Family Peer Advocate

Overview

The Family Peer Advocate provides a variety of services and support systems to families raising a child or young adults up to age 21 who is experiencing social, emotional, addiction, or behavioral health challenges in their home, school, community and/or placement.

Family Peer Support Services (FPSS) are provided by a trained and credentialed Family Peer Advocate (FPA) who is uniquely qualified to work with families based on his/her personal experience parenting a child with similar needs and the specialized training they receive. This service provides a structured, strength-based relationship between a credentialed Family Peer Advocate and the parent/caregiver for the benefit of the child/youth. The purpose of this service is to support the parent/caregiver and enhance their skills so they can promote positive youth functioning and their child’s ability to live successfully in their community. The FPA will be responsible for meeting with the identified client (parent/family member/caregiver) on a weekly basis, in-person.  This position requires the employee conduct an initial client needs assessment, and then to be able to create person-centered service plans with identified goals.

The FPA will provide; Outreach and Information, Engagement, Bridging and Transition Support , Self-Advocacy, Self-Efficacy and Empowerment support, Provide Community Connections and Natural Supports , Assist with Parent Skill Development and Promote Effective Family-Driven Practice. This role requires participation in SPOA meetings, Regional Planning Consortium (RPC) for Children and Families Provider meetings, FSS provider meetings, Human Services Coalition, and Integrated Ulster. The caseload for this position is 20 clients.

The Family Peer Advocate has a schedule of Monday-Friday 9:00am – 4:30pm, with Monday being a later day of 11:00 am – 7:30 pm.

This position has a pay rate of $19.71, which is increased to $20.06 once certified as a peer.

Responsibilities Include:

• Provide outreach to let targeted families and community providers know about services and supports. Build partnerships with community partners to develop resources and facilitate wraparound planning processes.
• Help coordinate and facilitate family/parent support groups to engage parents with similar experience as a way of assisting in building natural support systems in their communities.
• Ensure all paperwork, documentation, QA requirements and program billing needs are met.
• Offer families activities designed to enhance the family unit, ultimately developing safe, stable supportive families who are connected to their communities.
• Facilitate two support groups: “Empowering Parents & Families” and “Embracing ASD & Neurodiversity; Family matters”
• Maintain and cultivate outreach list of FSS clients, sending a monthly e-newsletter of relevant information and events.
• Offer CORE Family Support and Training service which gives instruction, emotional support, and skill building necessary to facilitate engagement and active participation of the family though a person-centered or person-directed, recovery oriented, trauma-information approach.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of a High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• ‘Lived-experience’ as the parent (biological, foster, adoptive) or primary caregiver of a child/youth with a social, emotional, behavioral, mental health or developmental disability.
•  Successful completion of the Parent Empowerment Program (PEP) Training within 6-months of hire
• New York State Family Peer Advocate Credential (FPA) OR
  Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) with a Family Specialty within 6 months of hire.
• Excellent organizational, communication and active listening skills.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule to meet agency needs.
• A clean, valid NYS driver’s license that will meet and maintain a satisfactory driving record consistent with agency and insurance standards.

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MHA in Ulster is proud to offer the following benefits to our full-time employees:

• Paid Vacation / Sick / and Flex Days
• Medical / Dental / Vision / Life Insurance
• Retirement 403(b) Plan
• Profit Sharing
• Supplemental Benefits such as Telemedicine
• And More!