Location: Onsite – Merced, CA
Schedule: Full TimeNon- Exempt
Department: Wraparound Program
Reports to: Program Supervisor
Pay Range: $22.00 to $22.50
The pay range for this position is $22- $22.50 per hour for employees hired in Central Valley, CA. The pay range provided in this job posting represents the typical range or starting rate of candidates hired within the Central Valley region. Candidates hired in Southern California or Bay Area locations may have higher starting salaries due to cost of living and market data differences. Factors that may be used to determine your actual starting salary may include your education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, the market data for your work location, and internal comparison to other employees who hold a similar role.
Make a Meaningful Impact
Aspiranet, one of California’s most dedicated nonprofits serving children, youth, and families, is seeking a compassionate and motivated Child and Family Counselor to support our Wraparound program in Merced. If you’re driven to uplift at‑risk youth and strengthen families, this role offers the chance to create life‑changing outcomes every single day.
As a Child and Family Counselor, you’ll work directly with youth and their caregivers in their homes and communities—helping them build coping skills, strengthen relationships, and develop the tools they need to thrive. Your guidance becomes a stabilizing force during some of their most challenging moments. Through individualized coaching, collaborative treatment planning, and unwavering belief in each young person’s potential, you’ll help prevent crises, reduce system involvement, and empower families to stay safely together.
Join a mission‑centered team where your dedication becomes a catalyst for hope, resilience, and long‑term success for the youth and families of Merced County.
About Aspiranet
Aspiranet is a mission-driven social services agency with a proud legacy of supporting California communities since 1975. We are committed to ensuring that every child is loved, every family is supported, and every individual has the tools to succeed. Our services span the state and are delivered through six dedicated divisions: Foster Care and Adoption, providing support for children and families throughout the foster and adoption journey; Transitional Aged Youth (TAY), offering programs that guide young adults as they transition from foster care to independent living; Residential, delivering therapeutic care in structured, supportive environments to help youth thrive; Intensive Home-Based Services, focused on meeting individualized needs within the home, school, and community; Behavioral Health, delivering short-term, intensive mental health services for youth at risk; and Family and Community, emphasizing early intervention and family-strengthening supports. At Aspiranet, every role contributes to something greater—helping to create a future where opportunity, hope, and healing are within everyone’s reach.
Position Summary
As a Child and Family Counselor, you will provide individualized, strengths‑based support to at‑risk youth and their families in home and community settings. You’ll build trusting relationships, implement treatment and intervention plans, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to help youth develop emotional regulation, strengthen social skills, and maintain stability in their homes and communities. Your work directly supports placement stability, reduces crises, and helps families stay connected and resilient.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide one‑on‑one and family‑based coaching to youth and caregivers in home and community environments
- Implement individualized treatment and intervention plans focused on emotional regulation, communication, and coping skills
- Support youth in developing anger management, impulse control, self‑esteem, and healthy social connections
- Build safe, trusting relationships that encourage youth to share openly and practice new skills
- Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team—including social workers, parent partners, clinicians, and program leadership—to ensure coordinated care
- Document progress, interventions, and observations to support treatment planning and program outcomes
- Help youth maintain placement stability, avoid hospitalization or juvenile justice involvement, and strengthen family connectedness
- Manage a flexible schedule to meet with 3–5 clients at times that best support their engagement and success
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social services, or a related field
- Minimum of 1 year of experience working with high‑risk youth and families
- Passion for providing direct, relationship‑based support in home and community settings
- Strong communication and collaboration skills
- Commitment to trauma‑informed, strengths‑based practices
Your Growth
Aspiranet invests in your success from day one. You’ll apply your education and relationship‑building skills while receiving ongoing training, mentorship, and professional development. With programs across the state and a strong culture of internal advancement, this role offers a meaningful entry point into a long‑term career in social services.
Your Rewards
Aspiranet offers a competitive salary, a supportive team environment, and a comprehensive benefits package that includes employer‑paid medical, dental, vision, and wellness coverage. You’ll join an organization where your work truly matters—and where you can see the impact of your efforts every day.
Our Mission
Aspiranet is a one‑of‑a‑kind social service agency dedicated to building a world where all children and youth are loved and cared for, and all families have the resources to thrive. Founded in 1975, our core mission is to help California kids and families. Aspiranet’s services include foster care and adoption family support, residential care, support for youth transitioning from foster care to adulthood, mental and behavioral health services, intensive home‑based care, and community‑based family resources. We provide services throughout California.
Work Environment & Schedule
- On-site role in Merced, CA.
Why Aspiranet?
- Competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits package, and a 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching.
- Access to the free Aspiranet Employee Perks Program. Enjoy exclusive discounts on entertainment, travel, wellness, pet care, gym memberships, theme parks, and more.
- Flexible paid time off including 11 paid holidays, 10 vacation days, 10 sick leave days, two diversity days, and paid birthday time off.
- Access to our employee assistance program including 24/7 crisis line; up to 6 counseling sessions per issue.
- Training opportunities are available to support your ongoing development and career aspirations.
- Collaborate in a supportive, inclusive, and mission-aligned culture.
- Opportunity to lead meaningful initiatives that support employee wellbeing.
Physical Demands: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
This position typically operates in a standard office environment. The noise level is generally quiet and remains within OSHA’s established safety levels at all times.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Aspiranet is an equal opportunity employer that recognizes the value of diversity. We believe a diverse workforce within a culture of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) increases creativity, innovation, problem-solving, and teamwork for the youth and families that we serve and the organization as a whole. Aspiranet strives to provide our employees with a workplace that is welcoming, inclusive of differing world views, cultures, and lived experiences.
How to Apply
Join us in building brighter futures.
Ready to Apply?
Join us in building brighter futures.
Apply today through our career portal:
Click here to apply: www.aspiranet.org/careers
Pro Tip: Once you’re in the portal, be sure to create an account to get started on your application! It’s quick, easy, and the first step to making a difference.
