Green Card Social Work Assistant Jobs
Social Work Assistant roles can qualify for EB-3 sponsorship through the PERM labor certification process, and some positions meet EB-2 standards for advanced-degree professionals. Employers in healthcare systems, nonprofits, and county agencies regularly file I-140 petitions for qualified foreign candidates. Understanding how sponsorship works in this field helps you target the right employers and move faster.
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Get Access To All JobsCounty of Santa Cruz
INVITES YOU TO APPLY FOR:
SOCIAL WORK SUPERVISOR II
FAMILY & CHILDRENS SERVICES /ADULT
PROTECTIVE SERVICES
Supplemental Questionnaire Required
Open and Promotional
Job # 26-SN8-01
Salary: $9,034 – 11,424 / Month
Closing Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
THE JOB: Under general direction, plan, organize, supervise and review the work of social workers; and perform other work as required. The supervisor will be responsible for formulating and carrying out the most responsible and difficult casework; overseeing interagency coordination around complex cases; providing consultation to social workers in the areas of abuse and neglect of children or dependent adults; developing controls to accomplish work within framework of established laws, policies, procedures and priorities; reviewing and approving case summaries and service plans; assisting subordinates in developing and improving social work skills; scheduling emergency coverage and providing back-up response as needed; evaluating potential clients for program eligibility and making difficult decisions to accept and/or terminate clients from the program. THE CURRENT VACANCY IS IN THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT WITH THE ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES DIVISION. The list established will be used to fill the current vacancy and it may also be used to fill other vacancies during the life of the eligible list.
County Equity Statement
Equity in action in Santa Cruz County is a transformative process that embraces individuals of every status, providing unwavering support, dignity, and compassion.
Through this commitment, the County ensures intentional opportunities and access, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive and belong.
THE REQUIREMENTS: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain these knowledge and abilities would be:
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE EQUIVALENT TO A MASTER’S DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK OR A MASTER’S DEGREE FROM A TWO-YEAR COUNSELING PROGRAM FROM AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE, AND TWO YEARS OF SOCIAL CASEWORK EXPERIENCE COMPARABLE TO A SENIOR SOCIAL WORKER IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
Human Resources Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 510, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Special Requirements: Positions in this class require a valid California Class C Driver License or the employee must be able to provide suitable transportation which is approved by the appointing authority.
Knowledge: Thorough knowledge of social casework objectives, principles and methods, and casework management and organization; community resources; interviewing techniques and problem solving methodology; the scope and nature of current problems in the field of social work; the principles of human behavior and development and psychological defense mechanisms; social casework objectives, principles and methods of the particular area of specialization, such as child and adult abuse, placement or long term care management of the frail and elderly, or the provision of services to criminal justice system involved youth, adults, or their families. Working knowledge of the functions of public social service agencies; the laws, policies and procedures of County social service programs; and the principles of supervision and training.
Ability to: Plan, organize, supervise and evaluate the work of subordinate staff performing the most difficult, sensitive and complex casework services; assess employee development and provide training in casework techniques and practices; establish and maintain effective working relations with others; evaluate case problems and provide leadership and consultation to social workers in the development and implementation of case plans; understand, interpret and apply regulations and departmental policies and procedures; coordinate and integrate the work of subordinates; plan, schedule and conduct individual and group meetings; and prepare and present effective written, statistical and oral reports.
THE EXAMINATION: Your application and supplemental questionnaire will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience, training and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement. If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application and supplemental questionnaire. You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list. The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants. If the eligible list is established without the administration of the announced examination, the life of the eligible list will be six months and your overall score will be based upon an evaluation of your application and supplemental questionnaire. If during those six months it is necessary to administer another examination for this job class, you will be invited to take the examination to remain on the eligible list.
HOW TO APPLY: Apply online at www.santacruzcountyjobs.com or mail/bring an application and supplemental questionnaire to: Santa Cruz County Human Resources Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 510, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. For information, call (831) 454-2600. Hearing Impaired TDD/TTY: 711. Applications will meet the final filing date if received: 1) in the Human Resources Department by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date, 2) submitted online before midnight of the final filing date.
Women, people of color and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. If you have a disability that requires test accommodation, please call (831) 454-2600.
To comply with the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, Santa Cruz County verifies that all new employees are either U.S. citizens or persons authorized to work in the U.S.
Some positions may require fingerprinting and/or background investigation.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:
ANNUAL LEAVE - 22 days first year, increasing to 37 days after 15 years of service. Available for vacation and/or sick leave.
HOLIDAYS - 14 paid holidays per year.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE - 3 days paid in California, 5 days paid out-of-state.
MEDICAL PLAN - The County contracts with CalPERS for a variety of medical plans. For most plans, County contributions pay a majority of the premiums for employees and eligible dependents.
DENTAL PLAN - County pays for employee and eligible dependent coverage.
VISION PLAN - County pays for employee coverage. Employee may purchase eligible dependent coverage.
RETIREMENT - Pension formula 2% at age 60 or 2% at age 62 as determined based on provisions of the CA Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013(PEPRA). Pension benefit determined by final average compensation of three years. County participates in Social Security.
