Family Peer Support Specialist Mental Health

Who We Are

Founded in 1999, Maryland Coalition of Families (MCF) is a statewide nonprofit with a central office in Columbia, Md., and staff located in communities throughout the state. Using personal experience as parents, caregivers, youth and other loved ones, we connect, support and empower Maryland’s families. Our staff provide one-to-one support to parents and caregivers of people with mental health, substance use or gambling issues.

We also advocate to improve systems that impact individuals with behavioral health challenges.

Maryland Coalition of Families (MCF) has a full-time (40 hours per week) employment opportunity for a Family Peer Support Specialist (FPSS) to serve families in Howard County.

General Description:

The Family Peer Support Specialist (FPSS) must have experience as a parent or caregiver of someone with behavioral health challenges. The FPSS, after training and orientation, will provide family peer support, education, systems navigation assistance, advocacy, coaching, information, referrals, and follow-up to families seeking assistance. The FPSS must live in one of the jurisdictions they support, though they will also provide support to other jurisdictions as needed and assigned by their supervisor.

• Provide support, guidance, and education to help parents and caregivers who care about someone with behavioral health needs navigate behavioral health, social, legal, educational and health care systems.
• Offer a strengths-based, non-judgmental, solutions-oriented assessment to help parents and caregivers identify challenges and needs and develop a plan to overcome them.
• Provide family engagement opportunities for parents and caregivers to engage in activities which promote the development of a natural support network.
• Educate parents and caregivers about community resources available to meet identified needs and facilitate access as needed.
• Educate parents and caregivers regarding their rights in various systems.
• Advocate on behalf of the parents and caregivers with key stakeholders in various systems with which they are involved to ensure needs are met.
• Support parents and caregivers to be equal partners in planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating plans of care or service.
• Facilitate educational workshops for parents, caregivers, and community partners related to behavioral health topics or other subjects relevant to families with a loved one who has behavioral health challenges.
• Build and maintain strong, positive partnerships with behavioral health, child-serving agencies, school systems, local behavioral health authorities, local management boards, and other service providers.
• Act as an ambassador to disseminate information and raise awareness about all MCF programs and services.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation regarding delivery of services.
• Stay abreast of emerging issues within the field of family peer support and specific program focus area through a commitment to professional growth and continued learning.
• Represent MCF on various state and local committees, commissions, teams, and boards to increase access to and awareness of family peer support and to provide family voice as part of conversations related to policies, systems, and other issues that impact parents and caregivers.
• Contribute positively to a community of peers supporting each other in the delivery of high-quality services to parents and caregivers.

• Personal, lived experience as a parent or primary caregiver to a child with mental health challenges in the public school system.
• Experience with IEPs/504s.
• Must live in Howard County.
• High school diploma or equivalent; some combination of college and/or professional work experience preferred.
• Familiarity with state and local resources and knowledge of how to access them.
• Prior experience assisting other families to obtain appropriate services and supports for their child or family members is desirable.
• Familiarity and comfort with public speaking and conducting outreach to the community preferred.
• Ability to build and maintain productive partnerships with agencies and providers.
• Active listening…