PEER SUPPORT SERVICES - Certified Peer Specialist Parent

Legacy Behavioral Health Services Human Resources•Valdosta, GA

89d

About The Position

Legacy Behavioral Health is seeking a Parent Certified Peer Specialist (CPS-P) to provide peer support services in its child and adolescent programs in Lowndes County. The CPS-P is a parent or legal guardian who has been in a permanent relationship for at least three years with a child living with a mental health, substance use, or co-occurring diagnosis. The specialist is willing and able to self-identify as part of a family living with a behavioral health condition and use that experience to support other parents raising children with similar conditions. Under general supervision, the CPS-P offers emotional support, shares knowledge, and promotes family empowerment by informing caregivers about the nature, purpose, and benefits of services. The role includes interventions and support, caregiver education, group facilitation, and one-on-one peer support. Services aim to strengthen the youth’s and family’s ability to function at home, school, and in the community while promoting recovery. The CPS-P also helps engage and coordinate care for parents and children with other systems and internal services, and works across LBHS programs with people served and their families. The position works in a stress-filled environment involving routine and crisis situations, deadlines, and varying duty hours. It may require travel to off-campus locations in BHSGA or use of a personal vehicle. Physical demands include extended periods of sitting, walking, and standing; lifting 15 to 25 pounds; and bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, and supporting individuals served.

Requirements

Be the parent or legal guardian of a child living with a mental illness, substance use, and/or co-occurring diagnosis; the child may have multiple diagnoses.
Have experience navigating complex public health or child-serving systems of care.
Have a high school diploma or GED.
Have one year of experience in a social services-related field and three years of experience in a social services-related position, or one year of experience at the lower-level Social Service Tech position or equivalent.
Be eligible for Georgia Certified Peer Specialist–Parent certification, already hold that certification, or plan to complete the credential within six months of accepting the position.
Have a good working knowledge of computers, including Microsoft Office.
Have excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, including problem-solving, conflict resolution, and teamwork.
Be physically and emotionally fit to work in a stress-filled environment and handle routine and crisis situations.
Be able to lift 15 to 25 pounds and perform extended periods of standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, and crouching.

Nice To Haves

An associate or bachelor’s degree in a social services-related field from an accredited college or university.

Responsibilities

Provide emotional support and share knowledge with parents of children living with behavioral health conditions.
Support family empowerment by providing information about the nature, purpose, and benefits of services.
Provide interventions and support to caregivers.
Provide support and education to caregivers to help ensure they are equipped to support the youth in service.
Facilitate groups and provide one-on-one peer support in child and adolescent programs.
Participate in engagement and coordination of care for parents and children with other systems and internal services.
Work throughout LBHS programs with people served and their families.