LIFE INSURANCE - County paid $20,000 term policy. Employee may purchase additional life insurance.
DISABILITY INSURANCE - Employees in the General Representation Unit participate in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. This program is funded 100% by employee payroll deductions.
DEPENDENT-CARE PLAN - Employees who make contributions for child or dependent care may elect to have their contributions made utilizing “pre-tax dollars.”
H-CARE PLAN - Employees who pay a County medical premium may elect this pre-tax program.
HEALTH CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ALLOWANCE (HCFSA) - Employees may elect this pre-tax program to cover qualifying health care expenses.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION - A deferred compensation plan is available to employees.
Note: Provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.
County of Santa Cruz
SS/mg 9/26 LIVE Here WORK Here PLAY Here
County of Santa Cruz
INVITES YOU TO APPLY FOR:
SOCIAL WORK SUPERVISOR II
FAMILY & CHILDRENS SERVICES /ADULT
PROTECTIVE SERVICES
Supplemental Questionnaire Required
Open and Promotional
Job # 26-SN8-01
Salary: $9,034 – 11,424 / Month
Closing Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
THE JOB: Under general direction, plan, organize, supervise and review the work of social workers; and perform other work as required. The supervisor will be responsible for formulating and carrying out the most responsible and difficult casework; overseeing interagency coordination around complex cases; providing consultation to social workers in the areas of abuse and neglect of children or dependent adults; developing controls to accomplish work within framework of established laws, policies, procedures and priorities; reviewing and approving case summaries and service plans; assisting subordinates in developing and improving social work skills; scheduling emergency coverage and providing back-up response as needed; evaluating potential clients for program eligibility and making difficult decisions to accept and/or terminate clients from the program. THE CURRENT VACANCY IS IN THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT WITH THE ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES DIVISION. The list established will be used to fill the current vacancy and it may also be used to fill other vacancies during the life of the eligible list.
County Equity Statement
Equity in action in Santa Cruz County is a transformative process that embraces individuals of every status, providing unwavering support, dignity, and compassion.
Through this commitment, the County ensures intentional opportunities and access, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive and belong.
THE REQUIREMENTS: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain these knowledge and abilities would be:
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE EQUIVALENT TO A MASTER’S DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK OR A MASTER’S DEGREE FROM A TWO-YEAR COUNSELING PROGRAM FROM AN ACCREDITED COLLEGE, AND TWO YEARS OF SOCIAL CASEWORK EXPERIENCE COMPARABLE TO A SENIOR SOCIAL WORKER IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
Human Resources Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 510, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Special Requirements: Positions in this class require a valid California Class C Driver License or the employee must be able to provide suitable transportation which is approved by the appointing authority.
Knowledge: Thorough knowledge of social casework objectives, principles and methods, and casework management and organization; community resources; interviewing techniques and problem solving methodology; the scope and nature of current problems in the field of social work; the principles of human behavior and development and psychological defense mechanisms; social casework objectives, principles and methods of the particular area of specialization, such as child and adult abuse, placement or long term care management of the frail and elderly, or the provision of services to criminal justice system involved youth, adults, or their families. Working knowledge of the functions of public social service agencies; the laws, policies and procedures of County social service programs; and the principles of supervision and training.
Ability to: Plan, organize, supervise and evaluate the work of subordinate staff performing the most difficult, sensitive and complex casework services; assess employee development and provide training in casework techniques and practices; establish and maintain effective working relations with others; evaluate case problems and provide leadership and consultation to social workers in the development and implementation of case plans; understand, interpret and apply regulations and departmental policies and procedures; coordinate and integrate the work of subordinates; plan, schedule and conduct individual and group meetings; and prepare and present effective written, statistical and oral reports.
THE EXAMINATION: Your application and supplemental questionnaire will be reviewed to determine if you have met the education, experience, training and/or licensing requirements as stated on the job announcement. If you meet these criteria and are one of the best qualified, you may be required to compete in any combination of written, oral and/or performance examinations or a competitive evaluation of training and experience as described on your application and supplemental questionnaire. You must pass all components of the examination to be placed on the eligible list. The examination may be eliminated if there are ten or fewer qualified applicants. If the eligible list is established without the administration of the announced examination, the life of the eligible list will be six months and your overall score will be based upon an evaluation of your application and supplemental questionnaire. If during those six months it is necessary to administer another examination for this job class, you will be invited to take the examination to remain on the eligible list.
HOW TO APPLY: Apply online at www.santacruzcountyjobs.com or mail/bring an application and supplemental questionnaire to: Santa Cruz County Human Resources Department, 701 Ocean Street, Room 510, Santa Cruz, CA 95060. For information, call (831) 454-2600. Hearing Impaired TDD/TTY: 711. Applications will meet the final filing date if received: 1) in the Human Resources Department by 5:00 p.m. on the final filing date, 2) submitted online before midnight of the final filing date.
Women, people of color and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. If you have a disability that requires test accommodation, please call (831) 454-2600.
To comply with the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, Santa Cruz County verifies that all new employees are either U.S. citizens or persons authorized to work in the U.S.
Some positions may require fingerprinting and/or background investigation.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:
ANNUAL LEAVE - 22 days first year, increasing to 37 days after 15 years of service. Available for vacation and/or sick leave.
HOLIDAYS - 14 paid holidays per year.
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE - 3 days paid in California, 5 days paid out-of-state.
MEDICAL PLAN - The County contracts with CalPERS for a variety of medical plans. For most plans, County contributions pay a majority of the premiums for employees and eligible dependents.
DENTAL PLAN - County pays for employee and eligible dependent coverage.
VISION PLAN - County pays for employee coverage. Employee may purchase eligible dependent coverage.
RETIREMENT - Pension formula 2% at age 60 or 2% at age 62 as determined based on provisions of the CA Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013(PEPRA). Pension benefit determined by final average compensation of three years. County participates in Social Security.
LIFE INSURANCE - County paid $20,000 term policy. Employee may purchase additional life insurance.
DISABILITY INSURANCE - Employees in the General Representation Unit participate in the State Disability Insurance (SDI) program. This program is funded 100% by employee payroll deductions.
DEPENDENT-CARE PLAN - Employees who make contributions for child or dependent care may elect to have their contributions made utilizing “pre-tax dollars.”
H-CARE PLAN - Employees who pay a County medical premium may elect this pre-tax program.
HEALTH CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ALLOWANCE (HCFSA) - Employees may elect this pre-tax program to cover qualifying health care expenses.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION - A deferred compensation plan is available to employees.
Note: Provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract.
County of Santa Cruz
SS/mg 9/26 LIVE Here WORK Here PLAY Here
See all 79+ Green Card Social Work Assistant Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Green Card Social Work Assistant Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Green Card Sponsorship as a Social Work Assistant
Verify your degree meets PERM requirements
PERM job descriptions for Social Work Assistant roles typically require a bachelor's in social work or a closely related field. If your degree is from outside the U.S., get a credential evaluation completed before applying so employers can confirm your qualifications meet DOL standards.
Target employers with PERM filing history
County human services departments, federally qualified health centers, and large hospital systems are the most consistent sponsors for social work support roles. Search DOL PERM disclosure data to identify which specific agencies have filed labor certifications for this occupation in your target state.
Use Migrate Mate to find sponsoring employers
Filter by green card sponsorship and Social Work Assistant job titles on Migrate Mate to surface employers who have already navigated the PERM process for this role, saving you from applying to positions where sponsorship is unlikely or untested.
Check prevailing wage before accepting an offer
DOL requires your offered wage to meet the prevailing wage for your location and job level. Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the wage level for your specific county before negotiating, since underpaid offers can delay or derail PERM certification.
Clarify the sponsorship timeline during interviews
Ask directly whether the employer sponsors EB-3 green cards and at what point in employment they begin the PERM filing. Some nonprofits and county agencies require six to twelve months of employment before initiating labor certification, which affects how you plan your current status.
Understand EB-3 priority date backlogs by nationality
EB-3 has no annual cap concern for most countries, but nationals of India, China, and the Philippines face priority date backlogs. Check the USCIS Visa Bulletin each month to estimate wait times specific to your birth country before committing to a sponsorship path.
Green Card Social Work Assistant: Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Social Work Assistant role qualify for EB-2 or only EB-3 sponsorship?
Most Social Work Assistant positions qualify under EB-3, which covers skilled workers and professionals with a bachelor's degree. EB-2 is possible if the role requires an advanced degree and the employer structures the job description accordingly. Employers must define the minimum requirements before filing PERM, so the sponsorship category is determined before you apply.
How does green card sponsorship differ from H-1B for this role?
Green card sponsorship through PERM is permanent residency, not a temporary status. Unlike the H-1B visa, EB-3 has no lottery and no annual cap concern for most nationalities. The tradeoff is timeline: PERM labor certification, I-140 approval, and adjustment of status together can take two to four years or longer, whereas H-1B authorization is faster but temporary and lottery-dependent.
What does the PERM labor certification process look like for this occupation?
Your employer must demonstrate to DOL that no qualified U.S. worker was available for the role by conducting a mandatory recruitment campaign, including job postings and newspaper ads. If DOL approves the labor certification, the employer files an I-140 immigrant petition with USCIS. You can file for adjustment of status once a visa number is available based on your priority date.
How do I find Social Work Assistant jobs that actually offer green card sponsorship?
Most employers don't advertise green card sponsorship in job postings even when they're willing to sponsor. Migrate Mate filters job listings by verified sponsorship history, so you can identify Social Work Assistant roles at employers who have previously filed PERM or I-140 petitions for this type of position, rather than guessing based on company size or sector.
Does state licensure affect my green card sponsorship eligibility as a Social Work Assistant?
State licensure requirements vary significantly. Some states require licensure for Social Work Assistants, while others do not. If your target state requires a license you don't yet hold, employers may hesitate to begin PERM because DOL requires the employer to list only the minimum requirements the role genuinely needs. Completing any required licensure steps before the PERM job description is drafted strengthens your candidacy.