Careers

Education Engagement Specialist

Missoula, MT

Friends of the Children is a nonprofit impacting generational change by empowering youth through relationships with professional mentors. We do this by providing children facing the most obstacles with a long-term, salaried, professional mentor, from kindergarten through high school graduation, 12+ years – no matter what.

We are currently seeking a highly motivated, committed professional to join our program team. At Friends of the Children, we put children first and use our values to change the way the world treats and views youth facing great barriers. As an Education Engagement Specialist, you will nurture long-term relationships from a foundation of love, acceptance, and culturally informed practice. You will offer children academic support during the school year and over the summer months in a variety of situations. During the school year this includes meeting with children in the classroom or school and working on educational goals created with their primary teacher. Helping them regulate, focus, and succeed. It also includes creating group STEAM activities after school that foster additional development. Over the summer months the Educational Specialist will join the team in supporting our three-day summer camp by providing enrichment activities as well as individualized 1:1 support to children.

Do you want to be a part of a dynamic and supportive national network, with a proven, evidence-based mentoring model? Are you ready for a friendly and collaborative workplace, where work-life balance is respected?

Are you ready to work with an engaging team of mission-oriented people who love what they do? If so, the impactful role of an Education Engagement Specialist might be for you.

Curious to learn more? See the position details below:

We are hiring an extraordinary candidate looking to develop intensive, long-term, trusting relationships with youth who need it the most. The Education Engagement Specialist will:

Promote literacy and math skills for enrolled youth by reading together, taking outings to the library, playing games that involve reading instructions and basic math, and helping with homework.
Foster positive peer relationships and learning behaviors by teaching and modeling prosocial and self-management skills.
Partner with teachers and principals to provide regular learning tutorials in the school environment during the school year that re-enforce classroom learning lessons.
Help children find their spark by engaging in STEM and other activities that lay the foundation for future passions and careers.
Act as a consistent adult in a child's life as they face life changes such as enrolling in a new school or changing foster care placements.
Provide enrichment activities that include opportunities for cultural awareness.
Advocate for children in the classroom, ensuring they have the support to progress in school. Support caregivers to advocate for their children and help them build positive relationships with school staff.

The ideal candidate will have:

Bachelor's degree (required), Master’s degree (preferred), in education, mental health, social services or youth development related field.
At least three to five years’ experience working with vulnerable families.
Be culturally competent and trauma informed.
Experience building relationships with children, parents, families, and teachers
Superior scheduling and time management skills.
Data entry and database management skills.
Experience working in a growing non-profit.

What we offer:

Work hours are flexible and will vary depending on the needs of our youth and will occasionally include being available to work on Saturdays. The Education Engagement Specialist must provide their own child-safe vehicle and insurance; we reimburse for mileage.

If you are this amazing person, below is what we have to offer.

Position Details:

Salary: $35,200-$44,000 depending on hours worked

Hours: Flexible, 32-40 per week

Benefits: Comprehensive

Professional Level: Professional Position

Location: Missoula

Curious to learn more? Click the "Apply Now' Link

Apply Now

Family Engagement Specialist

Missoula, MT

We are currently seeking an extraordinary professional to embark on a new career journey with our organization. Do you want to be a part of a dynamic and supportive national network, with a proven, evidence-based mentoring model? Are you ready to work in a friendly and collaborative workplace, where work-life balance is respected?

Are you ready to play a critical role in helping Western Montana’s most vulnerable children change the trajectories of their lives!? If so, the impactful role of a Family Engagement Specialist might be for you.

At Friends of the Children, we put children first and use our values to change the way the world treats and views youth facing great barriers. Sometimes, the best way to help a child in crisis is to help their family find stable housing, connect their parents with an employment program, or to support their caregiver in navigating the red tape of signing up for benefits. As a Family Engagement Specialist, you will help our organization nurture long-term relationships with families from a foundation of love, acceptance, and culturally informed practice. You will build partnerships across our community, cultivating a network of referral resources and developing a system for in-kind donations that will build parental protective capacities and improve family stability. You will also engage and empower caregivers to reach their individual and family goals.

We are hiring an extraordinary candidate looking to develop intensive, long-term, trusting relationships with the families who need it most. The Family Engagement Specialist will:

Gain an understanding of resources available.
Work closely with the Program Director to ensure that caregiver basic needs are met.
Work collaboratively with program staff and our families to identify gaps in services experienced by our kids and families.
Work closely with Program Director to build intentional community partnerships that directly benefit our families.
Collaborate with caregivers to effectively navigate outside support systems and organizations.
Organize monthly events and activities focused on caregiver and family engagement.
Record caregiver and youth interactions and efforts weekly in our Efforts to Outcomes database.
Alongside the Program Director, work to increase enrichment opportunities and community support for siblings of enrolled children.
Empower caregivers by modeling and coaching the family in multiple forms of parenting and communication skills, anger management, and problem solving.
Mobilize caregivers to implement plans that advance the goals they have for themselves and their families.
Help coordinate the organization’s annual parent/caregiver survey.
Research best practices and establish a donation-driven clothing and essential-items closet to benefit our kids and families.
Work with development staff to coordinate back-to-school supplies, holiday gift campaigns, enrichment experiences, and other in-kind donations for the children in our program and their siblings.