Program Coordinator, Children's Initiative

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

The Children’s Initiative (CI) was designed from the experience and learning reached through the development of the Franklin-McKinley Children’s Initiative, which began in 2009 as a collaborative effort to address systemic barriers, lack of resources, and alignment with the intent of creating a cradle-to-college-and-career pipeline. With the expansion of the Family Resource Center on school campuses and the lessons learned in leveraging resources and building community-rooted initiatives, the Children’s Initiative Model was developed.

The CORAL Expanded Day Learning Program provides a safe and productive learning environment during after-school hours, when juvenile crime and substance abuse often peak. Students in high-quality afterschool programs demonstrate improved academic performance, behavior, and school attendance, as well as higher expectations for their futures. CORAL offers students a structured after-school experience, including healthy snacks, homework assistance, literacy instruction, and enrichment activities such as sports, field trips, and clubs. The program is secular, neutral, and non-ideological.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Families First Community Pathway Prevention Services (FFCPPS) is designed to assist families in the City of San José who are at imminent risk of entering the child welfare system by providing early intervention and prevention services. Using the “No Wrong Door” service delivery model, the initiative offers comprehensive, community-based, and culturally relevant support. In partnership with the Franklin McKinley Children’s Initiative, it connects families to a variety of prevention services that address underlying risk factors before formal child welfare intervention becomes necessary. Services will target families identified with risk factors that place children at imminent risk of harm or neglect, particularly those with Latino/a/x and African Ancestry children, who are disproportionately represented in the child welfare system. The Referral Coordinator is responsible for the coordination of Families First Community Pathway Prevention Services. The Referral Coordinator is the agency contact for all FFCPPS referrals.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Family Support & Service Coordination

• Implement a triage approach to assess, prioritize, and respond to family needs based on urgency and severity.
• Provide comprehensive service coordination, including needs assessments, referrals, and ongoing follow-up for families across Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 levels of support.
• Engage families through a variety of strategies, such as one-on-one meetings, family conferences, and home visits.
• Establish and manage a referral feedback loop to track and verify the completion and effectiveness of referrals.
• Maintain strong, collaborative relationships with community-based organizations, school partners, and county agencies to ensure timely access to appropriate services.
• Facilitate trainings and presentations for referral sources on the FFCPPS referral process, program services, and eligibility requirements.
• Serve as a liaison among schools, Santa Clara County service systems, and community partners to support family wellness and self-sufficiency.
• Coordinate warm handoffs to ensure smooth transitions for families into services, and monitor referral outcomes in collaboration with partners.
• Conduct community outreach and participate in events to promote awareness of FFCPPS and expand referral networks.
• Attend internal and external meetings, trainings, and events hosted by Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County and partner organizations.

Service Documentation & Evaluation

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in compliance with grant and program requirements.
• Input and update client records in the AWARDS database.
• Complete all client-related forms, reports, and paperwork within required timelines.
• Communicate and coordinate effectively with program staff and agency departments to ensure continuity of care and service quality.

QUALIFICIATIONS:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Sociology, Human Development, or a related field required.
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience working with families navigating challenges such as substance abuse, domestic violence, and parent-child conflict.
  • Lived experience relevant to the position is highly valued but not required.
• Minimum of 1–2 years of management or supervisory experience preferred but not required.
• Experience in group facilitation is a plus.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Bilingual in English/Vietnamese or English/Spanish preferred.
• Familiarity with child welfare systems, including relevant policies, procedures, and legislation is preferred.
• Proven ability to work with individuals and families from diverse racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Strong knowledge of local community resources and referral systems.
• Ability to establish and maintain healthy boundaries while providing empathetic, client-centered support.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to engage clients across differing value systems and worldviews.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, with strong organizational and documentation abilities.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint) and comfortable working with databases.
• Familiar with general office practices, including filing, report writing, and professional correspondence.
• First Aid and CPR certification preferred.
• Strong attention to detail, reliability, and a team-oriented, flexible mindset.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to use standard office equipment (i.e. phone, computer, etc.)
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs.
• Ability to drive/travel to agency sites within Santa Clara County when needed.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:

• Criminal background check via livescan fingerprint.
• Must have TB test performed and submit results.
• Automobile, valid driver’s license and auto insurance per agency policy; or have access to reliable transportation.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work will be conducted mostly indoors in a shared office environment. Some work may be conducted outdoors occasionally.
• Availability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Ability to travel throughout Santa Clara County for home visits, outreach, trainings, and meetings.

HOURS AND OTHER CONDITIONS:

• Standard office hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• This is a full-time, non-exempt position. Some evenings and weekends may be needed due to program needs.

This position description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities. The order in which duties and responsibilities are listed is not significant. Because of a need to remain responsive to the needs of our clients and our Agency’s operations, responsibilities may be modified at any time.

Catholic Charities is a non-profit, non-discriminatory service organization and employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability. Persons receiving services in our programs are entitled to freedom from harassment and retaliation and reasonable accommodation for qualified disabilities.