Family Specialist

Wayfinder Family Services; Martinez (CA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off (PTO) with holidays

Medical, dental, vision and life ins.

401(k) with employer match

PSLF eligible

Flexible spending account (FSA)

Job summary

Wayfinder Family Services is seeking a Family Specialist in Martinez, CA to provide intensive support and guidance to kinship caregivers navigating the Resource Family Approval (RFA) pre-approval process. The role emphasizes ensuring licensing standards and promoting safe, stable family placements for children involved in the child welfare system.

The ideal candidate holds a Bachelor’s in Social Work or has relevant coursework/experience, is bilingual in Spanish, and has knowledge of crisis

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or 18 units of Psychology, Sociology and/or Communication or equivalent experience.
• Bilingual (Spanish) required.
• Knowledge of crisis intervention and kinship care needs.

Responsibilities

• Educate on the Resource Family Approval (RFA) process, timelines, and expectations.
• Support caregivers in promoting child safety, permanency and well-being.
• Guide families through pre-approval steps: fingerprints, applications, paperwork, training requirements.
• Conduct home visits to ensure home environment and safety standards.
• Identify barriers to approval and develop solutions with families and social workers.
• Connect caregivers to pre-service training and community resources.
• Collaborate with social workers and RFA staff for timely approvals.
• Participate in case consultations and team meetings.
• May transport clients as needed.

Skills

Bilingual (Spanish)

Crisis Intervention

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work

18 units in Psychology/Sociology/Communication

Job description

At Wayfinder Family Services, we understand the unique challenges facing some of our state’s most vulnerable children, youth and adults. Those with disabilities, those without a home of their own, those who have been abused and many, many more. We answer the call for them. We believe in the amazing potential in, and for, each and every one of them. And, together, we find a way to turn that potential into reality.Program and Role Summary:Our statewide Foster Care and Adoption programs match children and youth who have been displaced from their homes due to abuse or neglect with families that can provide safe, caring homes. Wayfinder recruits, trains and certifies resource (foster) families, some of whom ultimately adopt the children they foster. We emphasize a child achieving permanency, which can be reunification with birth parents, living with relatives, adoption or guardianship.The primary focus of the Family Specialist is to provide intensive support, guidance, and coordination to kinship caregivers as they navigate the Resource Family Approval (RFA) pre-approval process. This role focuses on preparing relative and non-relative extended family members to meet licensing regulatory requirements ensuring child safety standards, and promoting stable, nurturing family placements for children involved in the child welfare system.The hourly wage range for this role is $25.00 - $27.00.This position offers a $1/hour bilingual differential for candidates who meet bilingual requirements.Primary Responsibilities:Provide education on the RFA process, timelines, and expectations.Support caregivers in understanding their role in promoting child safety, permanency, and well-being.Guide families through all components of the pre-approval process, including fingerprints, applications, paperwork/ documentation, training requirements and any other pre approval requirements.Conduct home visits to support and provide coaching on meeting home environment and safety standards.Identify any barriers to approval early on and collaborate with families and social worker to develop solutions.Connect caregivers to required pre-service training and community resources.Work closely with social workers, RFA staff, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure alignment and timely approvals.Participate in case consultations and team meetings.Conducts assessment to identify family needs.May transport clients as needed.Other duties as outlined in the position description.Education and Experience:Bachelor’s degree in Social Work OR 18 units of Psychology, Sociology and/or Communication OR 1-2 years experience with children and families in a social services, child welfare, or community based setting.Assisting clients with completing forms, applications, and all case related documentation.Knowledge of crisis intervention and the unique needs of kinship care.Bilingual (Spanish), required.Familiarity with community resources and referral process.Valid California Driver’s License with a minimum of three (3) years of good driving history and must be approved by the agency’s insurance carrier to drive agency vehicles.Benefits: Wayfinder is committed to providing our employees with a benefits program that is both comprehensive and competitive which includes:Paid Time Off: Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, 11 paid holidays, plus five winter holidaysMedical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance401(k) retirement plan with employer match up to 4%Employee referral program: Encourage your colleagues to join usPublic Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibleFlexible spending account (FSA) plansEligibility and other benefits are outlined in plan documentsWayfinder Family Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We support a drug-free workplace and conduct pre-employment background and drug screenings.