Family Engagement Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

About Glide

GLIDE is a nationally recognized center for social justice, dedicated to fighting systemic injustices, creating pathways out of poverty and crisis, and transforming lives. Through its integrated comprehensive services, advocacy initiatives, and inclusive community, GLIDE empowers individuals, families, and children to achieve stability and to thrive. GLIDE is on the forefront of addressing some of society’s most pressing issues, including poverty, housing and homelessness, and racial and social justice. GLIDE’s mission is to create a radically inclusive, just, and loving community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization

Position Summary

The Family Engagement Specialist serves as the primary point of contact for families accessing the Family Resource Center. This position creates a welcoming and inclusive environment while providing family-centered support through outreach, coaching, resource navigation, intake and assessment, parent education, and community engagement. The Specialist builds trusting relationships with families, Family Child Care (FCC) providers, community partners, and internal programs to increase family stability and promote healthy child development.

 

Working from a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach, the Family Engagement Specialist supports families in identifying goals, accessing resources, strengthening parenting practices, and connecting to services that promote long-term well-being. The position also supports Family Resource Center operations through front desk coordination, event support, inventory management, documentation, and program implementation. 

Essential Duties and Responsiblities

Family Engagement & Coaching

• Build trusting relationships with children, parents, caregivers, and Family Child Care providers.
• Provide ongoing strengths-based coaching and support.
• Assist families in developing individualized goals and action plans.
• Support parents with child development, behavior guidance, stress management, and family well-being.
• Connect families with internal and external resources.
• Maintain an active caseload and document services. 

Resource Navigation

• Conduct detailed oriented family-centered intake assessments.
• Complete and record assessments and referral information; assist families with accessing food, diapers, housing resources, benefits, and other community supports.
• Follow up with families to monitor progress.
• Advocate for family needs while promoting self-sufficiency.
• When needed, partner with GLIDE programs, program leaders and external agencies. 

Community Outreach

• Conduct outreach throughout the community and with Family Child Care providers.
• Promote FRC resources and build relationships with community organizations and partners.
• Support mobile outreach activities and represent the Family Resource Center at community events. 

Family Resource Center Operations

• Welcome families and visitors and coordinate participant check-in.
• Facilitate parenting workshops, lead support groups and assist with children's programming.
• Maintain informational materials, order supplies and maintain an organized welcoming reception area.
• Actively participate in meetings; support daily Family Resource Center operations such as managing inventory of diapers, food, and other basic needs.
• Support Child Watch services as needed.
• Support special projects and community initiatives. 

Documentation & Data

• Maintain accurate case notes and track goals and outcomes.
• Complete required documentation in Salesforce and other data systems.
• Monitor participation and program outcomes.
• Maintain HIPAA, document security and client confidentiality concerns. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum two years of experience working with children and families.
• Experience providing family support, coaching, case management, outreach, or resource navigation.
• Knowledge of child development, family systems, and parent-child relationships.
• Experience working with low-income families and culturally diverse communities.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to facilitate workshops and groups.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; Salesforce preferred.
• Ability to work occasional evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to travel throughout San Francisco and Treasure Island. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Training in Family-Centered Coaching, strengths-based coaching, or related models.
• Training in Trauma-Informed Care.
• Familiarity with Conscious Discipline, 123 Magic, social-emotional learning, or other relationship-based behavior support approaches 

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work on a computer and see details of objects at close range.  
• Ability to hear within normal range, and communicate effectively (in person, telephone or Zoom).  
• Finger dexterity and the ability to use all standard office equipment.  
• Sit or stand comfortably; and the ability to navigate throughout office spaces (via elevator or stairs).   

This is a fulltime (40 hour/week), Non-Exempt position.

Work Environment

GLIDE’s buildings are located in the Tenderloin neighborhood.  GLIDE maintains an "open door" policy to the community and its clients, who frequently enter and leave the building.

This role is covered by the collective bargaining agreement.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.