Children's Services Coordinator

Job Description:

Job Title: Children’s Services Coordinator

Department: Family Services Department

Reports to: Children’s Services Manager

Summary:

Our mission is to help low-income families and families experiencing homelessness strengthen family bonds by achieving stable housing and financial independence. Since 1971, Raphael House has been at the forefront of providing homeless and low-income families in the San Francisco Bay Area the personalized family-centered solutions they need to build brighter futures. Raphael House is a privately funded and community-supported organization. Our success rate is unmatched: more than 85% of all Raphael House families go on to achieve long-term housing and financial stability.

Our Team:

Diverse, caring, and creative, Raphael House's staff are skilled thinkers and problem solvers, and they're always willing to roll up their sleeves to get the job done. Raphael House employees are inspired by the organization's mission both professionally and personally, and each is developed as a collaborative leader and crucial contributor to strengthening families in the community.

The Residential Shelter Program provides nourishing and respectful structure to families who have experienced homelessness. We tailor services for each family to provide them with the necessary support, education, and skills to assist them in obtaining housing, employment and self-sufficiency. The Bridge Program provides families with the ongoing support necessary to maintain their long-term stability.

Under the supervision of the Children’s Services Manager, the Children’s Services Coordinator is responsible for leading family and children’s evening activities and special events that foster a caring, nurturing and supportive environment. These activities and events enhance opportunities to strengthen family bonds, increase positive interactions between caregivers and children, and foster healthy child development. The Children’s Services Coordinator also works directly with Residential families, providing advocacy and referrals related to children’s needs. If assigned to work with Bridge children, the Children’s Services Coordinator conducts tutoring sessions, supports with distribution of services to children and families, and coleads events.

Key Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the Raphael House mission, values, and operating principles, and consistently uphold all program policies and procedures.
• Conduct needs assessments and meet with Residential and any assigned Bridge families on topics such as parenting support, childcare, and wellness supports related to the child’s needs: social-emotional, academic, behavioral, early intervention, etc.
• This role primarily supports Residential families, with limited Bridge Program responsibilities assigned based on program needs.
• Support Children’s Services Manager in working with Bridge children and families (i.e. special trips and events, annual giveaways, service distribution).
• Responsibly distribute funds and supplies as directed; these may include direct aid, clothing, activity funds, etc.
• Proactively communicate with supervisor and program staff and refer clients to internal and external resources.
• Introduce Residential families to our Bridge Program through Children’s Services.
• Respect that each family functions uniquely and independently, and always work with families utilizing a strengths-based perspective.
• Acknowledge that challenges will exist and see those challenges as potential learning opportunities for the caregiver and their family to work through. Commit to establishing a strong partnership with the family in order to help the family overcome said challenges and obstacles.

Evening Programming:

• Develop and lead nightly activities for children and families Monday-Friday. Activities include, but are not limited to, art, crafts, game nights, and special events such as seasonal celebrations, an annual art show, and birthdays.
• Lead Story Time nightly, singing songs and reading a bedtime story to children and encouraging parent participation.
• Develop and implement relevant support for teens (as needed based upon revolving program demographics).
• Ensure that Residential Counselors supporting evening activities are thoroughly trained and report back on their observations and interactions with volunteers and families in a timely manner.
• Observe children’s behaviors, strengths, and areas of growth and communicate feedback directly to caregivers.
• Update Birthday list as needed, prepare gifts, request cakes, and lead birthday celebrations for residential children.
• Organize, clean, and maintain activity areas and supplies.

Program Development, Collaboration, & Community Outreach:

• Develop collaborative relationships with external service providers; attend community meetings as needed.
• Work with the Children’s Services Manager and Director of Family Services to develop and implement program initiatives.
• Be willing to participate in public speaking engagements on behalf of Raphael House.
• Collaborate with Development on fundraising and marketing efforts: share client stories, collect artwork, and include Development staff when holding onsite events for families (when appropriate and with client consent).
• Recruit, train, and coordinate volunteers for evening activities, projects, and events. Ensure that volunteers maintain quality volunteer experiences and receive adequate training to deliver services appropriately.
• Provide ongoing training to staff supporting activities as needed.

