Family Peer Support Specialist - Per-diem

New Directions Youth & Family Services•Salamanca, NY

98d•$35 - $35•Hybrid

About The Position

The Family Peer Advocate is responsible for delivering direct services for the Family Support Program. The Advocate provides an array of formal and informal services and supports to families caring for or raising a child who is experiencing social, emotional, developmental, medical, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges in their home, school, placement, and/or community. The service is designed to allow the child the best opportunity to remain in the community and achieve the goals or objectives outlined in the child/youth’s treatment plan. "Family" is defined as the primary caregiving unit and includes a wide diversity of family structures. Family may include birth, foster, adoptive, or self-created units of people residing together with significant attachments, consisting of adults and/or children, where adults perform duties of caregiving or parenthood even if the individual lives outside the home. New Directions' Family Peer Support program empowers caregivers through advocacy, education, and connection. It offers individualized and group supports that strengthen family systems, promote self-advocacy, and improve access to community-based services for children and families.

Requirements

Ability to work effectively with clients, families, staff, and community partners from diverse backgrounds.
Ability to support youth with behavioral, emotional, or mental health challenges and their families.
Strong advocacy and communication skills.
Flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic work environment.
Valid NYS driver’s license, adequate auto insurance, and reliable transportation.
Ability to pass an annual physical for Category 1 job classification.
Compliance with agency safety and health standards.
Demonstrated lived experience as a parent or primary caregiver who has navigated multiple child-serving systems on behalf of their child(ren) with social, emotional, developmental, health, and/or behavioral health needs.
Must possess a Family Peer Advocate (FPA) Professional Credential.
High school diploma or equivalency preferred, or a State Education Commencement Credential (e.g., SACC or CDOS). Educational requirements may be waived by the State if the individual demonstrates competencies and has relevant life experience sufficient for peer certification.

Nice To Haves

We want to emphasize that the preferred qualifications are not required and that we are committed to helping our future colleagues develop these preferred skills. We strongly encourage those who are passionate about fostering a diverse, inclusive and equitable human service organization to apply.

Responsibilities

Provide outreach and advocacy to parents/guardians of youth with emotional or behavioral challenges.
Use the Family Assessment of Needs and Strengths (FANS) to assess needs, strengths, and goals.
Provide engagement, bridging, and transition support by connecting families with services, assisting with documentation, and helping to overcome barriers to participation.
Serve as a bridge between families and providers to promote respectful partnerships.
Empower families to make informed decisions regarding their supports and services.
Provide leadership opportunities and parent skill development.
Support families in transitioning out of services as they reach identified goals.
Collaborate with formal systems, service providers, and informal networks involved with the youth and family.
Maintain accurate, timely case documentation in the agency’s electronic case recording system.
Ensure confidentiality and adherence to Medicaid documentation and billing requirements.
Record group participation, attendance, and related data as required.
Conduct family satisfaction surveys as directed.
Complete Family Assessment of Needs and Strengths (FANS) training.
Attend all mandatory in-service trainings per agency, OMH, and local county requirements.
Maintain renewal credential requirements.
Participate in regular supervision and meetings as required.
Maintain a flexible schedule to meet family availability, including evenings.
Follow agency policies, procedures, and the Family Peer Advocate Code of Ethics.
Utilize normative culture and uphold agency standards.
Perform other duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor.