Assistant Program Director – Juvenile Justice Program

Alternative Family Services; Vallejo (CA); Hybrid; USD 79,000 - 87,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Over 8 weeks of annual time off (vac,H

$3,000 annual licensure incentive

$2,500 annual Spanish language fluency

Job summary

Alternative Family Services in Vallejo, CA is seeking an Assistant Program Director to lead trauma-informed Juvenile Justice and Intensive Foster Care programs. You will guide staff, coordinate placements, and ensure high-quality services for youth through a collaborative, community-centered approach.

The role balances client-focused care with program oversight, supervision of staff, and cross-agency partnerships to support stability, safety, and positive outcomes for youth.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) or related field that meets California Community Care Licensing (CCL) educational requirements for caseworker supervision.
• At least one year of case management experience in FFA, foster care, adoption, or comparable child welfare setting.
• Understanding of trauma-informed care and demonstrated experience with trauma-impacted youth and families.
• Ability to obtain fingerprinting and government background clearances.
• Valid California driver's license and reliable vehicle, insurance, and safe driving record.
• CPR/First Aid certification or ability to obtain upon hire.
• Ability to work weekends and after hours for crisis response.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate intake, referrals, and placement activities with San Francisco Juvenile Probation and partner agencies.
• Provide ongoing supervision, coaching, and support to assigned staff members.
• Lead crisis management, safety planning, and complex case discussions.
• Oversee foster home recertification and ensure licensing compliance.
• Participate in Team Decision Making meetings and multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Trauma-informed care

Leadership

Crisis intervention

Community collaboration

Staff supervision

Education

MSW or related field (CA CCL requirements)

Job description

Lead with purpose

Are you passionate about trauma-informed care, foster youth advocacy, and helping young people navigate some of life's most challenging circumstances? Do you have experience in a Foster Family Agency (FFA), Intensive Services Foster Care (ISFC), or child welfare setting?

Alternative Family Services (AFS) is seeking an Assistant Program Director to support our specialized Juvenile Justice and Intensive Foster Care programs, serving youth referred through the San Francisco Juvenile Probation Department (JPD).

This is an opportunity to bring your clinical understanding, leadership skills, and commitment to trauma-informed care to a program that provides youth with a safe environment with specially trained resource parents (foster parents).You will play an important role in supporting youth, strengthening resource families, guiding caseworkers, and coordinating with community partners to help young people achieve stability, safety, and positive outcomes.

As the Assistant Program Director, you will partner with the Program Director to support the day-to-day operations, clinical oversight, and service delivery of our specialized foster care programs, including Children's Crisis Continuum Pilot Program (CCCPP) and Enhanced Intensive Services Foster Care (E-ISFC).

You will provide leadership and guidance to staff and resource parents, coordinate placements, and help ensure that youth receive individualized, trauma-informed services. This role is ideal for someone who understands the foster care system, values collaborative partnerships, and can balance compassionate client support with effective program oversight.

*This role is hybrid (remote, on-site, and community based).

The Program/Home office for this role is located in Vallejo, CA. Work is conducted in- andregions of responsibility include Solano, Contra Costa, San Francisco and Almeda counties.

What You'll Do

Support Youth, Resource Families & Placement Stability

• Coordinate intake, referrals, and placement activities with San Francisco Juvenile Probation, referring agencies, AFS staff, and resource families.
• Facilitate intake interviews, pre-placement visits, and placement coordination.
• Support appropriate placement matching while considering each youth's individual needs, strengths, safety, and treatment goals.
• Complete intake documentation and Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessments.
• Provide guidance and support to resource parents navigating challenging behaviors, crisis situations, and the unique needs of justice-involved youth.
• Help maintain placement stability through timely communication, problem-solving, and coordination of services.

Provide Leadership & Supervision to Staff

• Provide ongoing supervision, coaching, and support to assigned staff members (including Caseworker, Clinical staff, Peer Partners and Facilitators).
• Conduct field supervision, case consultations, and regular file and documentation reviews.
• Support staff with crisis management, safety planning, and complex case situations.
• Oversee foster home recertification activities and ensure compliance with Community Care Licensing (CCL) requirements.
• Participate in Team Decision Making (TDM) meetings and coordinate with multidisciplinary treatment teams.
• Conduct annual employee evaluations and support staff development.

Support Trauma-Informed & Individualized Care

• Promote a trauma-informed, strengths-based approach across program services.
• Help staff understand the impact of trauma, adverse childhood experiences, and behavioral health needs.
• Support individualized service planning that considers each youth's background, culture, identity, and developmental needs.
• Encourage collaborative approaches that build trust, strengthen relationships, and support positive outcomes.
• Coordinate with mental health providers, probation officers, resource parents, and other community partners.

