Director of Ma’at & Community Mental Health Initiatives

Homeless Children's Network•San Francisco, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Homeless Children’s Network’s (HCN) mission is to decrease the trauma of homelessness and domestic violence for children, youth, and families; to empower families; and to increase the effectiveness of collaborative efforts among service providers to end homelessness and poverty. Since 1992, HCN has empowered San Francisco’s underserved and historically marginalized communities citywide toward a brighter future with love, wholeness, and healing. Since 1992, HCN has been San Francisco’s leading nonprofit agency for comprehensive early intervention and mental health support for underserved and historically marginalized children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness, housing instability, or living in intergenerational poverty. Our mobile therapeutic model is both accessible and scalable, enabling clinicians to meet clients directly in the community. As the hub of a Collaborative of 60+ service agencies and community-based organizations, we serve over 2,500 clients each year, reaching those most reluctant to trust conventional mental health systems. Central to our work is our Afri-centric mental health and wellness model. This community-defined approach addresses health inequities and the persistent cycle of racism and trauma over generations. This model not only uplifts the Black/African American communities but also strengthens the behavioral health outcomes of all San Franciscans, fostering resilience, healing, and lasting change. The Ma’at Program is HCN’s Afri-centric clinical and community wellness initiative designed to support children, youth, and families in San Francisco with culturally grounded mental health services, case coordination, healing-centered engagement, and community connection. Rooted in the principles of balance, truth, order, reciprocity, and harmony, Ma’at integrates cultural knowledge, trauma-informed care, and community-defined best practices to honor the lived experiences of families impacted by generational trauma, racism, displacement, and poverty. The program provides clinical services—including therapy, family work, and emotional wellness support—delivered in community settings, homes, schools, and transitional or permanent supportive housing sites. Ma’at staff work closely with families to address emotional, behavioral, and relational challenges, while strengthening protective factors, enhancing resilience, and supporting overall wellbeing. With an emphasis on trust, cultural affirmation, and genuine partnership, the Ma’at Program uplifts families through holistic healing, community connection, and resource access. The Director of Ma’at & Community Mental Health Initiatives is responsible for the overall planning, coordination, and management of the clinical programs within the organization. This role focuses on developing, implementing, and evaluating programs that address community needs, improve service delivery, and ensure alignment with the organization’s mission. The Program Director will lead program teams, manage budgets, and foster partnerships with community organizations and stakeholders.

Requirements

Licensed or Registered as a Marriage and Family Therapist, MFTI, LMFT, LCSW, Clinical Social Worker, ASW or Psychologist
Minimum 5 years’ experience providing direct services to children, youth, and families
Ability to work in both office and community settings across San Francisco.
Occasional evening or weekend hours for community events or family needs.
Compassion, with exquisite cultural responsiveness as a primary guiding quality, not only of your professional life, but of what you hold dear.
A strong analysis of how race, ethnicity, culture, language, region, poverty, sexual and gender identity, age, education, opportunities and resources generationally made available or not, and systemic oppressions impact a person’s mental health.
Stories of your own life and how you have been a mover and shaker to transform these systems.
Accept that HCN is a vibrant community that has a legacy that is of interest to you, and is also prompted to grow steadily, and with the respect of what has been done well central in the conversation.

Nice To Haves

Experience in community-based or publicly funded mental health programs
Experience overseeing group-based services, trainings, or workshops
Familiarity with Medi-Cal, grant-funded, or contract-based billing models.

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and oversee non-clinical programs, ensuring they meet the needs of the target population and align with organizational goals.
Continuously evaluate program effectiveness and implement improvements to enhance outcomes.
Develop and manage program budgets, allocating resources efficiently and responsibly.
Ensure programs adhere to organizational policies, procedures, and standards.
Contribute to the organization’s strategic planning process, identifying program growth and development opportunities.
Align program goals and objectives with the broader organizational strategy.
Monitor trends and best practices to inform program innovation and
Build strong relationships with community partners, stakeholders, and fundersto support program initiatives.
Represent the organization at community events, meetings, and conferences to promote programs and services.
Develop outreach strategies to increase community engagement and participation in programs.
Identify funding opportunities and assist in writing grants to support program activities.
Manage grant-funded projects, ensuring compliance with funder requirements and achievement of project goals.
Collaborate with the development team to secure financial support for programs.
Collect and analyze program data to assess program effectiveness and inform Decision-making.
Prepare and submit regular reports to funders, stakeholders, and organizational leadership.
Utilize data to support continuous quality improvement efforts.
Ensure programs comply with all relevant regulations, policies, and ethical standards.
Identify and mitigate risks associated with program delivery.
Maintain accurate records and documentation per organizational and legal requirements.