Family Peer Support Partner

HopeLink Behavioral Health•Sterling, VA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position is responsible for serving families with children/ youth up to age 21 who experience one or more behavioral and / or mental health challenges. The youth may have had contact with the social services system or juvenile justice or court system; or who require emergency services or long-term community mental health and other supports. HopeLink also serve families who self-refer.

Requirements

Must be the current or former biological or adoptive parent or person in the parent role who has been the primary caregiver of a child with emotional, behavioral, or mental health and/or substance use challenges.
Must have experience navigating Virginia behavioral health systems with their child.
High school diploma or GED
Bi-lingual - (Spanish) speaking (HIGH NEED)
Must be a self-starter who possesses strong interpersonal skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to build rapport with staff, clients, internal and external providers and highly organized.
Ability to learn quickly Electronic Health Record (EHR) software.
High degree of empathy toward individuals with serious mental illness with the ability to connect with individuals of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
Ability to work occasional early evening and/or weekend hours which may be scheduled.

Nice To Haves

Certified Peer Support Specialist or Wraparound Facilitator Certification a plus.

Responsibilities

Serve as a peer partner and coach to families navigating behavioral health systems and other formal and informal community resources, ensuring families have the information they need.
Work collaboratively with team coordinators/facilitators, including Intensive Care Coordinators (ICC) to provide High Fidelity Wraparound care or other team-based care for identified clients, if the family is engaged with these services.
Support the voice and choice of the youth and family through modeling the effective presentation of ideas and suggestions during team meetings.
Assist the youth and family in strengths and needs discovery, and promote and reinforce strength-based strategies.
Mentor and coach families to act on strengths and use setbacks to increase resiliency.
Build trust with parents/caregivers by engaging in a confidential, respectful, nonjudgmental, and supportive relationships.
Listen to and validate each family member's perspective, feelings and values, allowing everyone to be heard.
Help families understand their child's needs and services.
Help families understand and manage information received related to diagnosis, treatment, and services.
Support parents/caregivers and encourage them to continue to have hope, effectively use family and community supports, and learn skills to parent children so they become empowered and effective adults.
Participate in connecting family with a variety of support services for parents/caregivers such as support groups, family activities, and other resources.
Participate in evaluation, monitoring and other evaluation processes, including but not limited to Wraparound Fidelity Monitoring, as appropriate.