Contract Home Study Writer (Houston) at DePelchin Children’s Center – Houston, Texas

Position: Home Study Writer
Job Type: Independent Contractor (1099)
Location: Houston, TX (remote work with required in-home visits)

About the Role:
DePelchin is seeking a skilled and compassionate Bilingual Home Study Writer to support families pursuing foster care, adoption, kinship care, and respite services. This contract role is ideal for an individual who is highly organized, confident in interviewing, and able to produce thorough, strengths-based assessments that align with Texas Minimum Standards and Council on Accreditation (COA) requirements.

The Home Study Writer will complete assigned home study assessments from initial family contact through submission of a finalized written report.

Scope of Work / Key Deliverables:
Contractor will be responsible for completing the home study process for assigned families, including:

• Reviewing all family records, documents, renewals, and training materials provided by the recruitment team through Binti and Extended Reach.
• Contacting assigned families within two (2) business days of assignment.
• Scheduling and conducting interviews with applicants, including individual interviews, joint couple interview, and full household interview when applicable.
• Interviewing all household members and caregivers as required.
• Assessing family readiness and appropriateness to foster, adopt, provide kinship care, or offer respite services.
• Conducting an in-person home visit and completing the required environmental checklist.
• Writing a comprehensive home study assessment that meets Texas Minimum Standards and COA requirements, highlights family strengths, identifies potential challenges or concerns, and provides a clear recommendation for approval or denial.
• Presenting assigned cases to the Home Study Committee, responding to questions, and incorporating feedback.
• Revising and finalizing home studies to ensure all data, dates, and process information are accurate and complete.
• Submitting the final assessment to the Program Coordinator/Manager for review and approval.
• Communicating with families as needed throughout the process to complete the assessment.

Qualifications:

• Fully bilingual in English and Spanish (required).
• Experience conducting interviews, assessments, or social service documentation strongly preferred.
• Excellent writing skills, including ability to produce clear, detailed, strengths-based narrative assessments.
• Familiarity with foster care, adoption, or child welfare systems strongly preferred.
• Ability to travel for required in-home visits.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work independently.
• Comfortable using web-based case management systems (Binti/Extended Reach experience is a plus).

Additional Requirements:

• Must successfully pass required background screening(s).
• Must maintain confidentiality and comply with agency and state requirements.
• Reliable transportation required for in-home visits.

Compensation:

• $825 per completed home study (issued per contractual guidelines).
• Mileage reimbursement for required in-home visits. (per agency reimbursement guidelines).

DePelchin is Proud to be an Equal Opportunity Workplace.

DePelchin is committed to selecting and employing the best and most qualified person available for each job opening without unlawful discrimination of any kind. Additionally, DePelchin is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), marital or parental status, veteran status, religion, national origin, age, disability, family medical history, genetic information, or political affiliation.