Parent Partner

VARIETY CARE INC•Yukon, OK

About The Position

Parent Partners are individuals with previous involvement in Oklahoma Human Services (OHS) Child Welfare who have overcome their challenges and serve as mentors to parents currently involved with juvenile courts and OHS Child Welfare. Through regular meetings and shared experience, they offer hope, guidance, and advocacy. The role supports parents in working toward the safe return of their children, engaging with court and OHS processes, maintaining family relationships, and connecting with community resources. Services are provided in a natural environment convenient to each family and are sensitive to families’ cultures and circumstances. The position spends 40–50% of work hours providing services to or on behalf of families and reports to a Supervisor or Program Manager of Family Preservation Services. This is a full-time role with a flexible 40-hour schedule that accommodates families’ needs and availability. Evening and weekend hours are required. The position involves in-state travel and transportation of parents when necessary. Parent Partners attend team meetings, trainings, consultations, and supervisions; maintain timely service documentation and schedules; and comply with confidentiality, professional conduct, and agency requirements. The role does not include supervising visits or providing legal advice.

Requirements

Previous experience with an OHS Child Welfare permanency or Family Centered Services (FCS) case.
At least one year must have passed since the OHS case closed.
High school diploma or equivalent.
Proficiency in MS Word processing software and general computer skills.
Good interpersonal skills and ability to communicate verbally with English-speaking patients.
Ability to move freely about facilities.
Access to reliable transportation and ability to travel in-state.
Valid driver’s license, with verification provided during employment.
Current automobile liability insurance, including uninsured motorist coverage, with verification provided.
Carry a cell phone and respond to work-related calls within 60 minutes of receiving a voicemail; read and respond to emails daily.
Maintain CPR, First Aid, and Therapeutic Options certifications, or obtain them within 30 days of employment.
Complete all NorthCare training within 30 days of employment.
Have a TB test within 12 months before employment or obtain one within 30 days of employment.
Report any current or prior confirmed record of child abuse as an adult to NorthCare; such records are subject to Executive Team review for hiring or continued-employment approval.
Adhere to applicable laws, professional standards, ethical codes, confidentiality requirements, and agency policies.
Follow the required casual professional dress code.

Nice To Haves

Peer Recovery Support Specialist (PRSS) certification; preferred, or obtain within 90 days of employment.

Responsibilities

Assist parents in working toward the safe return of their children in the shortest safely allowable time.
Help parents engage cooperatively with court processes and OHS Individualized Services Plans (ISPs).
Offer encouragement, advocacy, guidance, problem-solving support, and hope through shared experiences.
Engage birth fathers in caregiving and relationship-building with their children.
Support parents’ regular contact and visitation with their children as allowed, including support before or after visits; do not supervise visits.
Participate on parents’ multidisciplinary teams, support parents’ voices, and update teams on parents’ progress.
Collaborate with Child Welfare to support children’s safety and well-being and help parents engage with Child Welfare staff and the court.
Attend family team meetings, court, and other relevant gatherings with or on behalf of parents; do not provide legal advice.
Promote teamwork between foster families and children’s parents toward the shared goal of children returning home.
Provide transportation when necessary to help parents re-establish themselves in the community and engage with service providers.
Help parents develop or maintain relationships with family, friends, neighbors, and other significant people in the community.
Teach communication and negotiation skills and connect parents with needed community resources and support.
Participate in public speaking and training to increase awareness and support for families affected by the child welfare system.
Share personal experiences supportively with parents, community partners, and Child Welfare.
Promote a warm, engaging, professional, and service-oriented organizational culture through interactions with staff, consumers, and community partners.
Provide culturally and personally sensitive services, taking account of family culture, ethnicity, race, language, gender, age, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and mental or physical challenges.
Provide services in a natural environment convenient to the family and spend 40–50% of work hours providing services to or on behalf of families.
Complete progress notes within 48 hours of service delivery.
Coordinate services professionally with other providers to maintain effective community working relationships.
Attend required agency and program trainings, team meetings, clinical consultations, and supervisions, and participate in PRSS-related and professional development training.
Work a flexible 40-hour schedule, including required evening and weekend hours to accommodate caregivers’ and children’s schedules.
Submit a weekly appointment schedule using Outlook and notify direct leadership of schedule changes.
Clock in and out of PayCom daily and follow confidentiality policies.
Perform other related duties as assigned by program or executive leadership.