Family Engagement Specialist

Location

Missoula, MT | United States

Job description

Family Engagement Specialist

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 a highly motivated, committed professional to join our program team. The Family and Engagement Specialist will serve our families. 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 help their caregiver navigate the red tape of signing up for survivors benefits. As a Family Engagement Specialist, you will nurture long-term relationships from a foundation of love, acceptance, and culturally informed practice. You will partner with caregivers who have experienced significant trauma themselves, with community-based organizations, and with the mental health and foster care systems to build parental protective capacities and improve family stability.

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 be part of a friendly and collaborative workplace, where work-life balance is respected. Most of all, you’ll play a critical role in helping Western Montana’s most vulnerable children change the trajectories of their lives!

Are you ready to work with an engaging team of mission-oriented people who love what they do? If so, the impactful role of a Family and Community Engagement Specialist might be for you.

Curious to learn more? See the position details below:

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

• Build protective factors in caregivers and advance family stability.
• Empower and build positive parenting skills with our caregivers.
• Plan and hold bi-monthly Caregiver Cafes.
• Work closely with Program Director to build intentional community partnerships.
• Model and coach the families in skills ranging from communication to anger management and problem solving.
• Collaborate and strategize with caregivers to effectively partner with outside support systems and organizations.
• Complement the work of the Friends by serving as an additional resource specialist in a variety of life domains that include, but are not limited to, mental health, workforce development, housing, and public benefits.
• Work closely with the Program Director to ensure that caregiver basic needs are met.
• Support Program Director in the child identification and selection process.
• Collaborate with other employees to ensure quality, seamless service delivery to youth and families.
• Work with Development staff to coordinate Back to School Supplies and Holiday Gifts for the children in our program and their siblings.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A master’s degree (preferred), bachelor's degree (required) in mental health, social services or youth development related field.
• At least three to five years experience working with vulnerable families.
• Be culturally competent and trauma-informed.
• Experience building relationships with parents, families, and teachers
• Superior scheduling and time management skills.
• Data entry and database management skills.
• An experience to be part of a growing non-profit.
• Most of all, you’ll play a critical role in helping Western Montana’s most vulnerable children change the trajectories of their lives!

What we offer:

Work hours are flexible and will vary depending on the needs of the families, to include being available to work on Saturdays. Friends must provide their own child-safe vehicle and insurance; we reimburse for mileage.

If you are this amazing person, here’s what we have to offer:

Position Details:

Salary:  $44,000

Benefits:  Comprehensive

Professional Level:  Professional Position

Location:  Missoula

Friends of the Children is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to proactively 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.

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