Program Manager - Therapeutic Playroom (Bilingual)

Position Title: Program Manager, Therapeutic Playroom (Bilingual)

Department: Children & Family Services

Reports to: Senior Program Manager of Parent & Child Education

Location: 1757 Waller Street, San Francisco, CA 94117

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Safe & Sound is a children’s advocacy organization working to prevent child abuse and reduce its devastating impact on the child, their family, and our entire community.

We have been a pioneer in the field of child abuse prevention, working within San Francisco for more than 50 years. Recently, the organization has begun to expand its impact working throughout the state of California.

Child maltreatment is a complex problem, but a preventable one. Our data-informed approach leverages three primary strategies: we empower children with knowledge and confidence; we support families providing resources and skills; we activate the community and the change-makers within it to create a thriving social safety net for children and their families.

The organization has an annual operating budget of approximately $15.4 million and is supported by approximately 70 staff, interns, and more than 80 volunteers. Safe & Sound headquarters is located in a historic firehouse in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco, with a second office in the Bayview neighborhood.

Safe & Sound recently merged with The Center for Youth Wellness (CYW), a national leader in the effort to advance pediatric medicine, raise public awareness, and transform the way society responds to children exposed to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Founded by California’s first Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, CYW has created a national call to screen, treat, and heal ACEs and toxic stress.

More information is available at: www.safeandsound.org.

OVERALL SUMMARY

The Program Manager, Therapeutic Playroom manages the Children’s Playroom to support children ages 0- 12 in developing socio-emotional skills in a child-led, trauma-informed, play-based space. The Program Manager, Therapeutic Playroom develops and implements services and standards to ensure families are building Protective Factors. The Program Manager, Therapeutic Playroom directly supervises 2-3 Playroom Caregivers and all Playroom volunteers, responsible for their onboarding, training, and supervision. This position reports to the Senior Program Manager of Parent and Child Education.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Program Administration

• Ensure the Playroom is fully staffed, coordinating between staff and volunteer schedules and availability.
• Ensure the Playroom’s health and safety standards are maintained and on par with the department of public health.
• Ensure In-Kind donations of children’s clothing, toys, and other parenting equipment are accepted and distributed in collaboration with other teams.
• Delegate coordination to Playroom team members as-needed.
• Oversee orientation to Playroom services and protocol for new families.
• Consult with other teams as necessary about client issues and family referrals.
• Manage forms and other data collection materials pertaining to attendance, program outcomes, and other services to meet program needs.
• Ensure all data pertaining to the program is entered accurately and timely.
• Lead weekly meetings with Playroom staff and on-going check-ins with volunteers to discuss behavioral and developmental concerns of visiting children.
• Ensure Playroom is fully stocked with all essential program supplies, such as snacks, arts & crafts materials, food prep supplies, etc. May delegate coordinating tasks to other team members.
• Assist with organizing community events and other outreach efforts as needed.

Program Development

• Ensure the Children’s Playroom Manual and all volunteer training materials are up-to-date with current best practices in child development and positive discipline.
• Develop, improve, and maintain Playroom program protocols, systems, and procedures to ensure programmatic goals, and health & safety needs are met.
• Strategically evaluate volunteer training and management to implement new ideas and streamline processes.
• Continue to develop and implement the Playtime Together curriculum.

Program Leadership & Supervision

• Stay informed about current issues and evidence-based best practices regarding parenting & child development.
• Develop services needed by families to support their knowledge of parenting, child development, and their children’s social and emotional competence.
• Supervise 2-3 Playroom Caregivers, providing support for working with children and families, and accountability for their overall professional development.
• Manage the training, onboarding, and supervision of Playroom Caregivers and volunteers.
• Ensure their professional growth and competencies in the ways of supporting children’s social and emotional development is continually developed.
• Attend and participate in regular staff meetings, 1-on-1 supervision meetings, department trainings (TalkLine training, Playroom training, etc)

