Associate Therapist (MST Family Program)

As a Multisystemic Family Program Therapist at Casa de Amparo, you'll do some of the most meaningful work supporting vulnerable youth and families in the community: meeting families where they are and helping young people build safer, healthier, and more stable lives in their homes, schools, and communities. Using the intensive, evidence-based MST model, you'll partner with a young person's whole world—from parents and caregivers to teachers, peers, and other supports—to turn crisis into stability, reduce risk and recidivism, and build long-term resilience. Every family you reach advances Casa de Amparo's mission to help children and families heal, grow, and thrive.

• Conduct comprehensive assessments of youth and family strengths and needs; collaborate with families to develop individualized MST treatment plans targeting key drivers of problem behaviors.

• Deliver evidence‑based interventions in the family’s home or community several times per week; tailor sessions to address factors across family, peer, school, and neighborhood systems.

• Maintain a caseload of no more than six families and provide therapeutic services for approximately 3–5 months per family; meet productivity and documentation standards.

• Participate in a rotating 24/7 on‑call schedule to provide families with crisis support and ensure service continuity.

• Collaborate with Probation officers, social workers, schools, and community providers to coordinate services and support clients’ goals; advocate for families within various systems.

• Attend weekly group supervision and MST consultation calls; implement feedback to improve intervention effectiveness; complete required MST and trauma‑informed care training.

• Maintain accurate, timely documentation in accordance with agency, county and MSTI requirements; collect data on outcomes and adherence.

• Provide culturally responsive services, demonstrating respect for each family’s language, culture and preferences; use interpreters when necessary.

• Participate in treatment team meetings, court hearings, and community meetings as needed; provide reports on client progress to Probation and other stakeholders.

• Perform other tasks as assigned

Qualifications

• Must successfully complete background checks including Department of Justice (DOJ)/Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprint clearance and Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) screening.

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Counseling or related field leading to licensure as LCSW, LMFT or LPCC in California required. Must be licensed or license eligible with current California license or registration.

• Minimum two years experience providing therapy to adolescents and families, preferably with youth involved in juvenile justice or child welfare. Experience with cognitive‑behavioral therapy, pragmatic family therapy and behavioral interventions required.

• Knowledge of adolescent development and the ecological factors influencing behavior; ability to engage resistant youth and families.

• Strong interpersonal, time‑management, organizational and documentation skills; intermediate computer literacy.

• Physical ability to conduct home visits, including climbing stairs and lifting up to 50 pounds; ability to participate in crisis interventions.

• Valid California driver’s license, clear DMV record and ability to drive agency vehicles and possess current CPR/Pediatric First Aid certification.

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) capability preferred.