Child and Family Specialist, Mental Health

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

Wayfinder’s Mental Health Program provides therapy to children, youth, adults and families in our programs, including traumatized youth in The Cottage and The Haven. Wayfinder remains one of only a handful of organizations in the state that offers mental health services to people with disabilities. 

The primary focus of the Child and Family Specialist, is to provide mental health skills-based rehabilitation services and behavioral interventions to assist clients in our clinical therapeutic program in learning ways to manage their behaviors to increase positive social and emotional functioning. The child and family specialist works in coordination with inter and intra-agency treatment team members and across various community-based settings and works collaboratively with any identified Child and Family Team (CFT) and delivers professional services that are trauma-informed, culturally competent, and as outlined in the client’s treatment plan(s).

This role provides services in the following communities: Los Angeles, Whittier

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Maintain confidentiality of all pertinent client information.
• Participate in intake, assessment, plan development and review and provision of following services:  individual and group rehabilitation, targeted case management, intensive care coordination, collateral, intensive home-based services, and crisis intervention. 
• Develops a working knowledge of functional behavioral analysis and assessment, behavioral modification techniques, crisis intervention, and other techniques as required when working with youth with behavioral challenges.
• Responds to crisis situations.
• Other duties as outlined in the position description

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in psychology, social work, counseling, or related field plus two (2) years of experience in a mental health setting as a specialist in the fields of physical restoration, social adjustment, or vocational adjustment OR
• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work counseling, or related field plus four (4) years of experience in a mental health setting as a specialist in the fields of physical restoration, social adjustment, or vocational adjustment OR
• Associates degree plus six (6) years of experience in a mental health setting as a specialist in the fields of physical restoration, social adjustment, or vocational adjustment required.
• Valid California Driver’s License with a minimum of two (2) 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 holidays
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match up to 4% 
• Employee referral program: Encourage your colleagues to join us
• Education tuition assistance program: Invest in your career development 
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible
• Flexible spending account (FSA) plans 
• Eligibility and other benefits are outlined in plan documents

Additional Benefits:

• Hybrid work schedule

Wayfinder Family Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We support a drug-free workplace and conduct pre-employment background and drug screenings.