Friends of the Children

Friends of the Children is a nonprofit impacting generational change by empowering youth through relationships with professional mentors. We do this by providing children facing the most obstacles with a long-term, salaried, professional mentor, from kindergarten through high school graduation, 12+ years – no matter what. 

We are currently seeking an extraordinary professional to embark on a new career journey with our organization. Do you want to be a part of a dynamic and supportive national network, with a proven, evidence-based mentoring model? Are you ready to work in a friendly and collaborative workplace, where work-life balance is respected?

Are you ready to play a critical role in helping Western Montana’s most vulnerable children change the trajectories of their lives!? If so, the impactful role of a Family Engagement Specialist might be for you.

At Friends of the Children, we put children first and use our values to change the way the world treats and views youth facing great barriers. Sometimes, the best way to help a child in crisis is to help their family find stable housing, connect their parents with an employment program, or to support their caregiver in navigating the red tape of signing up for benefits. As a Family Engagement Specialist, you will help our organization nurture long-term relationships with families from a foundation of love, acceptance, and culturally informed practice. You will build partnerships across our community, cultivating a network of referral resources and developing a system for in-kind donations that will build parental protective capacities and improve family stability. You will also engage and empower caregivers to reach their individual and family goals.

We are hiring an extraordinary candidate looking to develop intensive, long-term, trusting relationships with the families who need it most. The Family Engagement Specialist will:

• Gain an understanding of family and social service resources available on the Flathead Reservation.
• Build relationships with cultural knowledge keepers and Tribal elders to connect youth and families with Indigenous cultural practices, language, and ceremonies.
• Understand and model the Indigenous concept of “being a good relative” to youth and their families.
• Work closely with the Program Director to ensure that caregiver basic needs are met.
• Work collaboratively with program staff and our families to identify gaps in services experienced by our kids and families.
• Work closely with Program Director to build intentional community partnerships that directly benefit our families.
• Collaborate with caregivers to effectively navigate outside support systems and organizations.
• Organize monthly events and activities focused on caregiver and family engagement.
• Record caregiver and youth interactions and efforts weekly in our Efforts to Outcomes database.
• Alongside the Program Director work to increase enrichment opportunities and community support for siblings of enrolled children.
• Empower caregivers by modeling and coaching the family in multiple forms of parenting and communication skills, anger management, and problem solving.
• Mobilize caregivers to implement plans that advance the goals they have for themselves and their families.
• Help coordinate the organization’s annual parent/caregiver survey. 
• Research best practices and establish a donation-driven clothing and essential items closet to benefit our kids and families.
• Work with development and program staff to coordinate back-to-school supplies, holiday gift campaigns, enrichment experiences, and other in-kind donations for the children in our program and their siblings.

Additional qualifications may include:

• Experience building relationships.
• Superior scheduling and time management skills.
• CSKT tribal membership, descendancy, or other tribal affiliation.
• Excellent data entry and database management skills.
• Enthusiasm to be part of a growing non-profit.
• Passion to play a critical role in helping Western Montana’s most vulnerable children change the trajectories of their lives!
• Be willing to work flexible and non-traditional hours, such as evenings and intermittent Saturdays.
• A bachelor’s degree is preferred in a mental or behavioral health field, with at least two years of professional experience in a related area of social service or the equivalent of four years of experience in a related field.
• Valid driver’s license.

 What we offer:

Work hours are flexible and will vary depending on the needs of our youth and will occasionally include being available to work on Saturdays. The Family Engagement Specialist must provide their own child-safe vehicle and insurance; we reimburse for mileage. 

Position Details:

Salary: $44,000 

Hours: 40- full-time

Benefits: Comprehensive

Professional Level: Professional Position

Location: Missoula

Friends of the Children 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. Friends of the Children hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled.