Child Protective Service Agent

I. JOB SUMMARY

Main Topic: Human Geography
Secondary Topic: Environment and Society

Overview:  Child Protective Service Agent performs routine (journey-level) child protective services work. Their work involves obtaining information; investigating reports of alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation of children; participating in taking corrective action; and/or serving as conservator of a child. They work under moderate supervision, with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. The following are examples of Child Protective Service Agent job titles:

Social Workers typically identify children and communities in need of protection and help. They assess clients’ needs, situations, strengths, and support networks and help them adjust to changes and challenges in their lives, such as illness, divorce or abuse at home or outside. They also research, refer, and advocate for community resources, such as food stamps, childcare, and healthcare, to assist and improve the child’s well-being. They respond to crisis situations such as child abuse and mental health emergencies and also monitor the child’s situations, and follow up to ensure that they have improved. Some social workers get involved at a broad level to help community organizations and policymakers develop or improve social programs, services, and conditions. This is sometimes referred to as macro social work.

Child Protective Service Agents need geographic skills as the issues they handle are often influenced by and vary by location and the interaction between people and their different environments. Geographic location affects human behavior and contributes to wellbeing. Child Protective Service Agents could use geographic information systems (GIS), modeling software, and other computer programs to analyze and predict locational patterns of social behavior that directly correlates to the cases of child abuse and helps identify and record geographic patters and geographic causes for such incidences.

Geographers at work:  Health geographers, human geographers, social geographers, environmental geographers

Recommended College Courses:  Health geography, human geography, social geography, medical geography, environmental geography, geographic information science, physical geography

Skills:  Mapping and modeling, geographic information systems, computer and database systems, spatial analysis, map reading and interpretation

Occupation Group: Community and Social Services

Learn more about Child Protective Service Agent from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/social-workers.htm#tab-2; https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/JobDescriptions/R5024.pdf