Certified Parent Peer Specialist; Wraparound

Wisconsin Community Services Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States

Wisconsin Community Services (WCS)

Join the WCS Team

At WCS, our people make the difference. We’re looking for individuals who share our commitment to Respect, Justice, Integrity, and the Pursuit of Excellence—people who value others, do what’s right, strive to grow, and bring their best to the work every day. If these values reflect who you are, we’d love to have you join us.

Pay Range: $18.00/hr - $24.00/hr (depending on education)

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for a compassionate and dependable Parent Peer Specialist who brings both professional skills and meaningful lived experience to support parents and caregivers of youth enrolled in Wraparound Milwaukee.

You’ll use your personal experience parenting a youth with mental health, substance use, co-occurring, juvenile justice, child welfare, or significant life needs to provide hope, encouragement, and practical support to families. You’ll help parents recognize their strengths, build confidence, navigate systems, reduce crises, and actively participate as partners in their child’s care.

• High school or GED/HSED required
• Graduate of state Parent Peer Specialist training
• Possess current Certified Parent Peer Specialist certification or become certified within one year of employment.
• Meet all WCS and contractor requirements for criminal and caregiver background check, driving record, and references.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Complete all Wraparound trainings as required for the position.
• Ability to display cultural competence by responding respectfully and effectively to people of all cultures, languages, classes, races, ethnic backgrounds, religions and other diversity factors in a manner that recognizes, affirms and values the worth of each individual.
• Knowledge and skills to work with children, young adults, and families.
• Lived experience of parenting a youth with mental health, substance use, co-occurring, juvenile justice, and/or life needs.
• Valid driver’s license, automobile, and sufficient insurance to meet agency requirements is preferred.

We’re especially interested in someone who demonstrates a strengths-based, person-centered, culturally responsive, and recovery-oriented approach and who is committed to using lived experience to support youth and families.

As a Parent Peer Specialist, you’ll walk alongside parents and caregivers as they navigate the Wraparound process and systems serving their children.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Provide one-to-one peer support to parents and caregivers in community settings, including family homes.
• Use your lived experience to build trusting, professional relationships with youth and families.
• Help families navigate mental health/behavioral health, youth justice, child welfare, and other systems.
• Advocate alongside parents and caregivers so their needs, perspectives, and voices are heard, understood, and respected by the Child and Family Team.
• Work directly with families to identify and reduce crisis triggers and strengthen parenting and crisis-management skills.
• Model effective parenting, recovery, problem-solving, and crisis-management strategies.
• Provide education and support to families before, during, and after crises.
• Help the Wraparound team understand family needs and develop practical strategies to address them.
• Work with families to identify sustainable community supports, resources, and natural support networks.
• Partner with the Care Coordinator to develop strong relationships with community organizations serving Milwaukee youth and families.
• Collaborate closely with the Wraparound team to ensure youth and…