support intern assessment, communication, and program feedback.
• Recruit, interview, screen, and assign California Title IV-E interns in collaboration with the California Title IV-E Project Coordinator.
• Assist the California Title IV-E Coordinator in planning and implementing educational experiences and learning activities that ensure achievement of child welfare competencies.
• Monitor and evaluate liability and risk management issues related to students and participating agencies.
• Complete field administration tasks, maintain accurate records, and provide required program updates.
• Participate in the School of Social Work, California Title IV-E meetings, and program events as required
• Recruit, mentor, and support HHSA employees through the application process for the BASW/MSW program.
• Provide ongoing guidance and support to part-time MSW students throughout their academic program.
• Develop and implement a retention plan to ensure Cal Title IV-E students successfully complete their service requirement in San Diego County.
• Maintain continuous support for Cal Title IV-E students working in the County of San Diego during their service commitment, including in-person support across HHSA regions/programs

Knowledge and Abilities

• Ability to display organization, meet deadlines, display detail orientation, possess good judgment and common sense
• Ability to interact effectively with co-workers, and Cal IV-E students and HHSA employees
• Ability to understand and follow posted work rules and procedures
• Ability to relate well to others within the project environment.
• Ability to display motivation and strong interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of cross-cultural sensitivity
• Experience in curriculum development and training
• Knowledge of child welfare agencies
• Demonstrated excellence in administrative, collaborative, interpersonal, and organizational skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Required Minimum  Qualifications

• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in appropriate field related to program/project, or additional experience may be substituted for the required education on a year for year basis
  
• Two years of progressively responsible experience in technical or administrative assignments.

Preferred Qualifications

• MSW from an accredited school of social work; LCSW preferred. 
• Minimum of five years post master’s degree experience in a public or private agency, providing direct and administrative service delivery. 
• Field instructor for MSWstudents with a minimum ofthree years, preferred.

ADDITIONAL APPLICANT INFORMATION

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.  
• Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support. 
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.  
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.