Parent/Caregiver Peer Support Specialist- Children

North Mississippi Commission on Mental Illness and•Oxford, MS

About The Position

Works with individuals and groups to promote positive physical, social, and emotional health and safety. Provides support related to addictions and substance abuse, family and parenting issues, stress management, self-esteem, and aging, along with educational assistance and direct referrals. The specialist draws on personal experience raising a child with emotional or behavioral issues to help parents and caregivers identify family values and priorities. The role delivers interventions and activities that address needs, build on strengths, and achieve outcomes. It also helps parents and caregivers navigate enrollment and service systems, assess available resources and service needs, and develop self-advocacy skills. The position provides information, referrals, and telephone support; coordinates advocacy activities and workshops for parents of children with special needs in the catchment area; develops and updates resource directories; conducts regular needs assessments; maintains records and collects data; and compiles monthly and annual reports as requested.

Requirements

High school diploma or general education degree (GED).
Obtain and maintain Certification of Peer Support Specialist through the Mississippi Department of Mental Health.
Be a parent or caregiver who is raising or has raised a child with an SED diagnosis and is personally familiar with the associated challenges.

Responsibilities

Work with individuals and groups to promote positive physical, social, and emotional health and safety.
Help individuals address issues related to addictions and substance abuse, family and parenting, stress management, self-esteem, and aging.
Provide educational assistance and direct referrals.
Use personal experience raising a child with emotional or behavioral issues to help parents and caregivers identify family values and priorities.
Deliver interventions and activities that address needs, build on strengths, and achieve outcomes.
Assist parents and caregivers with the enrollment process by drawing on knowledge and experience with service systems, including schools, mental health services, and juvenile justice.
Help parents and caregivers assess available resources and service needs.
Coach parents and caregivers in self-advocacy skills, including clear communication, self-expression, and active participation in service-plan development.
Provide information, referrals, and telephone support to parents.
Coordinate advocacy activities for parents of children with special needs in the catchment area.
Develop and update resource directories for parents of children with special needs.
Coordinate workshops for parents of children with special needs.
Conduct regular needs assessments.
Maintain records and collect data.
Compile monthly and annual reports as requested.