Family Advocate Specialist, School of Social Work

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign•Urbana, IL

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

Works with the Family and Peer Services Coordinator to train and support Family Peer Supporters in the Integrated Health Home model. Provides leadership, on-going coaching and support for Family Peer Support staff, provide oversight of fidelity to the family peer support model and serve as Subject Matter Expert for family peer support.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree.
Parent or primary caregiver involved in the day-to-day care of a child or adolescent with emotional/behavioral health challenges.
Experience successfully navigating two or more child-serving systems for child(ren) with emotional and/or behavioral challenges including but not limited to, mental health, public education, child welfare, juvenile/family court, and corrections.
Experience with coaching, training, teaching, and/or public speaking.
Complete Systems of Care certification within 120 days of employment.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a peer support role to families that include children, adolescents, or transition-age youth with emotional/behavioral health challenges.
Experience with wraparound services.
Participation in support groups and/or advisory committees.
Knowledge of pertinent resources, including funding options, and how to access them.
Fundamental knowledge of child and adolescent mental health disorders, treatments, services, and supports, including public service programs available to youth.
General knowledge of parenting strategies and family dynamics.
Knowledge of individual and systems advocacy approaches.
Understand how to find information on child / parental rights as well as state / federal laws and regulations.
Fundamental knowledge of special education and other services/accommodations available through the public education system.
Fundamental knowledge of the wraparound process and principles.
Knowledge of the current best practices for addressing challenging behavior.
Knowledge of the impact of trauma on children, youth, and families.
Knowledge of advocacy and strength-based interventions.
Basic knowledge of conflict resolution methods.
Knowledge of transition services, resources, and timelines.
Proficient in Microsoft Office.
Excellent communication skills.
Strong interpersonal skills.
Highly organized, able to work independently.
Basic understanding of group facilitation techniques.

Responsibilities

Plan and deliver both web-based training, including questions and answers, and on-site trainings statewide for: 1) Systems of Care Family Support Training. 2) Associated monthly booster training for Family Peer Supporters.
Using various training, coaching and transfer of learning methodologies, the trainer will engage in person and by webinar with Care Coordination Service Organization to: 1) Effectively and strategically shares personal stories around systems navigation. 2) Assess agency-specific challenges and build strategies for effective implementation of Family Peer Support staff within the Care Coordination Service Organization. 3) Work in conjunction with the Systems of Care Coordinator and Family and Peer Supports Coordinator team to ensure providers are integrating SOC principles including family-driven care.
Develop training, including on-site training and web-based training on intermediate and advanced topics related to Family Peer Support.
Provide feedback to Systems of Care Coordinator, Family and Peer Supports Coordinator and Workforce Development Team as Subject Matter Expert on Family Peer Support implementation efforts to guide future curriculum development and statewide support strategies.
Other duties as assigned.
Some analysis of training effectiveness may be required.