Friends of the Children

Basic Function / Position Objective:    

Under the direction of the Family Engagement Director, this position manages a wide range of projects and activities designed to implement an integrated multi-faceted family engagement service delivery system that is a model of excellence for Friends LA’s 2Gen Model. The Family Engagement Assistant demonstrates the ability to communicate and work with all families. 

Ultimately, the FEA serves as a liaison who: 

• Advises and trains caregivers in the Strengthening Families Approach & Protective Factors 
• Educates Friends and program staff on how to communicate and work effectively with parents/families as equal partners/ promotes sharing of power with caregivers as decision-makers. 
• Develops community collaborations and provides referrals to community-based services for families. 
• Helps caregivers/families better understand the systems they interact with so they can become better advocates for their child's wellbeing. 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities: 

Family Engagement & Support: 

• Assist the Family Engagement Director in implementing Strengthening Families Protective Factors for enrolled families. 
• Conduct monthly check-ins with caregivers and families based on needs. 
• Collaborate with the Family Engagement Director and site staff to plan caregiver/family events and activities. 
• Co-plan and facilitate monthly parent support groups. 
• Support the development of fatherhood curriculum and ensure “fatherhood-friendly” components. 

Outreach & Resource Coordination: 

• Develop and maintain a resource library for program participants. 
• Research, provide referrals, and conduct follow-ups with community agencies. 
• Build and maintain partnerships with community organizations to enhance service delivery. 

Training & Technical Assistance: 

• Plan and lead training sessions for staff on best practices for caregiver/family engagement. 
• Assist in developing monitoring tools to assess service delivery effectiveness. 
• Coordinate workshops, conferences, and training sessions with experts in various fields. 
• Prepare evaluations and reports following events, training sessions, and conferences. 

Administrative & Communication: 

• Maintain effective and professional communication across program and agency staff. 
• Support the Family Engagement Director in related duties as needed. 

Required Education, Experience, and Abilities: 

• All program team members are expected to be technically competent and committed to the continuous development of their skills. The following skills, knowledge, and education or certifications are specifically required for this position: 
• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in Human Services, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology or Counseling. 
• At least 3 years of experience working with youth and caregivers in a nonprofit setting. 
• Minimum 2 years of knowledge in socio-economic-political policies, community development, and diverse program assistance to families. 
• Minimum 2 years of experience building networks and resources to support families with children in achieving their goals. 
• Strong working knowledge of needs and services available in Service Planning Area (SPA) 7/East LA County.  Some knowledge of services available in SPA 3/San Gabriel Valley.  
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office applications. 
• Ability to communicate professionally both in oral and written venues. 
• Experience as a trainer preferred. 
• Supporting families in office, home, school, and community settings. 
• Travel between various Friends LA site locations as needed. 

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.