Child Welfare Clinician

Child Welfare Clinician

We’re looking for a compassionate and skilled clinician to support Alaska’s foster, adoptive, and relative caregiver families. This part-time role provides caregiver coaching, psychoeducation, and clinical support that promotes healing, attachment, and family stability for children and youth impacted by trauma and involvement in the child welfare system.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape our clinical services at a pivotal moment. Bring your vision, compassion, creativity, and can-do spirit, and join us!

About us

Alaska Center for Resource Families (ACRF) (www.acrf.org) helps families meet the needs of children and youth who are in foster care or who have been adopted. ACRF provides information, training, and support to "resource families”—prospective and current foster parents, adoptive parents, relative caregivers, and guardians. Funded by the Alaska Department of Family and Community Services and other community funders and donors, ACRF has offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Mat-Su. It is a program of Alongside.

Alongside is a nonprofit that helps child welfare systems better serve youth experiencing foster care. With each young person’s needs and strengths in focus, we develop technologies and programs that support lasting family connections, whatever form they take. We recruit and prepare families, support them through the ups and downs of caregiving, engage youth in shaping their own futures, and build the connection technology that brings families together. Through meaningful collaboration with state, regional, and national partners, we are transforming systems so that every young person has family that nurtures their growth and potential. Learn more at alongsidekids.org.

Equity and inclusion are priorities across all programs at Alongside. We are passionate about inclusive and affirming policy and practice and are recognized by the Human Rights Campaign’s All Children, All Families program. We seek staff diversity in ability, age, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, and veteran status. In addition, we welcome applications from those with lived experience in foster care or with adoption. We are an equal opportunity employer.

Who we’re looking for

We’re seeking a compassionate, skilled, parent-support clinician who is dedicated to strengthening foster, adoptive, and kinship families. This role is designed for a clinician who excels in caregiver coaching, trauma-informed practice, and helps adults navigate the complexities of parenting children with significant trauma histories.

This role is a strong fit for someone who:

Understands the impact of trauma on children and caregivers—especially those who have experienced the child welfare system.

Demonstrates strong parent-coaching skills and the ability to guide caregivers through complex parenting challenges with empathy and clarity.

Is comfortable leading psychoeducation groups, workshops, and adoption-competency training for resource families and professionals.

Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with families, colleagues, and community partners, including the State of Alaska Office of Children’s Services and Tribal partners.

Provides support that honors diverse family structures, identities, and traditions.

Maintains professional boundaries while fostering trust and meaningful connections with caregivers.

Responsibilities

The child welfare clinician will deliver clinical services for resource families, ensuring caregivers have access to individualized support, evidence-based parenting strategies, psychoeducation, and community resources that promote healing, attachment, and long-term family well-being. Responsibilities include:

Providing one-on-one parent coaching focused on trauma-responsive parenting strategies, attachment building, communication skills, emotional regulation, and navigating challenging child behaviors.

Developing individualized family assessments, parenting support plans, and measurable goals tailored to each family’s unique strengths, needs, and circumstances.

Facilitating psychoeducational groups, workshops, and trainings on topics such as trauma, attachment, behavior management, stress regulation, and caregiver resilience.

Maintaining timely and accurate clinical documentation, including progress notes, treatment plans, progress notes, and service reports.

Collaborate with ACRF staff and external partners to ensure coordinated caregiver support and continuity of care.

Contribute to team-wide initiatives, case consultations, program development activities, cross-program projects, and other duties that support organizational goals.

Qualifications

Master’s degree in social work, counseling, psychology, or related field.

Eligibility for Alaska licensure. Preferred: current Alaska license.

Experience working with foster, adoptive, kinship, and resource families, including supporting caregivers navigating trauma and complex family dynamics.

Knowledge of trauma-informed, attachment-based, and strengths-focused intervention.

Demonstrated experience providing parent coaching, caregiver support, or family-centered clinical supports.

Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Proven ability to work collaboratively in remote and in-person environments.

Location

This position is located in either our Anchorage or Fairbanks office with the flexibility of a hybrid schedule.

This position is expected to work some scheduled evenings and weekends.

Salary and benefits

This is a part-time position, 20 to 32 hours per week, with an anticipated starting salary equivalent to $41 to $45 per hour.

All employees working 30 hours or more per week are eligible for full benefits. We offer flexible work schedules, 3.5 to 6 weeks of paid vacation per year, 15 to 16 paid, holidays per year, paid sick leave, a generous family leave policy, a retirement plan contribution, optional 403b plan, medical and dental insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and commuter benefits.

How to apply

Submit a brief cover letter describing why you might be a fit for the position and your resume via this Airtable form:

https://airtable.com/appUmG0iDTRudFm35/pagGDLPpgWt73EvEW/form

We will accept applications until the position is filled.