Family Peer Support Specialist Mental Health

Maryland Coalition of Families•Upper Marlboro, MD

About The Position

Maryland Coalition of Families (MCF) is hiring a full-time Family Peer Support Specialist to serve families in Prince George’s County. The specialist must have personal experience as a parent or caregiver of a youth or young adult (ages 18–26) who has or has had mental health needs, and must live in Prince George’s County. The role may also provide support in other jurisdictions as assigned by the supervisor. After training and orientation, the specialist provides peer support, education, systems navigation, advocacy, coaching, information, referrals, and follow-up to families. The position involves helping families navigate behavioral health and other service systems, connecting them with community resources, building partnerships, conducting outreach and workshops, and representing family perspectives in local and state groups. Accurate, timely documentation and ongoing professional learning are also expected.

Requirements

Personal, lived experience as a parent or primary caregiver of a youth or young adult (ages 18–26) with mental health challenges.
Must live in Prince George’s County.
High school diploma or equivalent.
Familiarity with state and local resources and how to access them.
Ability to build and maintain productive partnerships with agencies and providers.
Active listening skills and ability to provide non-judgmental, strengths-based peer support.
Ability to work independently and contribute positively to a team.
Strong organizational skills and ability to follow through.
Strong written and oral communication skills.
Strong computer skills and ability to use internet searches to identify resources.
Current Maryland driver’s license and access to a personal vehicle; in-state travel is required.
Successful completion of a background check.

Nice To Haves

Some combination of college education and professional work experience.
Prior experience helping other families obtain appropriate services and supports for a child or family member.
Familiarity and comfort with public speaking and community outreach.
Ability or willingness to learn Salesforce.

Responsibilities

Provide support, guidance, and education to parents and caregivers navigating behavioral health, social, legal, educational, and health care systems.
Conduct strengths-based, non-judgmental, solutions-oriented assessments and help families identify needs and develop plans to address them.
Provide opportunities for parents and caregivers to build natural support networks.
Educate families about community resources and facilitate access to them as needed.
Educate parents and caregivers about their rights within various systems.
Advocate with stakeholders on behalf of parents and caregivers to help ensure their needs are met.
Support parents and caregivers as equal partners in planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating plans of care or service.
Facilitate educational workshops for families and community partners on behavioral health and related topics.
Build and maintain partnerships with behavioral health organizations, child-serving agencies, schools, local behavioral health authorities, local management boards, and other service providers.
Disseminate information and raise awareness about MCF programs and services.
Maintain accurate and timely service documentation.
Stay informed about emerging issues in family peer support and the program’s focus area through continued learning and professional growth.
Represent MCF on state and local committees, commissions, teams, and boards, bringing family perspectives to discussions about access, policy, and systems.
Contribute to a peer community focused on delivering high-quality services to parents and caregivers.