Support to the Program Director

• Assist with program operations, staff meetings, and foster parent support groups.
• Provide leadership and staff supervision when the Program Director is unavailable.
• Support caseworkers and resource families with after-hours crisis response.
• Assist with program documentation, reporting, and monthly data submissions.
• Help maintain program quality, accountability, and compliance with applicable regulations.

Community Collaboration & Representation

• Build and maintain positive working relationships with San Francisco Juvenile Probation, community partners, referring agencies, and treatment providers.
• Communicate significant client events and concerns to appropriate partners.
• Represent AFS professionally in community meetings and collaborative settings.
• Maintain confidentiality and compliance with HIPAA and agency policies.

What We're Looking For

We are interested in candidates who bring a combination of foster care knowledge, trauma-informed practice, leadership experience, and a genuine commitment to supporting youth and families.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) or a related field that meets California Community Care Licensing (CCL) educational requirements for caseworker supervision.
• At least one year of case management experience in a Foster Family Agency (FFA), foster care, adoption, or comparable child welfare setting.
• Understanding of trauma-informed care and demonstrated experience working with children, youth, and families impacted by trauma.
• Ability to obtain required fingerprinting and government background clearances.
• Current California driver's license, acceptable driving record, valid automobile insurance listing you as an insured driver, and access to a reliable vehicle.
• CPR/First Aid certification or ability to obtain certification upon hire.
• Ability to work weekends and after hours for crisis response

Experience That Will Make You Stand Out

We especially welcome candidates with experience in:

• Foster Family Agency (FFA) programs, including foster home support, placement coordination, case management, and resource parent engagement.
• Intensive Services Foster Care (ISFC), Enhanced ISFC
• Juvenile justice or probation-involved youth, including experience supporting youth with complex behavioral, emotional, and mental health needs.
• Trauma-informed care, including understanding adverse childhood experiences, trauma responses, and the impact of disrupted attachments and relationships.
• Crisis intervention and stabilization, including safety planning, de-escalation, and placement preservation.
• Multidisciplinary collaboration with probation, child welfare, behavioral health providers, and community-based organizations.
• Staff supervision, coaching, and professional development.

The Right Fit

We are looking for candidates possessing these qualities:

• You can remain calm, compassionate, and solution-focused when working through challenging situations.
• You understand that behavior can communicate unmet needs and recognize the importance of relationship-based care.
• You value cultural humility and can work effectively with youth and families from diverse backgrounds.
• You are comfortable providing guidance to staff and resource parents while balancing program expectations and client needs.
• You are organized, adaptable, and able to manage competing priorities with minimal direct supervision.
• You are available to support occasional evenings, weekends, and after-hours crisis response.
• Bilingual English/Spanish skills are a plus!
• Full-time position with a flexible, hybrid schedule.
• Home office located in Vallejo, CA.
• Community-based work throughout Solano, Contra Costa, San Francisco, and Alameda counties.
• Regular travel to foster homes, community settings, and program locations is required.

About Alternative Family Services

Alternative Family Services is a Foster Family, Adoption and Mental Health Agency that has been serving abused and neglected children in our community since 1973. Our mission is to support vulnerable children and families in need of stability, safety, and well‑being in communities. We provide a wide range of foster, adoption, mental health and transition‑aged youth services in English and Spanish. We have eight locations throughout the Bay Area and 200 employees. We celebrate diversity, equal opportunity, and excellence. AFS offers an excellent benefits package, see below!

Driving Requirements

This position requires the employee to work out in the community and within foster homes throughout Solano County, Contra Costa, San Francisco and AlamedaCounties. Thus, position requires employee to possess a valid CA driver’s license and valid automobile insurance with his/her name on the verification card as an insured driver on the policy at all times. Position requires daily access to a car in safe working order.

• Annual salary: $78,730–$86,960 (this salary includes a specialized program differential).
• Additional $3,000 annually for qualifying California clinical licensure (LCSW or LMFT).
• Additional $2,500 annually for verified Spanish language fluency.
• Full-time benefits package, including:
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Chiropractic and acupuncture benefits.
• Flexible spending options.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Over 8 weeks of annual time off, including:
• 11 vacation days in your first year, with accruals beginning on your first day and increasing with tenure.
• 12 paid holidays, including your birthday.
• 12 sick days annually.

AFS makes substantial monthly contributions toward employee health insurance premiums to help keep out-of-pocket costs low.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of Ancestry, Age, Color, Disability, Genetic Information, Gender, Gender Identity, Gender expression, Marital status, Medical condition, Military or veteran status, National origin, Race, Religion, Sex and Sexual orientation.