Bilingual Family Peer Advocate

Job Title: Family Peer Advocate (Part Time)

Job Summary: A Family Peer Advocate (FPA) is the parent of a young person living with mental health symptoms and other special needs who uses their empathy, experience and training to help other parents of children living with mental health symptoms and other special needs facing challenges.  The FPA works with families to identify their strengths, needs and priorities; helps each family identify community supports; and helps parents develop the skills necessary to help their family thrive.

• Provide one-to-one support to parents / primary caregivers of children, teens and young adults living with mental health symptoms and other special needs – in person, by phone and virtually
• Together with parents (and supervisor as needed), identify each family’s strengths, needs and priorities
• Together with parents (and supervisor as needed), develop a plan to help each family meet identified needs
• Together with parents, attend school and other treatment meetings to provide support to parents and empower parents to share their voice
• Together with other group facilitators, provide support to parents in a group setting – NAMI Family Support Group (NAMI training provided)
• Together with other instructors, provide mental health and parenting education to parents through classes – NAMI Basics (NAMI training provided)
• Participate in group and individual supervisory meetings and seek advice when needed from a supervisor
• Collect and organize all data related to the position.
• Document services and submit reports in a timely manner
• Attend community events/meetings to represent NAMI Rockland as assigned

Interpersonal Skills:

• Positive Attitude – Encourages a positive viewpoint; fosters strengths in families, and colleagues.
• Integrity – Maintains the highest standard of personal and professional conduct in performing all duties.
• Commitment – Committed to NAMI Rockland’s mission, values, policies and procedures.
• People Skills – Able to build productive working relationships with the team, volunteers, community members, and families from varied backgrounds
• Organized – Well prepared and organized; carries out all responsibilities and action items in a purposeful and timely way.

Required Experience and Training:

• Must be a parent or primary caregiver of a child, teen or young adult (birth, foster or adoptive) living with mental health symptoms that were diagnosed as a young person. A prospective candidate understands and has the experience of getting help from the school and mental health systems for their child.
• Must be willing, within 12 months of hire, to successfully complete the Parent Empowerment (PEP) Training and receive FPA Certification. Read more about Family Peer Advocate Credential at: https://www.ftnys.org/workforce/family-peer-advocate-credential/
• Ability to use computers to track, transfer, and access information related to work
• Has available, reliable transportation and willing to travel within Rockland
• Eligible for State Central Registry clearance and OMH Fingerprint clearance
• Knowledge of community resources in Rockland County and related systems of care a plus
• Bilingual English/Spanish or English/Creole a plus

Work Schedule: Approximately 20–25 Hrs. per week – schedule may be flexible – some evening hours may be required

Salary: Begins at $18/hr. Increased after successful completion of FPA Certification.

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Email Resume to: Beth Bate-DuBoff Executive Director [email protected]  

Posted On: September 20, 2024