Peer Navigator

The Family & Peer Navigator serves a critical role in providing comprehensive support, guidance, and advocacy for individuals and families navigating complex systems such as mental health, substance use recovery, child welfare, probation, and child protective services. By drawing on both lived experience and professional expertise, the Family & Peer Navigator empowers families, facilitates informed decision-making, and ensures their active participation in the planning and delivery of services.

This position combines direct peer support, family advocacy, education, and community engagement with the overarching goal of enhancing service efficacy and improving outcomes for families.

Provide Peer Support:
Leverage lived experience to offer compassionate, non-judgmental guidance to individuals and families navigating systems such as mental health, child welfare, substance use recovery, and probation services.

Empower Families:
Support families in becoming active and informed participants in their own service planning and decision-making processes.

Advocate for Families:
Act as a liaison between families and service providers, ensuring that the voices of families are heard and that their needs are met throughout the service delivery process.

Cultural Sensitivity:
Demonstrate respect for and understanding of diverse cultural, economic, and social backgrounds, adapting services to meet the unique needs of families.

Community Engagement:
Represent the organization in community events and outreach activities, advocating for the needs and rights of families within the community.

Provide

Education:

Educate families about service options, patient rights, privacy notices, behavior support and management of philosophies, and grievance procedures.

Support Parent-Professional Partnerships:
Advocate for the inclusion of the family's voice in service planning and ensure families are equipped to make informed decisions about their care.

Resource Navigation:
Assist families in accessing and navigating community resources, including healthcare, education, legal support, and behavioral health services.

Crisis Management:
Effectively handle escalated situations and conflicts, de-escalating when necessary, and ensuring the safety and well-being of all parties involved.

Documentation:
Maintain accurate and timely records of services provided, including peer support activities, family advocacy, and community outreach. Ensure compliance with organizational standards and confidentiality requirements.

Maintain Professional Relationships:
Cultivate and sustain collaborative relationships with families, service providers, and community partners to ensure effective service coordination.

Effective Communication:
Utilize proper communication channels to express

concerns or conflicts, offering input and solutions.

Participate in Meetings & Trainings:
Attend staff meetings, professional development sessions, and community outreach events to maintain up-to-date knowledge and foster continuous engagement.

Compliance:
Adhere to all ethical and regulatory guidelines, including HIPAA, state regulations, and confidentiality protocols, ensuring that all interactions remain professional and compliant.

Advocate for Service Improvement:
Provide input to leadership on the refinement of service delivery models to meet the evolving needs of families.

Client-Centered Care:
Regularly assess service quality based on client feedback, program evaluations, and emerging trends to ensure that services are comprehensive and meet client needs.

Continuous Improvement:
Contribute to Performance/Quality Improvement (PQI) initiatives aimed at enhancing the responsiveness, effectiveness, and innovation of services.

Lived

Experience:

Personal experience navigating complex systems such as mental health, child welfare, substance use recovery, or probation services, ideally as a youth or caregiver.

Communication

Skills:

Strong interpersonal and written communication skills, with the ability to advocate effectively for families and collaborate with diverse groups of stakeholders.

Conflict Resolution & Crisis Management:
Ability to handle escalated situations in a safe and constructive manner, using conflict resolution strategies and de-escalation techniques.

Empathy &…