Amara is committed to positive long-term outcomes for children and families. We drive systemic change, promote healing, and advance racial and LGBTQIA+ equity by offering programs and services to families engaged with foster care and to adoptees and families, post-adoption.

At Amara, we believe that a supportive, equitable and inclusive workplace, where everyone feels valued, trusted and nurtured, is key to shaping organizational culture and investing in underrepresented communities. Amara believes that a diverse workforce and inclusive workplace enhances our ability to fulfill our mission. We strongly invite candidates from diverse backgrounds, including communities of color, the LGBTQ+ community, veterans, and people with disabilities to apply.

We are seeking to hire a Parent Mentor Program Manager to work closely with our Parent Mentor Program (PMP). This position will be primarily based out of Spokane and will be part of a new program, in partnership with Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). Become an integral and valued part of a team working to support families experiencing foster care.

The Parent Mentor Program helps parents experiencing child welfare in providing a trusting and positive relationship to engage in positive change for themselves and their children. The goal of the program is to increase early engagement with parents to participate in restorative services that will increase safety for their children, reduce recidivism of child abuse and neglect and to safely prevent out of home placement.

This individual will have a variety of responsibilities, including supporting and supervising the Parent Mentor Program staff and coordinating various program logistics. The Parent Mentor Manager will need to be highly organized, have strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to hold firm boundaries while also acting with a high level of compassion for the families we serve, and the community members they will interact with.

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

·       Supervise and mentor Parent Mentor Program staff; Assess strengths and needs of staff; support and facilitate ongoing professional development

·       Oversee hiring and onboarding of Parent Mentor Program staff in Spokane and Grays Harbor Counties

·       Coordinate and manage Parent Mentor Program referrals from DCYF and managing communication with service stakeholders

·       Provide support and case coverage to Parent Mentor Program staff, including attending meetings, referring to services and resources, providing support and coaching to parents

·       Complete and review detailed and thorough service reports for DCYF, tracking data on program implementation

·       Collaborate and engage with Amara Program Leadership team to ensure quality and consistency of services

·       Facilitate community workshops, information meetings and community events, network with community stakeholders and resources

·       Occasional travel will be required to Grays Harbor County and Amara offices in Seattle and Tacoma

• High School Diploma or GED and three years’ experience working with children and families required OR Associates Degree in Human Services or a related field OR 2 years of completed coursework toward a bachelor’s degree) and two years’ experience working with children and families OR Bachelor’s degree and one year of social service experience OR Master’s degree and 6 months of social service experience are required. (A practicum may be considered as a substitute for one year of paid experience). Degree(s) must be in social services, human services, behavioral science, or an allied field.
• Direct lived experience as a parent who has navigated the child welfare system, or related personal experiences
• Knowledge of the general child welfare processes, services, and programs as well as the general court process is preferred, but the ability to learn and seek out this information will be the necessary quality
• Ability to effectively communicate (verbal and written) with Spanish-speaking families highly preferred
• Knowledge of child development and family systems preferred
• Strong communication skills; experience communicating through verbal and written formats with a wide variety of stakeholders across cultures
• Ability to demonstrate initiative, discretion, maturity, flexibility, and independent judgment
• Ability to work with all groups across age, religion, race, culture, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and gender identity
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Ability to work in tandem with an outstanding professional team
• Must be at least 21 years old, and have a valid Washington State driver’s license, reliable vehicle, and proof of auto insurance

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt position with an annual salary of $56,760-63,800 DOE. Generous personal leave and benefits package, including paid time off, paid sabbatical, health, vision and dental insurance, 401k with a company match, life, and disability insurance. 

Criminal Background Check

Because this position has access to confidential client, employee, or financial information OR direct interaction with children any final candidate hired into this position must successfully pass a criminal background check performed by the State of Washington. Any job offer is contingent on successfully passing this background check.  

Vaccination Requirement:

Amara requires that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This requirement is designed to prioritize the safety of the children and families we serve. Exemptions may be sought only for documented medical or religious accommodations.

To Apply

To express your interest in this position, please submit your resume and a one-page cover letter indicating why this position is the right opportunity for you. Resumes submitted without a cover letter will not be considered.

Amara is an Equal Opportunity Employer