Peer Support Specialist, Family Empowerment

Mental Health Cooperative•Nashville, TN

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Ranked one of Tennessee’s top places to work, MHC is a rare and special place where outstanding company culture is intentional. Where clients and associates are treated the same, as equals. Mental Health Cooperative, Inc. (MHC) was formed in 1993 to serve individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. Since then, we have expanded our services to children and adolescents with severe emotional disorders across Middle and East Tennessee. Our sole purpose is to support and treat those challenged with serious mental illness and poverty. Although based out of Nashville, we serve several communities across middle and East Tennessee with satellite offices in Antioch, Gallatin, Dickson, Columbia, Cleveland, Murfreesboro, Clarksville, Cookeville, Chattanooga, and Memphis. If you are interested in joining a team that is caring, collaborative, innovative and energizing this might be a great place for you! Pos i tion Summ a r y : The PSS or FSS or CYAPSS provides direct caregiver-to-caregiver support. The PSS is a vital resource to assist families and others who are caring for young children/children/youth/transition age youth with emotional, behavioral, and/or co-occurring disorders. To achieve the resiliency and recovery goals for the child/youth and family, the PSS promotes self-determination and personal responsibility, and builds the skills, knowledge, and confidence to be an effective advocate for his/her child/youth and inspires a sense of hope that resiliency and recovery are achievable. Schedules available: 1. Mon-Fri, 8a-4:30p 2. Mon-Fri, 10a-6:30p Job Location: 250 Cumberland Bend, Nashville, TN 37228 (This role is fully onsite with travel to the community to meet with families).

Requirements

Minimum of High School diploma
If a Family Support Specialist, must identify as the birth parent, adoptive parent, foster parent, or authorized caregiver of a child or youth with an emotional, behavioral, mental health, substance use challenges, co-occurring disorder and/or autism spectrum disorder and who has successfully navigated the child-serving systems to access treatment and resources necessary to build resiliency and foster success in the home, school, and community.
If a peer support specialist, must have a minimum of a high school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED) equivalent. A CPRS is someone who has self-identified as being in recovery from mental illness, substance abuse, or co-occurring disorders of both mental illness and substance use disorder.
If a Young Adult Peer Support Specialist, must have a minimum of a high school diploma or General Education Diploma (GED) equivalent. The certification is specifically for young adults ages 18 through 30 in Tennessee who have lived experience with or are on a healing and wellness journey from mental illness and/or substance abuse for at least a year, to provide peer support to other young adults with a similar background.
Must have the ability to successfully complete training recognized by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS) on how to assist other caregivers in fostering resiliency in their child/youth based on the principles of resiliency and recovery within 3 months of employment and be able to acquire their Certification from TDMHSAS within one year of employment.
Knowledge of the service area and of resources for children, youth, and families.
Knowledge and personal experience with children and youth who have emotional and behavioral disorders.
Knowledge and experience with mental health, juvenile justice, educational, and/or other child-serving systems.
Desire to help and support families, with strong customer service skills.
Commitment to system of care principles, cultural competency & effective teamwork.
Excellent communication, organizational, problem-solving/creative thinking skills.
Established support system and access to resources.
Basic computer and writing skills.
Valid Tennessee Driver’s License
Acceptable Motor Vehicle Report (MVR)
Acceptable Criminal Background Investigation
Personal Automobile Insurance
Communication
Actively engage consumers in crisis stabilization and resolution
Effective written and verbal communication with consumers and staff
Competence in motivational interviewing techniques
Provide an example of group facilitation to peers
Internal and external customer service indicative of mutual respect and trust.
Recovery Focused
Knowledge of the service area and of resources for children and youth and families.
Knowledge and personal experience with children and youth who have emotional and behavioral disorders.
Knowledge and experience with the juvenile justice, educational, and/or other child-serving systems.
Established support system and access to resources.
Desire to help and support families, with strong customer service skills.
Commitment to system of care principles, cultural competency, and effective team work.
Time Management/Organization
Ability to prioritize, remain calm and focused when dealing with consumer crisis.
Remain flexible and demonstrate positive attitude to respond to changing needs.
Excellent problem-solving/creative thinking skills.

Responsibilities

Teach and model the value of every individual’s experience caring for a child or youth with a mental, emotional, behavioral (MEB) or co-occurring disorder.
Foster a full and equal partnership with the child/youth, family, and caregiver.
Meet minimum contact expectations with families.
In collaboration with Care Coordinator, facilitate family team meetings.
Offer parent education workshops bi-annually.
In collaboration with Care Coordinator, complete the required evaluation documentation.
Encourage and assist caregivers in developing informal and formal networks of support that are responsive to the culture and unique needs of their child/youth and family.
Teach the child/youth and caregiver how to identify and utilize their strengths in achieving the family’s goals.
Assists in the facilitation of the family team meetings.
Develop an agenda with the caregiver; lead the meeting with the caregiver until they are ready to lead it alone.
Arranges for the time and place of the meeting.
Partners with family/family team members to identify and overcome barriers/service gaps.
Understand and utilize specific interventions necessary to assist caregivers in developing a family team and in establishing and meeting their child/youth and family’s individualized goals.
Assist caregivers in creating their family team and individualized service plan.
Lead as well as model how to facilitate collaborative working relationships with providers, school staff, and other professionals to positively transform the treatment experience of the child, youth, and family.
Model effective coping techniques and advocacy skills.
Teach relevant skills needed for effective advocacy and navigation of the child-serving systems, including child welfare, juvenile justice, education, mental health, and transition services.
Assist caregivers in meeting their child’s or youth’s needs through support, education, and guidance in school-related meetings (504, Individual Education Plans, etc.) and the special education system.
Assist caregivers in identifying and connecting with services addressing substance abuse and co-occurring disorders, as well as providing information and other resources.
Assist caregivers in learning how to access community resources and in making positive treatment choices for their child/youth and family.
Appropriately document activities provided to caregivers in either their individual records or program records.
Assist non-caregiver staff in identifying programs and environments that foster hope and resiliency and are family-driven and youth-guided in nature.
Collaborate with the clinician/therapist to provide support during the crisis and following the crisis.
Participate in team-based supervision.