Parent/Caregiver Peer Advocate- Entry Level

THRIVE Wellness and Recovery Inc•City of Watertown, NY

About The Position

The Parent/Caregiver Peer Advocate will provide peer-to-peer support, advocacy, resource information and self-help services as part of a multi-disciplinary team to clients with Substance Use Disorder, Mental Health and co-occurring disorders in accordance with the organization’s policies and procedures. The position is for a Parent/ Caregiver Peer Advocate who has ‘lived experience’ as the parent (biological, foster, adoptive) or primary caregiver of a child/youth with a social, emotional, behavioral, mental health, or developmental disability) They receive training to develop skills and strategies to empower and support other families. They foster effective parent-professional partnership and promote the practice of family-driven and youth-guided approaches.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED.
Lived experience as a peer/family member as the primary caregiver, with personal experiences of recovery regarding social, emotional, developmental, health and behavioral healthcare needs/conditions.
Have or obtain a Family Peer Advocate Credential (FPA) at the time of employment, or obtain provisional within 3 months of commencement of employment.
Must maintain a valid Driver’s License, as specified in the personnel policies.

Nice To Haves

Prior work experience in peer support activities.

Responsibilities

Provide an encouraging opportunity for individuals in need of CCBHC and related services to engage in dialogue to enhance their recovery and to offer encouragement in times of crisis.
Empower families and individuals to make informed decisions regarding the nature of supports for themselves and their child.
Assists individuals in articulating personal goals through the use of one-on-one and group sessions as they move toward care and recovery.
Identify and develop goals with motivational interviewing and strengths based principles.
Provides linkages, referrals and information regarding community providers.
Communicates effectively with individuals and family members who may be ambivalent about pursuing treatment and assists them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting the individual.
Provides ongoing support and training in the use of personal and community resources following discharge in order to engage individuals and families in services (e.g. telephonic, community, and home based outreach).
Identifies, supports, and consults with providers regarding the development and implementation of effective and/or integrated strategies and the use of evidenced based approaches.
Establishes and maintains relationships with community provider organizations.
Perform a variety of miscellaneous duties as requested to support department and organization objectives including, but not limited to, completing and maintaining accurate and detailed client case records and related reports as required by agency procedures, filing, and responding to inquiries via phone and email. Maintain professional growth and development by attending staff meetings, events and community coalitions.
Strictly adhere to Peer Advocate Code of Conduct.
Will be required to perform other duties as requested or assigned.
Management has the right to add or change the duties of this position at any time.