General:

• Uphold the principles and standards of Raphael House.
• Provide excellent client-facing service by being approachable, respectful, warm, empathetic, and calm under pressure.
• Operate from a trauma-informed perspective, understanding that lived experiences shape us and all individuals have their own story, strengths, and challenges.
• Respectful communication towards all community members, including staff and clients, is expected.
• Value and support work within a multidisciplinary team and work cooperatively with all other departments.
• Establish and maintain healthy professional boundaries with families while building trusting relationships.
• Uphold the highest level of client confidentiality.
• Follow agency and state law procedures including reporting suspected child and elder abuse.
• Be dependable, adaptable, receptive to change, willing to learn, and take a cooperative and creative approach to problem-solving.
• Attend staff meetings and staff training as scheduled.
• Meet weekly with the Children’s Services Manager for supervision.
• Maintain timely and accurate up-to-date case notes, files, statistics, and all other required data entry in the database and/or spreadsheets, as required.
• Other duties reasonably related to the position, as assigned.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s Degree in social services, social work, psychology, child development, or related field preferred. In lieu of a Bachelor’s Degree, relevant work experience will be considered.
• Additional language capacity is a plus.
• Knowledge of child development (mental, emotional and social) and family systems preferred.
• Prior experience with leading groups and activity curriculum development preferred.
• Experience working with individuals and families experiencing homelessness preferred. Experience working with vulnerable populations in a professional setting will be considered.
• Able to work an evening schedule and occasionally flexible hours within a 40 hour work week.
• Operate with cultural humility and respect for all, and commit to working positively with staff and clients with different backgrounds and lived experiences.
• Able to work in a shared office space, as office spaces are limited, or as needed for onboarding of other staff, interns, and volunteers.
• Able to work independently and seek supervision when appropriate.
• Able to prioritize and manage multiple tasks and deadlines. Strong time management skills are essential.
• Able to remain calm under pressure and utilize strong conflict management and crisis intervention skills.
• Able to move objects up to 25 pounds; position self to crouch, stoop, or kneel; and sit or stand for 4-6 hours at one time.
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills. A writing sample may be requested.
• Very computer literate--this position is required to work on the computer for several hours per day. Able to navigate the Windows operating system and use Word, Excel, Google Suite Applications (Gmail, Calendar, Meet, Drive, Docs, Sheets, etc.), Adobe Acrobat, etc.

Salary: $68,000 - $72,000 annually commensurate with experience. Full-time employee benefits include: medical, dental, and vision coverage; retirement plan; generous paid vacation days plus 11 paid holidays and 10 sick days; parental leave; EAP program; Flexible Spending Account; and commuter benefits. Raphael House supports a work/life balance for its employees and offers flexible work options.

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule & Hybrid Arrangement: This position is M-F, with evenings required for onsite activities. Hours are typically 12:30-8:30pm, with an 11:30am start time on Tuesdays and a 12pm start time every 3rd Wednesday of the month. This position has the option of a hybrid work arrangement of up to (8) hours per week working from home, upon completion of onboarding training and with supervisor approval. Working from home is limited to the beginning of the work day, prior to coming onsite to facilitate evening activities. Additional onsite presence may be required based on program, team, or organizational needs. Technology is not currently provided to work from home. Employees are expected to maintain an appropriate remote work environment and provide their own computer, phone, internet connection, and related equipment needed to perform their job duties effectively.

Application Process: Please email your resume and cover letter to , include Children’s Services Coordinator in the subject line.

JOB DESCRIPTION REVISION

This is not necessarily a complete list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts or working conditions associated with this job. While this job description is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change. This job description replaces all previous descriptions for this position.

This organization is an equal opportunity employer, drug-free workplace, and complies with ADA regulations as applicable.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

All applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, ancestry, physical/mental disability, medical condition, military/veteran status, genetic information, marital status, ethnicity, alienage or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Equal access to programs, services, and employment is available to all qualified persons. Those applicants requiring accommodation to complete the application and/or interview process should contact a management representative.