Fatherhood Educator

Job Description

Job Description

The Fatherhood Educator is responsible for delivering evidence-based fatherhood programming and therapeutic reunification services to incarcerated fathers and father figures within a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) institution and the San Joaquin County Jail. Through classroom instruction, individualized coaching, structured family engagement activities, and reunification planning, the Fatherhood Educator helps participants strengthen parenting skills, develop healthy family relationships, increase personal responsibility, and prepare for successful reintegration into their families and communities.

***This position is split between two correctional locations: California Health Care Facility (CHCF) and the San Joaquin County Jail. The role requires strict adherence to all institutional policies, procedures, and security regulations at both facilities. Work involves direct interaction with incarcerated individuals, correctional staff, family members, caregivers, and community partners while maintaining compliance with each facility’s operational and security requirements***

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree, either MSW, MFT, or master's in early childhood education or similar. 
• Two years of experience in peer support, mentoring, education, case management, counseling support, social services, behavioral health, corrections, community outreach, or a related field preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of the challenges and barriers faced by justice-involved individuals and their families.
• Experience facilitating groups, workshops, educational programs, or life-skills training preferred.
• Ability to obtain and maintain clearance to work within California correctional institutions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Lived experience with incarceration, successful reentry, family reunification, or other experiences that support effective engagement with justice-involved individuals.
• Experience facilitating evidence-based curricula, parenting programs, fatherhood programs, peer support services, or adult education courses.
• Experience working with incarcerated individuals and their families.
• Experience coordinating family visitation, reunification, or family engagement services.
• Bilingual preferred.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Fatherhood Education and Group Facilitation

• Facilitate evidence-based curriculum and other approved fatherhood education materials.
• Provide Positive Parenting and Conflict Resolution programming in a classroom setting.
• Deliver engaging classroom sessions utilizing lectures, group discussions, journaling exercises, letter writing activities, family planning exercises, and self-reflection activities.
• Foster a supportive learning environment that encourages accountability, personal growth, healthy communication, empathy, and responsible fatherhood.
• Educate participants on parenting skills, emotional awareness, child development, family relationships, communication, anger management, conflict resolution, and healthy decision-making.
• Adapt instructional methods to accommodate varying learning styles, literacy levels, and participant needs.
• Recruit, orient, and enroll eligible participants in program services.
• Administer curriculum assessments and evaluation tools before and after program participation to measure changes in self-efficacy, parenting knowledge, attitudes, and skills.
• Monitor participant progress and provide individualized support to promote successful program completion.

Therapeutic Reunification Services

• Provide individualized reunification coaching and support services over a structured four- to six-week period.
• Conduct assessments to identify participant goals, strengths, barriers, family dynamics, and reunification needs.
• Develop individualized reunification plans that establish realistic goals, expectations, and milestones for rebuilding family relationships.
• Coordinate with institutional Family Liaison Services Specialists (FLSS), correctional staff, caregivers, and family members to facilitate reunification activities.
• Schedule and facilitate up to three structured parent-child visits designed to strengthen family relationships and promote healthy attachment.
• Recommend and implement age appropriate bonding activities tailored to the developmental needs of each child.
• Observe parent-child interactions and provide constructive coaching, feedback, and strategies to strengthen communication and engagement.
• Assist participants in understanding child development, attachment, family systems, and the impacts of incarceration and separation on children and caregivers.
• Support participants in developing realistic expectations regarding reunification, particularly when working with children of varying ages and developmental stages.
• Address issues related to separation trauma, family reintegration, and relationship rebuilding through a trauma-informed and strengths-based approach.
• Assist participants in creating sustainable plans for maintaining and strengthening family relationships during incarceration and following release.

Documentation, Reporting, and Program Compliance

• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential participant records, assessments, case notes, attendance logs, visitation documentation, and progress reports.
• Track program outcomes, participant progress, completion rates, and other performance measures required by funding agencies and organizational leadership.
• Prepare and submit reports in accordance with agency, grant, contract, and CDCR requirements.
• Ensure compliance with all Friends Outside policies, institutional regulations, security protocols, and program standards.
• Maintain program materials, curriculum resources, and instructional supplies.

Collaboration and Professional Responsibilities

• Collaborate with correctional institution staff, community partners, caregivers, family members, and service providers to support participant success.
• Serve as a positive role model, mentor, and advocate for justice-involved individuals and their families.
• Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality in accordance with agency and institutional requirements.
• Participate in staff meetings, trainings, professional development activities, and program planning efforts.
• Support Friends Outside's mission of strengthening individuals, families, and communities impacted by incarceration.
• Perform other duties as assigned.