Child and Family Counselor

Aspiranet; Merced (CA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Employer-paid benefits

Flexible schedule

Professional development

On-site role

Job summary

Aspiranet is actively seeking a compassionate Child and Family Counselor to support our Wraparound program in Merced, CA. You will work directly with youth and caregivers in homes and communities, helping them develop coping skills and build healthier family dynamics.

You’ll guide individualized treatment plans, collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, and contribute to preventing crises while promoting family stability and resilience in Merced County.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social services, or a related field.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience working with high-risk youth and families.
• Passion for providing direct, relationship-based support in home and community settings.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Commitment to trauma-informed, strengths-based practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-on-one and family-based coaching to youth and caregivers in home and community environments.
• Implement individualized treatment and intervention plans focused on emotional regulation, communication, and coping skills.
• Support youth in developing anger management, impulse control, self-esteem, and healthy social connections.
• Build safe, trusting relationships that encourage youth to share openly and practice new skills.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to ensure coordinated care.
• Document progress, interventions, and observations to support treatment planning and program outcomes.
• Help youth maintain placement stability and strengthen family connectedness.

Skills

Bachelor’s degree in psychology

High-risk youth experience

Relationship-based support

Communication & collaboration

Trauma-informed practices

Education

Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social services, or related field

Job description

Brief Description

Child and Family Counselor

Merced, CA

Location: Onsite – Merced, CA

Schedule: Full Time | Non- Exempt

Department: Intensive Home Based Services

Reports to: Program Supervisor

Pay Range: $22.00 to $22.50

$22- $22.50 per hour for employees hired in Central Valley, CA. The pay range provided in this job posting represents the typical range or starting rate of candidates hired within the Central Valley region. Candidates hired in Southern California or Bay Area locations may have higher starting salaries due to cost of living and market data differences. Factors that may be used to determine your actual starting salary may include your education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, the market data for your work location, and internal comparison to other employees who hold a similar role.

Make a Meaningful Impact

Aspiranet, one of California’s most dedicated nonprofits serving children, youth, and families, is seeking a compassionate and motivated Child and Family Counselor to support our Wraparound program in Merced. If you’re driven to uplift at-risk youth and strengthen families, this role offers the chance to create life-changing outcomes every single day.

As a Child and Family Counselor, you’ll work directly with youth and their caregivers in their homes and communities helping them build coping skills, strengthen relationships, and develop the tools they need to thrive. Your guidance becomes a stabilizing force during some of their most challenging moments. Through individualized coaching, collaborative treatment planning, and unwavering belief in each young person’s potential, you’ll help prevent crises, reduce system involvement, and empower families to stay safely together.

Join a mission-centered team where your dedication becomes a catalyst for hope, resilience, and long-term success for the youth and families of Merced County.

About Aspiranet

Aspiranet is a mission-driven social services agency with a proud legacy of supporting California communities since 1975. We are committed to ensuring that every child is loved, every family is supported, and every individual has the tools to succeed. Our services span the state and are delivered through six dedicated divisions: Foster Care and Adoption, providing support for children and families throughout the foster and adoption journey; Transitional Aged Youth (TAY), offering programs that guide young adults as they transition from foster care to independent living; Residential, delivering therapeutic care in structured, supportive environments to help youth thrive; Intensive Home-Based Services, focused on meeting individualized needs within the home, school, and community; Behavioral Health, delivering short-term, intensive mental health services for youth at risk; and Family and Community, emphasizing early intervention and family-strengthening supports. At Aspiranet, every role contributes to something greater helping to create a future where opportunity, hope, and healing are within everyone’s reach.

Position Summary

As a Child and Family Counselor, you will provide individualized, strengths-based support to at-risk youth and their families in home and community settings. You’ll build trusting relationships, implement treatment and intervention plans, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to help youth develop emotional regulation, strengthen social skills, and maintain stability in their homes and communities. Your work directly supports placement stability, reduces crises, and helps families stay connected and resilient.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Provide one-on-one and family-based coaching to youth and caregivers in home and community environments


• Implement individualized treatment and intervention plans focused on emotional regulation, communication, and coping skills


• Support youth in developing anger management, impulse control, self-esteem, and healthy social connections


• Build safe, trusting relationships that encourage youth to share openly and practice new skills


• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team: including social workers, parent partners, clinicians, and program leadership to ensure coordinated care


• Document progress, interventions, and observations to support treatment planning and program outcomes


• Help youth maintain placement stability, avoid hospitalization or juvenile justice involvement, and strengthen family connectedness


• Manage a flexible schedule to meet with 3–5 clients at times that best support their engagement and success

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social services, or a related field


• Minimum of 1 year of experience working with high-risk youth and families


• Passion for providing direct, relationship-based support in home and community settings


• Strong communication and collaboration skills


• Commitment to trauma-informed, strengths-based practices

Your Growth

Aspiranet invests in your success from day one. You’ll apply your education and relationship-building skills while receiving ongoing training, mentorship, and professional development. With programs across the state and a strong culture of internal advancement, this role offers a meaningful entry point into a long-term career in social services.

Your Rewards

Aspiranet offers a competitive salary, a supportive team environment, and a comprehensive benefits package that includes employer-paid medical, dental, vision, and wellness coverage. You’ll join an organization where your work truly matters and where you can see the impact of your efforts every day.

Work Environment & Schedule

• On-site role in Merced, CA.

Why Aspiranet?

• Competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits package, and a 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching.


• Access to the free Aspiranet Employee Perks Program. Enjoy exclusive discounts on entertainment, travel, wellness, pet care, gym memberships, theme parks, and more.


• Flexible paid time off including 13 paid holidays, 10 vacation days, 10 sick leave days, two diversity days, and paid birthday time off.


• Access to our employee assistance program including 24/7 crisis line; up to 6 counseling sessions per issue.


• Training opportunities are available to support your ongoing development and career aspirations.


• Collaborate in a supportive, inclusive, and mission-aligned culture.


• Opportunity to lead meaningful initiatives that support employee well-being.

Physical Demands

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

This position typically operates in a standard office environment. The noise level is generally quiet and remains within OSHA’s established safety levels at all times.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Aspiranet is an equal opportunity employer that recognizes the value of diversity. We believe a diverse workforce within a culture of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) increases creativity, innovation, problem-solving, and teamwork for the youth and families that we serve and the organization as a whole. Aspiranet strives to provide our employees with a workplace that is welcoming, inclusive of differing world views, cultures, and lived experiences.

Aspiranet may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support aspects of the recruitment process, including application screening, candidate communications, and interview scheduling. AI tools assist our hiring team but do not make employment decisions. All hiring decisions are made by Aspiranet staff based on job-related qualifications, experience, and organizational needs. Questions about the use of your information may be directed to Human Resources.