Parent Partner

Wayside • Framingham, MA

1d

About The Position

The Parent Partner provides hope, information, encouragement, and one-to-one support to parents and guardians of children with emotional or behavioral health issues who receive services in Wayside Academy’s 220-day, 12-month setting. The role draws on personal experience raising a child with mental health challenges and experience accessing special education or related services to help guardians partner effectively with school staff and participate in their child’s education. The Parent Partner contributes to a physically safe and intellectually open learning environment consistent with special education best practices.

The Parent Partner is the first point of contact for guardians of prospective students and supports Academy management with tours and information sessions. The position is full-time, with flexible scheduling options and potential to work from home. The listed salary range is $20.50–$21.50 per hour, depending on experience, plus a sign-on bonus paid in two installments (half after six months and half after one year of employment, prorated for part-time work).

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Personal experience as a parent, caregiver, guardian, grandparent, or foster care parent raising a child with mental health challenges.
• Current or past experience accessing special education or related services for one’s child.
• TCI, CPR, and First Aid training upon hire.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative in building and maintaining rapport with guardians.
• Flexibility and creative thinking, including the ability to adapt to changing situations.
• Ability to teach, mentor, and coach guardians and staff, provide constructive feedback, and explain lived experience with accessing services and special education law.
• Dependability, persistence, and strong follow-through on assigned tasks.
• Ability to build and maintain effective partnerships and communication with guardians and share relevant information with appropriate staff.

Nice To Haves

• Non-profit organization experience.
• Work history within child-serving systems.

Responsibilities

• Contact guardians of prospective students and record contact in the referral log.
• Schedule and support tours and information sessions for referred students and their guardians.
• Provide group, family, and individual counseling interventions for guardians.
• Facilitate monthly virtual Parent Advisory Committee meetings, parent trainings, engagement opportunities with school staff, and events.
• Consult and collaborate with teachers and parents regarding students’ needs to identify and implement appropriate resources.
• Consult and collaborate with teachers and parents regarding guardian needs and communications.
• Document individual and group counseling sessions and complete required assessments, training records, and outcome measurement tools.
• Assist caregivers in planning for their child’s strengths and needs and accessing resources, services, and supports.
• Help caregivers prepare and arrange scheduling and transportation for school meetings, events, trainings, and related meetings.
• Submit required paperwork on time and maintain strong communication with other Academy team members.
• Attend program functions and scheduled parent engagement opportunities.
• Participate in scheduled engagement activities with students.

Benefits

• Sign-on bonus, with half paid after six months of employment and half after one year; prorated for part-time employment.
• Flexible schedule options.
• Potential to work from home.
• Training in Motivational Interviewing, Courageous Conversations, the Attachment, Regulation and Competency Model (ARC), and Trauma Informed Practice.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED