Friends of the Children

BASIC FUNCTION/POSITION OBJECTIVE 

As an integral part of the San Gabriel team, the Family Engagement Director is responsible for assessing risk factors, improving the protective factors for families, and collecting outcome data.  The position will lead the 2Gen department in the San Gabriel Valley in the support and encouragement of our program, track the participants’ progress toward education and employment, oversee referral and periodic trainings, crisis intervention, and collecting outcome data. Directly working with parents, monitoring program partnerships and inspiring participants’ success.  

Primary Responsibilities:                                                                                                  

A. Direct Services 

• Utilize protective factors to develop goal plans for parents to encourage self-discovery and personal growth; promote goal setting and meaningful action.  
• Motivate parents to achieve self-responsibility, alignment between their values and actions to generate productive solutions, such as: crisis intervention, effective parenting, and utilizing public resources. 
• Assess each family’s needs and growth over time and provide follow-up support.  
• Collaborate and strategize with participants on effectively utilizing outside support systems and public agencies. 
• Educate participants in financial literacy to promote self-sufficiency.  
• Run parent support groups and activities. 
• Manage confidential and organized records; provide timely and appropriate case notes in internal data system for participants. 
• Collect, record, and administer self-assessments for participants and other data for program excellence and grant reporting by deadlines. 
• Supervise and coordinate team meetings with program staff.  
• Guide families and other staff through family goal planning sessions Employ expertise of family systems to support caregivers in managing family conflict and emotional distress. 
• Engage in empathetic and trusting relationships with caregivers/families. 
• Administer counseling as needed to caregivers/families through challenging life stressors such as divorce, custody issues, abuse, mental illness, and financial hardships. 
• Identify and utilize resources to support caregiver progress such as housing services, financial assistance, and other social benefits. 
• Issue referrals to caregivers for therapists, psychiatrists, attorneys, and other specialists as needed. 

B. Program Support 

• Work alongside the Program Director and San Gabriel Valley Friends, serving as a bridge to support services in a variety of life domains that include, but are not limited to, mental wellness, workforce development, housing, and public benefits.  
• Hold regular meetings with Friends to review techniques, case progress, and related matters to promote and evaluate professional development and assure quality of care in service delivery. 
• Oversee training sessions and workshops to enhance treatment skills. 
• Remain up to date on counseling techniques and psychosocial disorders through conferences, educational requirements for licensure, and applicable current literature. 
• Collaborate with the Program Director in youth and family identification and selection process. 
• Work flexible hours and remain available for crisis situations.  
• Keep accurate client records and support the development of needs and strengths assessment.  
• Collaborate with the Program Director in planning, training, retention of families. 

C.  Duties Assigned: 

• All Friends LA employees are mandated reporters and are legally required to ensure a report is made when abuse is observed or suspected.  
• Participate in Friends of the Children training to maintain a baseline of the content, skills, and language used for participants and staff. 
• Be relentlessly committed to ensuring that youth and families reach their long-term outcomes. 
• Ensure compliance with and accountability to organization’s policies, procedures, and practices as outlined in Employee Manual and Friends Handbook.  
• Collaborate with and benefit from National team resources. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

Education and Experience Required: 

• Master’s degree; LMFT/LCSW Preferred. 
• Seven to ten years’ experience working with child-related programs. 
• Ability to research, analyze data, design/develop, propose, implement, and sustain 
• Knowledge of child development and child issues, relevant to our program youth. 
• Awareness of community resources and ability to sustain relationships with these resources. 
• Enthusiasm and knowledge for developing the growth of Friends LA in San Gabriel Valley. 

Benefits

Friends LA cares about our employees as whole people. We offer a generous vacation and sick leave policy, quarterly reset days, 12 paid holidays, summer half days, and an annual winter recess during the last week of December. Employees are eligible for medical benefits (including vision and dental), 401k retirement plan, and ongoing professional development opportunities.

Employees can add optional plans, at employee expense, which include medical coverage for dependents, EAP, Flexible Spending Accounts, supplemental life insurance, pet insurance, and more.

Friends of the Children – Los Angeles is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices, and to working toward racial equity. The equal employment opportunity policy of Friends of the Children provides fair and equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, disability, or genetic information, in compliance with applicable federal, state and local law. While we prioritize hiring applicants with lived experience, Friends of the Children – Los Angeles hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled.

Note: Friends LA requires COVID-19 vaccines for all employees. As of March 1, 2022, we will be expanding our in-person vaccination requirement to include booster shots. Accommodations or exceptions can be requested for medical or religious reasons.