Family Specialist

Location: Home-based with daily field work in the Central Valley (Redlands base) or the High Desert (Victorville base); the regional site is used for family meetings, supervision, and training; some positions work Tuesday through Saturday. Schedule: Full time, non-exempt; evenings and weekends as the family's plan requires; 24/7 support on rotation. Reports to: HFW Supervisor. Pay range: $56,000–$68,000 a year.

About the program. Family Life First is Knotts Family Agency's High Fidelity Wraparound (HFW) program for San Bernardino County children, youth, and families, delivered in homes, schools, and communities by Child and Family Teams. KFA has served children in family-based care since 1992, holds California HFW Provider Certification, and will operate HFW from Redlands (Central Valley) and Victorville (High Desert). Interviews start immediately. Final hiring decisions are contingent on the award of a San Bernardino County contract for High Fidelity Wraparound services; the County's tentative contract start date is January 1, 2027, and KFA expects the award to be announced in late December 2026. Anticipated start dates begin in January 2027 and are stated in every offer.

Why KFA. People stay here: three departures of any kind in the last three years among a staff of about 48, in a field where 20 to 40 percent turnover is common. KFA calls the reason Employee Delight: the agency is organized around staff members' own families, so schedules flex for a child's school outing or first recital and no employee misses one because of work; relief staffing at 10 percent means vacations are covered rather than absorbed by the team; every employee receives 40 hours of paid training a year, 24 of them on cultural and equity practice; and there is a promotion ladder from Family Specialist to Facilitator to HFW Supervisor, and from Youth Partner to Family Specialist. Pay ranges are benchmarked every year to stay above the regional median for each role and reviewed annually for pay equity.

What you will do. Provide psychoeducation and skills coaching in the home, school, and community for up to ten families: help caregivers practice de-escalation, routines, and communication strategies in their own living rooms, designed on Dialogue Education principles so the caregiver decides what fits; help caregivers recognize early warning signs and use the crisis and safety plan; support the youth and caregiver through the hours after a visit with birth relatives, school transitions, and other predictable stress points; take part in Child and Family Team meetings; document each contact; and take part in the 24/7 support rotation.

Minimum qualifications. Bachelor's degree in a behavioral science, or qualification as a Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist; experience coaching parents or caregivers; training in positive behavioral interventions, or completion within 90 days of hire.

Preferred. Experience with resource (foster) families, kinship caregivers, or ISFC; TBS or IHBS experience; bilingual Spanish.

Requirements for all positions. Department of Justice and FBI background clearance (Live Scan) before hire; a current DMV record, valid California driver's license, reliable vehicle, and insurance for positions that travel; tuberculosis screening; mandated-reporter training; completion of the UC Davis Center of Excellence HFW orientation and role course within the required period of hire; agency phone and mileage reimbursement at the IRS rate for field positions. KFA pays a 7.5% differential for bilingual Spanish fluency used on the job.

Benefits. Health insurance subsidy, including medical, dental, and vision coverage; employee 401(k); generous vacation package with paid time off and holidays; up to five days a year for family events or activities; paid training and continuing education; clinical supervision toward licensure for registered associates. Knotts Family Agency, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants with lived experience in child welfare, probation, or behavioral health.

To apply. Submit a résumé and a short statement of interest through this posting. Include license or registration numbers where applicable. Interviews start immediately and include a Family and Youth Advisory Council member and a peer in the role; KFA hires in tranches tied to program enrollment and states the anticipated start date in each offer.

Pay: $56,000.00 - $68,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Please provide: (1) a short statement of interest in this role and KFA’s High Fidelity Wraparound program; (2) whether you hold a valid California driver’s license; (3) your Spanish fluency; and (4) any applicable California clinical license or registration type and number, or “not applicable.”

Work Location: In person