Trainer, Family Peer Support

Public Consulting Group•Portland, ME

4d•Remote

About The Position

The Trainer and Coach for Family Peer Support supports the Maine Center of Excellence (COE) in strengthening the quality and capacity of family peer support services statewide. In this role, you provide training, coaching, and technical assistance to Family Peer Support Specialists and their supervisors to ensure effective implementation of the PEARLS model of Parent Peer Support. You facilitate professional development, deliver certification-aligned training, and offer ongoing coaching to enhance workforce skills and promote family-centered, trauma-informed practices. The position involves building strong relationships with providers and stakeholders, responding to technical assistance needs, and supporting consistent, high-quality service delivery across the system. Additionally, you track participation data, evaluate training effectiveness, and use feedback to continuously improve learning outcomes. This role combines adult learning expertise, collaboration, and lived experience to empower caregivers and strengthen outcomes for children and families navigating behavioral health systems.

Requirements

Relevant lived experience navigating systems of care on behalf of a child/youth with behavioral concerns (Mental/Behavioral Health, Child Welfare, or Juvenile Justice) and the ability and willingness to share those relevant experiences with parents, family members, or other caregivers for the benefit and healing of others.
Establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with internal staff, community resources and stakeholders.
Must be able to engage and collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds.
Possess training and group facilitation skills.
Demonstrate active listening skills and validate experiences of others, using person-first and strength-based language.
Possess excellent oral and written communication skills.
Possess excellent conflict resolution and crisis management skills through effective communication, active listening, practicing empathy, problem solving, and maintaining a positive attitude.
Comfort with virtual convening’s and building of relationships online.
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suites and related software applications, such as Adobe, Teams, and Zoom.

Nice To Haves

A minimum of one (1) year in the role of a Family Peer Support Specialist, or relevant experience working with parents/caregivers who are involved in raising children/youth with behavioral concerns.

Responsibilities

Participate in all training and coaching pertaining to PEARLS that is provided by the Innovations Institute, and any other required training as identified by the State of Maine, and/or PCG.
Complete and maintain PEARLS certification and attend ongoing training within required timeframes to maintain certification.
Complete train-the-trainer process and participate in an annual National Coach Certification renewal.
Facilitate PEARLS training and ongoing professional development sessions for Family Peer Support Specialists and supervisors in the local provider community.
Respond to assigned requests for technical assistance and consultation in a timely manner.
Communicate regularly, in person or virtually, with implementing organizations and the implementation team.
Complete monthly data entry by keeping through records of FPSs and supervisors who are involved in PEARLS to ensure the COE has records of who has participated and completed required elements of the model.
Employ a variety of adult learning concepts to appeal to a range of learning preferences resulting in effective engagement of participants of varying learning needs.
Network and build relationships with state and organizational leadership to build interest in partnering around successful implementation efforts.
Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of training through established evaluation measures.
Uses evaluation data to grow skill.
Utilize identified tools and resources from the PEARLS model to provide coaching support to family peer specialists and supervisors.
Assure confidentiality and the rights of families as outlined in the agency’s standards, policies, and procedures.
Perform other related duties as assigned.