Kinship Navigator Specialist - Social Worker

Social WorkerNo nightsFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Job Details:

Level: Entry, Job Location: Iowa City Campus - Iowa City, IA 52240, Position Type: Full Time, Education Level: Bachelor's Degree, Job Shift: 1st Shift, Job Category: Nonprofit - Social Services, What you will do?

As the Kinship Navigator Specialist you will provide individualized services that incorporate the voices of children, parents, kin, fictive kin and community partners in order to achieve positive outcomes for children and their families.

This program is structured to meet the needs of kinship caregivers while supporting placement stability, reunification and child safety. Specific responsibilities include: Making an assessment of kinship caregiver needs related to identifying the best way to support them and children in their care.

Development of a Kinship Support Plan with action steps to specified outcomes including: Support and identification of affordable childcare Access to medical, dental and mental health services Ensuring the basic needs are being met including clothing, furniture, food and gas cards Associating with support groups to provide an outlet for shared communication and emotional support.

Connecting kinship caregivers with supplemental resources such s food assistance, child care, family investment program (FIP0, medical insurance and/or legal aid. What are the Goals?

Create a safe, stable and supportive home environment for children Keep children within their natural supports Understand gaps and delays with service delivery to kinship caregivers Maintain and engage kinship caregivers using a strength-based approach Increase kinship placements Decrease lateral movements Why Work here?

Four Oaks understands the importance of supporting and treating one another as if they were our own family members. We believe in maintaining a healthy work/life balance while providing career paths for everyone. Our organization flourishes in an environment of equal opportunity and fair treatment for all.

The effects of diversity and inclusion have created an atmosphere of positivity which connects us to the customers we serve.

As a valued team member, you are eligible for: Medical, dental & vision insurance 401k Retirement plan Growth & Advancement opportunities Excellent paid leave time package 7 Paid holidays Flexible Work

Schedule

Business casual work environment Educational discounts Qualifications & Program Information: What you need: To qualify you must possess a Bachelor's Degree, Master's or AA degree in social work or a human services related field plus two (2) years of full time paid experience in child welfare or a Master's Degree in Human Services. Prior experience in working with Foster and Adoptive families is a plus!

Key Responsibilities

The Kinship Navigator Specialist provides individualized services to kinship caregivers to ensure child safety, placement stability, and reunification. Responsibilities include assessing caregiver needs, developing support plans, and connecting families with essential resources like childcare, medical services, and financial assistance.

Requirements

Candidates must possess a Bachelor's degree in social work or a human services related field, plus two years of full-time paid experience in child welfare. Alternatively, a Master's degree in Human Services is accepted.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Case managementSupport planningResource coordinationFamily supportCrisis interventionAdvocacyDocumentation

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Kinship Navigator Specialist - Social Worker at Four Oaks Family and Childrens Services a 6.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Social Work — ranked against 6,472 active Social Work listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no night shifts.

Social Worker Career Context

Of the 50 active Social Work listings this role was benchmarked against, 62% are remote, 34% have no call, 74% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Iowa is 87.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.8% of Iowa clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Social Worker Jobs

41 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution34 jobs · 22 employers

10
<$90k
10
$90k-105k
7
$105k-120k
7
$120k-135k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks38 jobs · 22 employers

401k / retirement match
95% this job
Sign-on bonus
42%
CME allowance
13%
PSLF eligible
8%
Loan repayment
5%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

LICSW - Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

LifeStance Health · St. Paul, Minnesota

$73k-$126k
#2

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Therapist - LICSW/LPCC/LMFT

LifeStance Health · Saint Louis Park, Minnesota

$74k-$126k
#3

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT, LPC, LCSW)

$92k-$125k
#4

Licensed Mental Health Therapist (LMFT, LMHC, LCSW)

$115k-$120k
+ 39 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.0this job 6.2
Better work-life than 60% of Social Work listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 6,472 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No nights

Living in Iowa City

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$296k
Typical market rent
$1,270/mo
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
91.5
State income tax
Up to 6%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026).

BEA 2024 · Iowa City, IA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Four Oaks Family and Childrens Services logo

About Four Oaks Family and Childrens Services

Non-profit Organizations
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
501-1,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical, dental & vision insurance
401k Retirement plan
Growth & Advancement opportunities
Excellent paid leave time package
7 Paid holidays
Flexible Work Schedule
Business casual work environment
Educational discounts