Assistant Program Director

Alternative Family Services•Vallejo, CA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Alternative Family Services is seeking an Assistant Program Director to support its specialized Juvenile Justice and Intensive Foster Care programs, including the Children's Crisis Continuum Pilot Program (CCCPP) and Enhanced Intensive Services Foster Care (E-ISFC). The programs serve youth referred through the San Francisco Juvenile Probation Department. The Assistant Program Director partners with the Program Director on day-to-day operations, clinical oversight, and service delivery, supporting youth, resource families, staff, and community partners to promote stability, safety, and positive outcomes. This hybrid role combines remote, on-site, and community-based work. The home office is in Vallejo, California, with work across Solano, Contra Costa, San Francisco, and Alameda counties. Regular travel to foster homes, community settings, and program locations is required, and the employee must have daily access to a safe, reliable vehicle. Alternative Family Services is a Foster Family, Adoption and Mental Health Agency that has served children and families since 1973. It provides foster, adoption, mental health, and transition-aged youth services in English and Spanish, has eight Bay Area locations, and employs 200 people.

Requirements

Master's degree in Social Work (MSW) or a related field meeting California Community Care Licensing educational requirements for caseworker supervision.
At least one year of case management experience in a Foster Family Agency, foster care, adoption, or comparable child welfare setting.
Understanding of trauma-informed care and demonstrated experience working with children, youth, and families impacted by trauma.
Ability to obtain required fingerprinting and government background clearances.
Current California driver's license, acceptable driving record, valid automobile insurance listing the employee as an insured driver, and access to a reliable vehicle.
CPR/First Aid certification or ability to obtain certification upon hire.
Ability to work weekends and after hours for crisis response.

Nice To Haves

Experience in Foster Family Agency programs, including foster home support, placement coordination, case management, and resource parent engagement.
Experience in Intensive Services Foster Care (ISFC) or Enhanced ISFC.
Experience with juvenile justice or probation-involved youth and youth with complex behavioral, emotional, and mental health needs.
Trauma-informed care experience, including knowledge of adverse childhood experiences, trauma responses, and disrupted attachments and relationships.
Crisis intervention and stabilization experience, including safety planning, de-escalation, and placement preservation.
Experience collaborating with probation, child welfare, behavioral health providers, and community-based organizations.
Staff supervision, coaching, and professional development experience.
Bilingual English/Spanish skills.

Responsibilities

Coordinate intake, referrals, and placements with San Francisco Juvenile Probation, referring agencies, AFS staff, and resource families.
Facilitate intake interviews, pre-placement visits, placement coordination, and placement matching based on each youth's needs, strengths, safety, and treatment goals.
Complete intake documentation and Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessments.
Guide and support resource parents dealing with challenging behaviors, crises, and the needs of justice-involved youth.
Promote placement stability through timely communication, problem-solving, and service coordination.
Supervise, coach, and support assigned caseworker, clinical staff, peer partners, and facilitators.
Conduct field supervision, case consultations, and regular file and documentation reviews.
Support staff with crisis management, safety planning, and complex cases.
Oversee foster home recertification and ensure compliance with Community Care Licensing requirements.
Participate in Team Decision Making meetings and coordinate with multidisciplinary treatment teams.
Conduct annual employee evaluations and support staff development.
Promote trauma-informed, strengths-based care and individualized service planning that accounts for youths' backgrounds, cultures, identities, and developmental needs.
Coordinate with mental health providers, probation officers, resource parents, and other community partners.
Assist with program operations, staff meetings, and foster parent support groups, and provide leadership and staff supervision when the Program Director is unavailable.
Support caseworkers and resource families with after-hours crisis response.
Assist with program documentation, reporting, and monthly data submissions, and help maintain program quality, accountability, and regulatory compliance.
Build working relationships with San Francisco Juvenile Probation, community partners, referring agencies, and treatment providers; communicate significant client events and concerns to appropriate partners.
Represent AFS in community meetings and collaborative settings, maintaining confidentiality and complying with HIPAA and agency policies.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Chiropractic and acupuncture benefits.
Flexible spending options.
Life and disability insurance.
403(b) retirement plan.
Pet insurance.
Over 8 weeks of annual time off, including 11 vacation days in the first year, 12 paid holidays including the employee's birthday, and 12 sick days annually.
Substantial monthly employer contributions toward health insurance premiums.
IRS-standard mileage reimbursement.
Additional $3,000 annually for qualifying California clinical licensure (LCSW or LMFT).
Additional $2,500 annually for verified Spanish language fluency.