Residential Change Agent - Houseparent
Six teenage boys in foster care. One family-style home. You’re one of the adults they count on.
We usually respond within a day
SailFuture | St. Petersburg, FL
This isn’t a group home with rotating shift staff. Change Agents are the primary adults in the home. You eat meals with the boys, get them ready for school, show up for their milestones, work through conflict, and stay steady on the hard days. And when the program heads offshore on a sailing expedition, you go too.
The job at a glance
Pay
$18 to $20/hr, plus about 16 overtime hours every two weeks (roughly $48,000 to $54,000 a year)
Impact Award
Eligible for annual impact compensation
Reports to
Assistant Residential Program Director
Schedule
Mornings, evenings, weekends, overnights, and sailing expeditions
Benefits
Employer-sponsored health insurance
401(k) with up to 6% match
10 days PTO
7 paid holidays
Travel
International sailing expeditions with the youth
What you’ll do
Build relationships
Be a consistent, trusted adult for every youth in the home
Coach them through conflict, setbacks, and tough decisions without escalating
Hold them to home expectations while keeping their dignity intact
Run 1:1 check-ins and flag changes in mood, behavior, or risk
Keep them on track
Support school attendance, effort, and readiness
Get youth to work, fitness, sailing, volunteering, and activities
Plan after-school and weekend activities that build confidence and independence
Step in fast when a youth starts skipping or slipping
Run a safe home
Know where every youth is and what they should be doing
Follow treatment, behavior, safety, and medication plans
Keep a sober home and report concerns right away
Keep routines, meals, chores, and the house on point
Document and communicate
Complete daily notes accurately and on time
Report incidents immediately and give clean shift handoffs
Come to meetings, trainings, and youth reviews prepared
What you bring
You connect with teenagers and still hold the line on expectations
Experience with youth affected by foster care, trauma, juvenile justice, or behavioral health is a plus
Steady under pressure and able to de-escalate conflict
You take feedback and adjust quickly
Comfortable driving youth, staying active, and traveling
Able to pass background screening, driving, and training requirements
Why this role
Most direct-care jobs ask you to watch kids. This one asks you to raise them. Our homes come with real resources: a project-based school, mental health support, jobs, fitness, and sailing expeditions most foster youth never get. You’re the adult who ties it together and gets to see the change happen.
- Location
- St Petersburg
Benefits
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Competitive salaries
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401k with 3-6% employer match
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Paid Time Off
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$250 Monthly Health Insurance Contribution
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Access to sailboats, powerboats, and kayaks
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Opportunity to travel on international sailing expeditions
Who We Are
We're a small but mighty agency with a 'whatever it takes' mentality.
Our approach to social work is complex and requires dynamic, passionate leaders to bring all their skills to the table.
We're committed to each other as much as we are to our kids, and protect the family dynamic within our motley crew.
About SailFuture
Based in St. Petersburg, FL, SailFuture serves 200 children and families a year through innovative programs ranging from international sailing expeditions to an entrepreneurship high school.