Family Peer Support Specialist - Children, Youth, and Families Mental Health

Family Peer Support Specialist (FPSS)

The Family Peer Support Specialist (FPSS) works closely with families who have children and adolescents with complex mental health needs. They offer hope, guidance, advocacy, and camaraderie for parents and caregivers of children and youth receiving services from mental health, substance use, and related services systems. They bring expertise based on their own experience parenting a child or youth with social, emotional, behavioral, or substance use challenges, as well as specialized training, to support other parents and caregivers.

Peer support is provided through face‑to‑face support groups, phone calls, or individual meetings. They link families to local resources and supports, provide family advocacy, and facilitate wraparound services.

• Meet agency productivity standards.
• Maintain documentation as required by agency standards.
• Link parents and caregivers with systems of care that provide resources, services, and opportunities to improve quality of life.
• Advocate for individuals and families encountering barriers in connecting with systems of care.
• Assist families in gathering natural supports and resources for becoming independent of agencies.
• Facilitate recovery groups as appropriate.
• Develop working relationships with partner agencies to effectively facilitate referrals and coordination of services.
• Provide individual and family psychoeducation via workshops, presentations, etc.
• Coordinate with other staff and community agencies as needed.
• Participate in regular staff meetings and regularly scheduled supervision.

Hourly rate: $19.00 per hour.

This is a full‑time position assigned primarily to weekdays. The schedule may require three evenings per week. DBH reserves the right to require overtime, weekend work, and/or assignment to evening or night shifts, depending upon operational need. Some out‑of‑state travel may be required.

The proposed schedule for this position is:

• Monday 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
• Wednesday & Thursday 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm

• The FPSS certification requires that an individual be a parent or other family member of a child or youth who has struggled with a serious emotional disturbance and has received mental health and/or substance use treatment and support services.
• Experience working with youth, young adults, and families.

• High school diploma or GED is required.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field is highly preferred but not required.

• Must be certified as a Family Peer Support Specialist (FPSS) by the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health.
• FPSS certification must be completed as soon as possible, but no later than 6 months after hire.
• Must complete certification as a Behavioral Health Case Manager (BHCM) with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services within the first 30 days of employment.

• Obtain and maintain First Aid and CPR certification within 30 days of employment.
• Complete behavior management training (Welle) within 30 days of employment.
• Complete all required training assigned to the Family Peer Support Specialist position by defined deadlines.

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• All employees must successfully pass a pre‑employment criminal background check and a pre‑employment drug screening. Compliance with federal drug laws is required, including no use of medical marijuana.
• Must have reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license.
• A clean driving record is required to utilize DBH’s vehicle fleet.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and engage families.
• General understanding of mental illness and substance use disorders.
• Good organizational and practice management skills.
• Ability to utilize lived experience while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Ability to work independently and effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other staff and community agencies (e.g., DCFS, schools, juvenile courts).
• Flexibility in days and hours available for scheduled work, including evenings and weekends.
• Spanish speaking is a bonus.