Family Coaching Specialist

Our Mission 

Horizons for Homeless Children is a local non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of young children experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts and helping their families succeed by providing high-quality early education, opportunities for play, and comprehensive family support services. To support our mission, we also advocate on behalf of young children, train educators and human services providers, and provide research on the impact of early education on children experiencing homelessness. Our staff of 100-130 is a dedicated, passionate, diverse, and playful group. At Horizons, each team member is an important part of our mission. 

Summary of Position 

Within our early childhood education center, young children between the ages of two months and five years old are learning and developing in NAEYC-accredited classrooms. From the moment that a child begins their education at our center, Family Coaching Specialists play an active role in partnering with parents in setting goals that support the success of the family as a unit.   

As a Family Coaching Specialist, you’ll offer parents/caregivers strength-based, culturally inclusive, comprehensive coaching services that support parents on their journeys out of homelessness and poverty.   

Responsibilities 

Parent Partnership and Coaching 

• In partnership with parents, develop individualized collaboration plans to ensure each family’s full participation in Horizons’ two-generation program. 

• Conduct regular assessments to help parents identify strengths, needs, and vision for their family’s future. 

• Collaborate with parents to set and advance goals in education, employment, family stability, finances, and wellness. Coach parents in learning to develop SMART goals and actions steps. Reflect with parents on their progress, identifying skills that have enabled success and skill areas for growth. Support the development of executive functioning skills that will support parent’s economic mobility journey. 

• Support problem-solving when goal progress does not go as planned, adjusting strategies without abandoning identified goals. 

• Provide ongoing follow-up and connect families with necessary resources, including concrete support as needed.  Coordinate with external partners as needed. 

• In collaboration with classroom educators, conduct yearly home visits to better understand the family’s strengths, needs, and progress. 

• Celebrate milestones and goal achievement. 

Promotion of Parental Resilience and Well-being 

• Collaborate with parents to establish effective self-care practices. 

• Connect parents with medical and mental health resources as needed. 

• Assist parents in navigating systems and foster advocacy skills that will support their families’ success. 

• Foster social connections, organize community-building activities, and connect parents with community resources. 

• Support parent leaders in organizing workshops and support groups, ensuring an inclusive environment for all families. 

Parent Skill and Capacity Building 

• With other members of the FPP team, offer on-site workshops, classes, groups and resources in a variety of domains. 

• Provide logistical support and mentorship to Parent Council members. 

• Help parents build strong relationships with classroom educators that will support the parent’s role as their child’s first teacher.   

Other Duties 

• Maintain confidentiality and uphold agency policies in handling family and child records. 

• Cultivate partnerships with shelter liaisons and actively participate in care team meetings to coordinate comprehensive support for families. 

Workspace  

This is a 40-hour-a-week, full-time position. The work you will perform is somewhat active, taking place at a desk in a cubicle in an office setting working alongside others. You will also, on occasion, conduct home visits, accompany families to off-site appointments, and meet with families on-site.  

You can expect to work onsite 4 days in the office and 1 day, work from home. There will be occasional evening or weekend events with advanced planning and notice. There is a large staff room with indoor and outdoor space for breaks as well as a designated quiet room. Our beautiful office space is located:  Edgerley Family Horizons Center at 1785 Columbus Ave, Roxbury, MA. 

This position requires the employee to comply with all applicable federal, state, local and company policy concerning immunizations, employment physical/screening, Background record check and health and safety training.  

Starting salary range, compensation, and benefits

$62,000-66,499 is the starting salary range for our Coaching roles. Your starting salary will fall within that range depending on your competencies, experience, and skillset.

Your total compensation package includes the following benefits:

Health coverage options designed to be as comprehensive and affordable for you as possible, with Horizons covering between 70-75% of premiums (a value that ranges from an additional $8,000 – 20,000 per year based on your enrollment choices).

While you have a choice between an HMO and PPO plan for medical coverage, most employees pay $99.89 for individual, $199.79 for 2-person, or $314.21 for family coverage per biweekly paycheck and never pay more than $300 for individual or $600 for 2-person/family toward deductibles.

Visit The Benefits of Working at Horizons for more details on the rest of our benefits package

Qualifications 

Education and Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services or a related field required.

• At least 2 to 4 years of relevant professional experience, with knowledge of Greater Boston area resources preferred. 

• Fluency in written and verbal Spanish or Haitian Creole required 

• Experience in coaching and/or case management support. 

• Familiarity with working with vulnerable populations, particularly families at risk of or experiencing homelessness. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Bilingual in English and Spanish is required

• Understanding of the key components of Mobility Mentoring: assessment, goal setting, coaching, and recognition. 

• Knowledge of strength-based, culturally competent, collaborative approach for working with families and colleagues. 

• Proficient in managing and organizing projects and tasks across stakeholders, with a focus on critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making. 

• Ability to maintain program databases accurately, efficiently, and in a timely manner.  

• Strong communication skills with ability to distill complex information with empathy and clarity. 

• Strong reliability, and ability to establish trust and credibility with community members. 

• Skilled at cross-collaboration and effective teamwork across multiple teams. 

• Dedicated to Horizons’ mission and embodies core values (Collaborative, Inclusive, Innovative, and Passionate). 

• Demonstrates core competencies that are critical to success across Horizons (Communication, Collaboration, Cultural Competency, Growth Mindset, and Mission-Driven Excellence).