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 live in Prince George’s County and have personal experience as the parent or caregiver of a youth or young adult ages 18–26 who has or has had mental health needs. After training and orientation, the specialist provides family peer support, education, systems navigation, advocacy, coaching, information, referrals, and follow-up to families. Support may also be provided in other jurisdictions as assigned by the supervisor. The role helps parents and caregivers navigate behavioral health, social, legal, educational, and health care systems; identify needs and develop plans; access community resources; understand their rights; and participate as equal partners in planning and evaluating services. The specialist also facilitates educational workshops, builds partnerships with agencies and providers, represents MCF on committees and boards, raises awareness of MCF programs, maintains timely service documentation, and contributes to peer learning and professional development. This position is 40 hours per week and pays $18 per hour. MCF provides equipment, mileage reimbursement, and paid training. Benefits include paid time off, health, dental, vision and life insurance, a flexible spending account, long-term disability coverage, a 401(k), and an employee assistance program. In-state travel is required.

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 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.
Familiarity and comfort with public speaking and community outreach.
Ability or willingness to learn to use Salesforce.

Responsibilities

Support, guide, and educate 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.
Create opportunities for family engagement and development of natural support networks.
Educate families about community resources and facilitate access to them.
Educate parents and caregivers about their rights in various systems.
Advocate with stakeholders to help ensure families’ needs are met.
Support families in participating 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 other relevant topics.
Build and maintain partnerships with behavioral health and child-serving agencies, school systems, local behavioral health authorities, local management boards, and other providers.
Promote awareness of MCF programs and services.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation of services.
Stay informed about developments in family peer support and the program focus area through continued learning.
Represent MCF on state and local committees, commissions, teams, and boards to promote family peer support and bring family perspectives to policy and systems discussions.
Contribute positively to a community of peers delivering high-quality services.

Benefits

Equipment provided.
Mileage reimbursement.
Paid training.
Paid time off: two weeks of vacation, two weeks of sick leave, three personal days, two floating holidays, and 11 holidays per year.
Health plans.
Dental insurance.
Vision insurance.
Life insurance.
Flexible spending account (FSA).
Long-term disability coverage.
401(k).
Employee assistance program (EAP).