Advocacy & Empowerment Team Lead

State of North Carolina•Bath Building Wake, NC

2d•$57,983 - $101,470•Onsite

About The Position

The Advocacy & Empowerment Section is responsible for elevating the voices and experiences of those DMHDDSUS supports, ensuring that their concerns and needs are heard, understood, and addressed. The Section accomplishes this by helping to bridge the gap between those we serve and the services or policies they interact with, providing responsive, helpful, and efficient customer support to individuals who seek assistance, and engaging with community partners to ensure all individuals receive the services and supports they need. The Empowerment and Advocacy section is responsible for assisting with the design, planning and implementation of the public mental health, intellectual & developmental disorders and substance use programs for special populations. This includes planning for the administration of State dollars and Federal grants for supporting Veterans services, faith-based programs, peer support services, LGBTQIA+, Deaf/ Blind/ Hard of Hearing programs, refugee and migrant populations. This section is also responsible for maintaining relationships and supporting State Consumer and Family Advisory Committee (SCFAC) that advises the Department and the General Assembly on the planning and management of the State's public mental health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, substance use disorder, and traumatic brain injury services system. This position will sit on the DMHDDSUS Team that manages the North Carolina Certified Peer Support Program. The person in this position will be responsible for assisting in the the design, oversight, implementation, and expansion of peer support initiatives in North Carolina. They will ensure that peer support services comply with state and federal policies, follow best practices, and align with the mission, vision, and values of DMHDDSUS and NCDHHS. This position will be forward facing with providers, provider associations, community leaders, people with lived experience who use the NC service system and other involved stakeholders. The person in this position will be expected to speak to the NC DHHS and DMHDDSUS priorities and initiatives in front of these stakeholders and provide stakeholder feedback to DMHDDSUS leadership. The person in this position will also help support the work of the DMHDDSUS Veteran Services Team and support efforts to engage veterans, their families, community partners, and service providers across North Carolina. The position will assist with expanding and strengthening the Division’s veterans initiatives through outreach, collaboration, education, and resource development. This work is intended to enhance the behavioral health system of care for veterans and their families while increasing awareness, access, and coordination of supports and services.

Requirements

High school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) diploma and four years of related administrative experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Nice To Haves

Excellent working knowledge of Certified NC Peer Support Specialist Program and community peer support programs.
Certification as an NC Peer Support Specialist.
Demonstrated knowledge of veterans’ culture, experiences, and needs, as well as familiarity with veteran-specific services, programs, resources, and systems of support.
Veteran status and/or direct lived experience with military service.
Experience with outreach and community engagement including ability to design and present trainings.
Experience in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other state agencies, providers of services, individuals with lived experience, advocacy groups and other organizations.

Responsibilities

Assisting in the design, oversight, implementation, and expansion of peer support initiatives in North Carolina.
Ensuring that peer support services comply with state and federal policies, follow best practices, and align with the mission, vision, and values of DMHDDSUS and NCDHHS.
Speaking to NC DHHS and DMHDDSUS priorities and initiatives in front of stakeholders.
Providing stakeholder feedback to DMHDDSUS leadership.
Supporting the work of the DMHDDSUS Veteran Services Team.
Engaging veterans, their families, community partners, and service providers across North Carolina.
Assisting with expanding and strengthening the Division’s veterans initiatives through outreach, collaboration, education, and resource development.