Friends of the Children

Basic Function / Position Objective:  

• Under the direction of the Family Engagement Director, the Family Engagement Assistant provides administrative, coordination, and programmatic support to the Family Engagement Department in alignment with Friends LA’s 2Gen Model.
• The FEA plays a supporting and assisting role in caregiver engagement efforts by helping to coordinate services, maintain systems, support events, assist with resource navigation, and reinforce the Strengthening Families Protective Factors.  While the FEA interacts with caregivers and families, they do not serve as the primary lead for ongoing caregiver case guidance or crisis response, which is held by the Family Engagement Director (FED) and Family Engagement Manager (FEM).
• The FEA supports high-quality, consistent family engagement by helping ensure systems run smoothly, information flows clearly, and caregivers are connected to resources in a timely, organized, and respectful manner.

The Family Engagement Assistant supports the Family Engagement team by:

• Assisting with caregiver communication and follow-up as directed
• Supporting resource coordination and documentation
• Helping plan and implement caregiver events and workshops
• Maintaining systems, records, and resource tools
• Reinforcing Protective Factors and 2Gen principles in all interactions
• Providing logistical and administrative support to FEDs, FEMs, and Program team as needed.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Family Engagement & Support:
  • Support the Family Engagement Director and Manager in implementing the Strengthening Families Protective Factors.
  • Assist with caregiver outreach, reminders, and follow-up communication as assigned.
  • Conduct limited caregiver check-ins related to scheduling, resource follow-up, or event participation.
  • Support caregiver engagement activities while maintaining professional boundaries and role clarity.
  • Uphold trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and equity-centered practices in all caregiver interactions.
  • Escalate concerns, safety issues, or complex needs to the FED or FEM promptly
• Outreach & Resource Coordination:
  • Assist with researching, organizing, and maintaining a community resource library.
  • Support caregivers with resource navigation by sharing information, helping schedule appointments, or guiding next steps.
  • Support FED/FEMs with documentation related to referrals, follow-ups, and outcomes.
  • Assist with tracking resource requests and ensuring appropriate approvals are in place.
  • Coordinate with internal teams to ensure resource-related information is accurate and up to date.
  • Build and maintain partnerships with community organizations to enhance service delivery.
• Events, Groups & Workshops:
  • Assist in planning, coordinating, and supporting caregiver events.
  • Take the lead in logistics coordination including (but not limited to) securing supplies and materials, creating flyers and outreach, maintaining RSVP list and planning accordingly, prepare event sign-in sheets and documentation, obtaining post-event follow-up and evaluations.
  • Help ensure events align with Protective Factors, 2Gen goals, and program expectations.
  • Foster a welcoming, organized, and respectful environment for caregivers and families.
• Administrative & Systems Support:
  • Maintain accurate documentation related to caregiver engagement activities.
  • Support data entry, tracking, and reporting related to family engagement efforts.
  • Assist with preparing materials for trainings, meetings, and presentations.
  • Maintain professional communication across program teams.
  • Support scheduling, coordination, and follow-up for family engagement initiatives.
  • Assist the FED and FEM  with additional duties as assigned.
• Training & Technical Assistance:
  • Assist with coordinating trainings related to caregiver engagement and Protective Factors.
  • Support preparation of materials, evaluations, and documentation for trainings.
  • Reinforce consistent messaging across team and caregivers.
  • Participate in supervision and team meetings to support alignment and role clarity 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:

• Associates Degree Required; Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services, Social Work, Psychology, Sociology or Counseling preferred.
• 2-3 years of experience:
  • Working with youth and/or caregivers in a nonprofit setting.
  • Knowledge in socio-economic-political policies, community development, and diverse program assistance to families.
• Working knowledge of community resources and service systems.
• Strong organizational, communication, and follow-through skills.
• Ability to interact professionally with caregivers, staff, and community partners.
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office and data tracking systems.
• Ability to travel between Friends LA sites 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, a summer recess the first week of July, and an annual winter recess during the last week of December. Employees are eligible for medical benefits (including vision and dental), 401k retirement plan, EAP, and ongoing professional development opportunities. 

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

Friends LA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices, and to working toward racial equity. The equal employment opportunity policy of Friends LA 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.