Client Services & Support

• Ensure the Playroom provides a safe space for building children’s social and emotional skills, and nurtures families protective factors.
• Ensure the Playroom provides a warm, welcoming environment for all families participating, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, ability, socio economic background, or any other marginalized or protected group.
• Collaborate with the Children & Family Services department to ensure the Playroom program is accessible and responsive to the changing needs of families.
• Care for children utilizing child-led play, art media, and dramatic play to support the children’s social, emotional and physical development.
• Provide for children’s basic needs while in care including but not limited to changing diapers, preparing meals, and feeding.
• Facilitate developmental growth for children by identifying developmental concerns. Help children to improve peer relationships, regulate emotions, and express their needs appropriately.
• Manage an environment where parents can experience shared positive emotions and interactions with each of their children.
• Support the parent-child relationship by helping parents with any concerns they might have in parenting, and provide referrals as-needed.
• Assist parents in playing with their children, listening to their children, and following their children’s leads.
• Communicate with other program staff and interns regarding family needs and participate in developing action plans to provide a holistic response.
• Work with the Parent & Child Education team to support our weekly Family Dinner in the Playroom.
• Work with the Playroom team to oversee the direction and implementation of Playtime Together.

Volunteer Program Management

• Collaborate with the Volunteer & Community Engagement Manager to ensure effective volunteer recruitment, engagement, and retention.
• Lead volunteer trainings, schedule, and onboard all volunteers.
• Ensure the training program is up-to-date with current best practices in child development and positive discipline. Supports new volunteers in preparing to work effectively with children.
• Evaluate and monitor performance of volunteers. Address any performance or attendance issues as needed.
• Develop and improve volunteer program systems and protocols. Update program literature to incorporate new aspects of volunteer programs.
• Coordinate annual volunteer appreciation efforts.

Undertake other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Proficiency verbal and written in English and Spanish.
• Undergraduate degree in child development, psychology, social work, or a related field or 5 years experience in working with children in classroom or childcare settings.
• Minimum 4 years experience working with children in a group setting.
• Experience supporting parent-child relationships in a classroom or childcare setting.
• Experience supervising staff and nurturing professional growth.
• Ability to be flexible, punctual and reliable.
• Ability to work with diverse staff and client populations.
• Demonstrated experience in volunteer coordination &/or supervision.
• Project management experience, including demonstrated experience with program planning and working collaboratively with others.
• Solid organizational skills, ability to manage multiple priorities, attention to detail, professionalism, clear communication skills.
• Able to handle crisis situations and work in a high-pressure environment.
• Basic computer skills required: word processing, Google apps and internet search.
• Maintains compliance with HIPAA and organizational confidentiality policies by appropriately handling, storing, and sharing protected health information (PHI) and other sensitive client data in accordance with applicable laws and agency procedures.
• CPR and First Aid certification required, or ability to obtain certification within a six (6) months upon hire and renewed every two years.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor/Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience providing education or support groups for children is preferred.
• Experience managing play-based or childcare programs.
• Experience working with children with disabilities (this is an increasing group of children we see).
• Experience working with mixed age groups of children ages 0-12.

POSITION SPECIFICATIONS

• Full Time
• Exempt
• In-person work required
• Position will be reference-checked, E-verified, and fingerprinted. All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of this process.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Typical Working Conditions:
  • Working with children which includes activity indoors and outdoors,

cooking, cleaning, diaper changes, contact with bodily fluids.

• Equipment Used:
  • Computer, phone, fax, copier, kitchen appliances.
• Essential Physical Tasks:
  • Position requires ability to lift up to 20lbs. Extensive sitting, bending, running and playing with children is expected in this position.

The base salary for this position is $81,554.00 and is eligible for the agency-sponsored benefits and the language premium. The language premium is $2,080 annually.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider all qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Safe & Sound provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

The Playroom Team strives to cultivate a team that reflects the diverse population we serve and thus strongly encourages diverse candidates from underrepresented communities to apply, including but not limited to individuals who identify as QT/BIPOC, those impacted by the child welfare/foster care systems, and public benefits recipients.

Qualified candidates should submit a resume and a detailed cover letter to Human Resources at employment@safeandsound.org

Benefits.

Spanish