JOB POSTING: Family Engagement Specialist

STATUS: Exempt, Full Time

REPORTS TO: Program Director

SALARY: $67,200 - $72,500

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Friends of the Children Austin is one of the fastest growing chapters of a 30-year-old national professional mentoring organization. Our model is proven to break the cycle of generational poverty for children who face the highest risks by providing professional mentors to the most vulnerable youth in our community for 12.5 years, kindergarten through high school graduation.

We employ trained, full-time, salaried mentors called “Friends” to provide a stable, caring and sustainable relationship in each child’s life. Are you looking to make a lasting, measurable difference in the lives of children who need it most by developing intensive, long-term, trusting relationships? We are excited to offer an opportunity for the role of Family Engagement Specialist (FES). This position is a key part of our commitment to building strong, supportive partnerships with the families of the youth we serve.

The FES will develop trusting, supportive relationships with the families and guardians of the children we serve and relentlessly ensure that youth and their families are empowered to access community resources. The FES partners with the Friends Program Team (PT) to inspire personal success and monitor partnerships that support program families. The FES will be responsible for facilitating access to resources, tracking progress towards individual goals and coordinating crisis interventions as needed for all families enrolled in our program.

The FES will provide regular progress reports to the Program Director and work in collaboration with the Program team, and help guide the development, implementation, and evaluation of the Program’s two-generation component.

Are you this amazing leader? Here is what we have to offer you:

• A committed leadership team and the opportunity to grow with a quickly scaling non-profit
• You’ll be part of a dynamic and supportive national network, with a proven, evidence-based, highly unique model.
• A team of talented employees who are passionate about working together to create an extraordinary organization
• Respect for work-life balance. You will work hard, and we expect you to recharge your batteries.
• Most of all, you get to be a leader at an exceptional organization that helps children facing incredible odds change their life story every day.
• Competitive salary
• 100% Employer paid dental, vision, and medical benefits (with option for employer paid HSA) along with disability and life insurance for the standard package for all employees
• Three weeks paid vacation
• Two weeks paid sick leave
• Additional paid time off the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day
• Simple IRA, up to 3% employer match
• Eight weeks of paid parental leave for primary caregiver (birth, adoption, foster) and four weeks for the secondary caregiver

Are you ready to use your skills to make an impact in the Austin community? See the position details below.

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended as a comprehensive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified:

BASIC FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Support one youth as a Professional Mentor (Friend)

Caregiver Support

• Develop trusting, supportive relationships with all of the families of the children we serve
• Empower parents and caregivers to engage positively in their youth’s education
• Assess and monitor families’ needs monthly and provide ongoing support
• Implement a caregiver survey at least one time per year with an 80% response rate
• Maintain efficient, confidential, and organized records; provide timely and appropriate case notes in the Salesforce database (STATS)
• Collaborate and strategize with caregivers to empower them to partner effectively with outside support systems
• Co-develop individual goals (short term and long term) with families to build protective factors and bolster family stability
• Coach caregivers in self-responsibility, promoting alignment between personal values and actions
• Work closely with the Program Team to ensure caregiver outcomes are achieved

Engagement with Friends Austin Program Team (PT)

• Complement the PT to advocate for mental health, workforce development, housing, and public benefits support for program families
• Build strong relationships with partners and ensure clear communication and exchange of necessary information to efficiently support our families
• Assist with funding proposals and reporting
• Plan, coordinate, and help lead caregiver groups and activities
• Create and administer surveys, track outcomes data, and support outcomes progress and grant data reporting
• Maintain efficient and organized records and provide case notes in STATS
• Engage with program teams across the Friends network to develop, implement, and sustain best practices

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Extensive knowledge of child development and the impact of adverse experiences particularly as they relate to youth facing systemic barriers, trauma, or other challenges
• Awareness of community resources and the ability to cultivate relationships with these resources
• Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, delegation, and follow-up skills
• Ability to independently develop and implement effective strategies to help caregivers overcome systemic barriers and deliver trauma-informed, culturally responsive services to families and their children, rather than relying solely on established guidelines or directives
• Ability to cultivate and work effectively with different constituencies including Friends of the Children employees, youth, caregivers, community partners and our Board members
• Ability to work in diverse environments, with stakeholders, and co-workers, of different backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations
• Ability to prioritize and adapt to shifting demands; meet deadlines; maintain regular communication; and seek guidance proactively
• Ability to conduct in-depth research, track complex data sets over time, and perform advanced analysis to identify trends, draw meaningful insights, and inform strategic decision-making
• Ability to represent the organization to a wide variety of audiences
• Strong project management skills
• Enthusiasm for supporting the growth of Friends-Austin
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND ABILITIES:

• Advanced degree in social work (LMSW) required. In some cases, a bachelor’s degree and five years of experience working/volunteering with children and their caregivers strongly preferred for candidates without an advanced degree.
• Three years of experience working with youth and families facing systemic barriers
• Bilingual in Spanish and English, with strong literacy (reading and writing) in both languages
• Experience with outcomes/outputs tracking databases e.g. Efforts to Outcomes, Salesforce
• Previous contract and/or manager-level experience preferred
• Must have reliable transportation and mobile phone to fulfill the delivery of services
• Valid driver’s license, ability to pass a driving record check, drug screening, and personal vehicle insurance

Friends of the Children is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices, and to working toward racial equity and inclusion. 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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