Family Peer Advocate I or II - Monroe Residential Treatment

Hillside Childrens Center•Rochester, NY

About The Position

The Family Peer Advocate empowers families and helps them navigate and advocate within multiple child-serving systems. The role supports parents as they develop positive approaches for meeting the needs of their youth and family, addressing day-to-day needs, and practicing self-care. It requires lived experience and flexibility to work evenings and weekends as family needs arise outside regular service hours. The employee must have access to a reliable personal vehicle and may travel across Hillside’s Monroe Region; mileage is eligible for reimbursement. Family Peer Advocate II has additional responsibilities, including guiding team performance, leading or conducting staff training, managing projects as directed, and mentoring Family Peer Advocate I staff.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least one year of lived experience, based on program and funder requirements.
As required by the New York State Office of Mental Health, be a parent or caregiver of a child with social, emotional, developmental, medical, substance-use, or behavioral challenges, with experience navigating child-serving systems to obtain services and resources for the child or family.
Family Peer Advocate II: at least 18 months of related work experience.
Obtain the appropriate program credential within six months of hire.
Unrestricted, valid New York State driver’s license held for at least one year, a clean driving record, and minimum insurance coverage meeting agency standards.
Ability to work a variable schedule, including evenings and weekends.
Ability to act as a positive adult role model in communication, hygiene, appearance, self-management, responses to stress and challenges, and relationships with others.
Ability to build trust-based, productive relationships with children, youth, and families and support transitions, community interaction, respect, and independence.
Ability to recognize and address, often through referral, issues related to substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, and child abuse or neglect.
Ability to advocate for children, youth, and families, communicate reasonable expectations, and facilitate outcomes.
Awareness and sensitivity to cultural and social variations and respect for individual differences.
Knowledge of applicable laws and regulations, community programs and resources, and public assistance access and eligibility.
Ability to meet the described physical demands, including driving, lifting, manual dexterity, and changing positions as needed.

Responsibilities

Provide information and education about system navigation, advocacy, and rights so families can participate actively in their child’s services.
Make referrals and link families to needed services and resources, assisting them with access.
Support families in promoting their children’s mental and physical health, development, and well-being, including learning and practicing strategies for positive behavior.
Facilitate parent training and education, build knowledge and skills, and create opportunities for family networking and natural supports.
Build and maintain relationships through effective communication and collaboration, serving as a bridge between families and providers.
Administer assessments, help families identify service gaps, and assist with planning to address those gaps.
Develop treatment and safety plans with parents or caregivers based on goals identified by the family.
Promote effective family-driven practice.
Attend or facilitate meetings to promote family voice and perspectives with providers, agencies, local planning bodies, and state and national policymakers.
Maintain required records, forms, notifications, authorizations, reports, and summaries in client files in compliance with applicable standards.
Obtain and maintain credentials or certifications required by the advocate’s role and funder.
Participate in agency and team meetings, in-service training, team-building activities, and agency or community committees as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.
For Family Peer Advocate II: guide team performance, lead or conduct Family Peer Advocate staff training, manage projects as directed, and mentor Family Peer Advocate I staff.