Family Peer Advocate I or II - Monroe Residential Treatment

Hillside•City of Rochester, NY

2d•$19 - $28

About The Position

The Family Peer Advocate empowers families and helps them navigate and advocate across child-serving systems. The role supports parents in developing positive approaches to meet the needs of their children and families, address day-to-day needs, and practice self-care. It requires lived experience and flexible scheduling, including evenings and weekends, based on family needs. The employee must have access to a reliable personal vehicle and may travel throughout Hillside’s Monroe Region; mileage is eligible for reimbursement. The position provides system-navigation education, referrals, family support, parent training, assessment, treatment and safety planning, and advocacy that promotes family-driven practice and family voice. It also requires maintaining compliant client records, obtaining and maintaining required credentials, and participating in agency and community activities. Family Peer Advocate II additionally guides team performance, leads or conducts staff training and projects as directed, and mentors Family Peer Advocate I staff. Hillside provides community-based services, education, and residential treatment in partnership with youth and families who have experienced trauma. Its programs serve nearly 10,000 youth, adults, and families each year across Central and Western New York and Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least one year of lived experience, as required by program and funder requirements.
For the NYS Office of Mental Health requirement, be a parent or caregiver of a child with social, emotional, developmental, medical, substance-use, and/or behavioral challenges, with experience navigating child-serving systems to obtain services and resources for the child or family.
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.
Access to a reliable personal vehicle for potential travel across the Monroe Region.
Ability to serve as a positive adult role model and engage children, youth, and families in trust-based, productive relationships.
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 and facilitate positive outcomes.
Cultural awareness and sensitivity, and respect for individual differences.
Knowledge of applicable laws and regulations; ability to identify and access community resources; understanding of public-assistance access and eligibility.
For Family Peer Advocate II: at least 18 months of related work experience.

Responsibilities

Provide informational and educational support on 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.
Help families support their children’s mental and physical health, development, and well-being, including learning and practicing strategies for positive behavior.
Facilitate parent training and education, support skill development, 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 in planning to address those gaps.
Develop treatment and safety plans with parents or caregivers in support of family-identified goals.
Promote family-driven practice and attend or facilitate meetings that bring family perspectives to individual providers, agencies, local planning, and state and national policy-making.
Maintain required records, forms, notifications, authorizations, reports, and summaries in client files in accordance with applicable standards.
Obtain and maintain credentials or certifications required for the advocate’s role and by funders.
Participate in agency and team meetings, in-service trainings, team-building activities, and agency or community committees as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.
For Family Peer Advocate II: serve as a resource to guide team performance; lead or conduct staff training and manage projects as directed; mentor Family Peer Advocate I staff.