Parent and Family Partner for At-Risk Youth

WestCoast Children's Clinic•Oakland, CA

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

WestCoast Children’s Clinic (WCC), a non-profit community psychology clinic in Oakland, California, provides mental health services to children, youth, and families across the Bay Area. The organization describes its approach as client-centered, trauma-informed, collaborative, and committed to justice and equity. The C-Change Parent and Family Partner provides peer support, advocacy, and guidance to caregivers of youth who are commercially sexually exploited or at risk of exploitation. Drawing on lived experience navigating child-serving systems, the Partner builds trust, helps caregivers process complex emotions following disclosure, and works with families from referral through ongoing care. The role amplifies caregivers’ voices and priorities in Child and Family Team (CFT) meetings, models hope, and supports families in navigating child welfare, educational, legal, and other systems while building on their strengths. This is a regular full-time, non-exempt hourly position based in Oakland, California, with a hybrid arrangement. The employee must be available to provide client services in person and complete documentation remotely. The regular schedule is Monday through Friday. Compensation is $31.25 per hour, or $34.37 per hour for qualified bilingual Spanish candidates.

Requirements

Parent or caregiver lived experience navigating child-serving systems, such as child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health, or special education.
High school diploma or GED.
Willingness to share personal experience purposefully and within professional boundaries.
Ability to build peer relationships with diverse families and advocate effectively.
Commitment to family-driven, youth-guided, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and harm-reduction practices.
Strong communication, teamwork, and multidisciplinary collaboration skills.
Computer literacy and documentation skills.
Ability to travel by car to meet clients, generally within a 90-mile radius of WCC’s Oakland office; alternative transportation may be accommodated based on program and client needs.
Clean California DMV record.
Current vehicle insurance when driving for WCC.

Nice To Haves

Lived experience supporting a youth who experienced or was at risk of commercial sexual exploitation.
Previous experience as a Parent Partner, Family Partner, Family Peer Support Specialist, or in a similar peer role.
Experience with High Fidelity Wraparound, family peer support, or Child and Family Team processes.
Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification, including a Parent, Caregiver, and Family Member specialization, or willingness to obtain certification within a designated timeframe.
Training in CSEC, trauma-informed care, or harm reduction.
Familiarity with local child welfare, juvenile justice, victim services, and behavioral health systems.
Bilingual or multilingual skills; Spanish is preferred.

Responsibilities

Conduct early outreach to caregivers of youth at risk of or experiencing commercial sexual exploitation (CSEC), build rapport, provide peer orientation, and facilitate warm handoffs to community resources and support teams.
Use lived experience purposefully to build trust, normalize complex emotions, reduce isolation, and share strategies that strengthen family communication, caregiver confidence, and natural support networks.
Prepare and empower caregivers to advocate for their needs in Child and Family Team (CFT) and care-planning meetings, ensuring family strengths, cultural values, and priorities inform safety, crisis, and care plans.
Guide and accompany families through child welfare, juvenile justice, law enforcement, behavioral health, and school systems; explain jargon, bridge provider communication, attend court hearings, and connect families with resources such as housing, legal aid, and benefits.
Educate caregivers about CSEC dynamics, including grooming, coercive control, and trauma bonds.
Assist in developing trauma-informed safety plans covering online safety, missing youth episodes, and re-engagement.
Collaborate as an equal partner on multidisciplinary teams to elevate caregiver perspectives in treatment planning.
Follow mandated-reporting and safety protocols and complete service documentation in a timely manner.
Maintain professional boundaries and strict confidentiality, practice self-care, and participate in ongoing training and reflective supervision.

Benefits

Employer-paid medical benefits for employees.
Dental and vision coverage that is 100% employer-paid for employees.
Dependent medical, dental, and vision coverage with 50% employer contribution.
Medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSA) and commuter plans.
100% employer-paid life insurance.
Long-term disability insurance.
Voluntary accident, term life, and hospital indemnity insurance.
403(b) and Roth retirement plan options, with an employer contribution targeted at 7.5% after the first year of employment.
Quarterly incentive compensation of 5–10% and annual incentive compensation of 10%.
Three weeks of PTO during the first year, increasing to four or more weeks with additional years of service.
12 paid holidays plus one paid floating holiday per year.
Four paid self-care days per year.
Wellness stipend of $100 per month.
Professional development stipend and CEUs for trainings.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Staff Affinity Groups, including Staff of Color, LGBTQ+, Equity and Inclusion, and Health and Wellness.
Extensive clinical trainings and seminars led by field experts.