Meet Kenji Parker, LMSW, Behavioral Health Clinician

Read time: 2.5 minutes

For Kenji Parker, being a Behavioral Health Clinician is more than a job – it’s a calling rooted in connection, purpose, and showing up fully for the children and families she serves. Known for her warmth and authenticity, Kenji brings energy, compassion, and a deep sense of care to her work every day.

Path Into the Field

Before joining Together for Youth, she worked primarily with adults in settings like reentry, homelessness, and state systems. What Kenji knew, however, was that she needed work that allowed flexibility, movement, and real human connection.

When a Together for Youth recruiter reached out at just the right time, the role immediately stood out. The autonomy to build her own schedule and work directly in the community was a perfect fit. While Kenji had long insisted she wasn’t meant to work with kids, she quickly discovered a natural connection – one others, including friends, family, and fellow parishioners, had seen in her long before she did.

What Showing Up for Kids and Families Means

For Kenji, working with kids is about curiosity and conversation. Unlike adults who may feel set in their ways, children are often open to reflection and dialogue – and Kenji meets them there with honesty and respect.

Because TFY clinicians are deeply integrated into families’ lives, her work often extends beyond traditional therapy. Whether it’s answering a call from a foster parent, checking in at school, or supporting a child through a tough moment in real time, she believes that consistency and presence make all the difference.

Families frequently share that their children remain connected long after services end. Kenji jokes that she’s like “auntie therapy” – someone kids trust, relate to, and feel safe opening up to. That trust is at the heart of her work.

A Story That Reflects Her Work

One moment that captures Kenji’s approach involved a young person who refused to go to school after forgetting homework. Instead of responding with frustration, Kenji asked questions – helping him recognize the cycle he was stuck in and empowering him to choose a different path.

That conversation ended with a simple but meaningful step: Walking back into school together. Moments like this affirm her belief that kids already have what they need inside them – they just need support to uncover it.

What Keeps Her Motivated

Kenji is clear about what fuels her work: Faith, purpose, and people. She centers her life around community through church, mentorship, and leadership with youth both inside and outside of work. At home, she’s a foster parent and a mother, supporting young people in every sense of the word.

She believes that everyone comes into our lives for a reason – and that her role is to plant or water seeds, trusting that growth will come in time. In a world that can feel heavy, Kenji is motivated by the belief that showing up consistently can truly change a life.

How TFY Shows Up for Her

When asked how Together for Youth has supported her, Kenji points to the people. Her colleagues and supervisors show up daily – not just as coworkers, but as family. They celebrate milestones, support one another through challenges, and foster a culture rooted in trust and care.

Kenji values being trusted as a professional and given the space to do her work with integrity. That trust, she says, allows her to bring her best self to the families she serves.

Life Outside of Work

Outside of TFY, Kenji loves to travel with close friends and spend time with her daughter, whom she describes as remarkable, humble, and deeply inspiring. Watching her grow, find her voice, and thrive is one of Kenji’s greatest joys.

At the end of the day, Kenji believes that who we are meant to be is already within us. Her work is about helping others uncover that truth – and reminding them that their future can be greater than their past.