Family Peer Advocate

FAMILY TIES OF WESTCHESTER, INC.

FAMILY PEER ADVOCATE

Who we are:

Family Ties of Westchester provides peer support, education, and advocacy services to families experiencing emotional or behavioral challenges.  We connect families to essential community resources in order to achieve and sustain good health, emotional wellness and family stability. We partner with families and communities across Westchester County to make sure that everyone has the foundation they need to build a healthy, meaningful life. With access to the right resources and support, every family is able to thrive.

We are looking for candidates who have faced life’s challenges, overcome them and want to give back to their community. We need people with strong, active voices. Your experience has power. Share it and help others like you be heard, supported, and empowered. As Westchester’s only independent, family-run, peer support organization, we are dedicated to achieving equity and social change. We value your lived experience navigating service systems and your ability to advocate for yourself, family, and community.

POSITION SUMMARY:
Family peer support services are an array of services and supports provided to families raising a child or young adult up to age 21, who is experiencing social, emotional, developmental and/or behavioral health challenges. These services are community-based and are provided in a variety of settings that meet a family’s needs and schedule.

Under supervision of the Program Administrator, the Family Peer Advocate functions as both an advocate and deliverer of services that are trauma-informed and designed to support caregivers in achieving and sustaining their family’s good health, emotional wellness and stability.

Full-time, some nights and weekends may be required.  We have multiple positions available, at different locations.

Salary range: $43,000- $48,000, depending on experience.

Responsibilities include:                                                                                                             

• Establish structured, strength-based, supportive relationships with caregivers that benefit the youth/child. Meet families in the office, at home or in the community as requested;
• Assist families in identifying their strengths, challenges and goals;
• Connect families to needed resources and supports;
• Promote effective parent-professional partnerships and address barriers that may prevent their participation;
• Using an electronic database, document demographic data on all individuals seen, track all services provided to caregivers and monitor progress towards identified goals;
• Facilitate support groups, evidence-based parenting education programs, and targeted workshops to enhance parenting skills;
• Support and encourage family participation in community, regional, and state-wide activities to expand leadership skills;
• Coordinate with community partners to ensure cross-systems collaboration on behalf of families served;
• Advocate for services and systems that are equitable, responsive, and family-driven;
• Complete all documentation in compliance with agency policy and funding regulations in a timely fashion. This includes, but is not limited to case records, time sheets, mileage forms and expense reports;
• Participate in all agency quality improvement activities.

Must-have:

• High school diploma or equivalent and two years’ experience working directly with families.
• Be a parent/primary caregiver of a youngster with social, emotional or behavioral challenges.
• Good verbal, written and computer skills.
• Be able to complete the Family Peer Advocate certification process within one year of hire.
• Valid NYS driver’s license, safe driving history, access to a vehicle that is properly insured and registered in accordance with NYS DMV regulations.
• Satisfactory clearances from the Child Abuse Registry and Criminal History Information Tracking System.
• Ability to work with diverse social, cultural, and economic groups.
• Vaccinated for COVID.

Would be great to have:

• Familiarity with the Westchester community that we serve.
• Ability to communicate effectively in Spanish (speaking and writing).
• Experience facilitating groups.
• Experience providing Wraparound supports.
• Experience using an electronic health record.
• Knowledge of System of Care philosophy.
• Understanding of, and appreciation for, trauma-informed care principles.
• Bachelor’s degree.

We offer:

• a creative, fun, nurturing, and supportive work environment,
• a generous benefits package,
• opportunities for personal and professional development.

Family Ties is an equal opportunity employer.  We value linguistic, cultural, and racial diversity and strive to create a more inclusive and equitable society for all.

Please submit cover letter and resume to [email protected]

For additional information, please contact Madeline Lombardi at (914) 995-5238.