Family Peer Advocate I or II - Genesee & Orleans County - Family Resiliency

Overview

The Family Peer Advocate is responsible for empowering families and assisting the family in navigating and advocating in multiple child serving systems. This individual will support parents as they develop positive approaches and methods to meet the needs of youth and their families, including addressing their family’s day-to-day needs and self-care.

This role requires “Lived Experience” and flexibility with working hours, including evenings/weekends as determined by family needs that arise outside of regular service hours. The hire will need access to a reliable personal vehicle and will travel across Genesee & Orleans counties. Mileage is eligible for reimbursement. The position’s home office is at Batavia City Center.

• Provide informational and educational support on system navigation, advocacy and rights to empower families to become active participants in their child’s services.
• Make referrals and linkages to needed services and resources and assist with access.
• Support families in caring for and improving their children’s mental and physical health, development and well-being by teaching and practicing strategies to support positive behavior.
• Facilitate parent training and education to increase knowledge and skills, and create networking opportunities with other families and natural supports.
• Develop and maintain relationships, acting as a bridge between family and providers through effective communication and collaboration.
• Administer assessments and help families identify gaps in services, assisting with planning to eliminate gaps.
• Develop treatment and safety plans with the parent/caregiver to support identified goals.
• Promote family-driven practice. Attend or facilitate meetings to promote family voice at all levels: provider, agency, planning, and policy making.
• Maintain all necessary records, forms, notifications, authorizations, reports and summaries in client files to ensure compliance with Federal, State, Funder, Medicaid Managed Care and Hillside standards.
• Obtain and maintain credentials/certifications required by the program and funder.
• Participate in agency and team meetings, trainings, and committees as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Serve as a resource to guide team performance.
• Lead or conduct Family Peer Advocate staff training and manage projects as directed.
• Mentor Family Peer Advocate I staff.

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 1 year of “lived experience” required based on program and funder requirements.
• NYSS Office of Mental Health requirement: a parent/caregiver of a child with various challenges OR personal lived experience with similar challenges.
• Family Peer Advocate II:
  Minimum 18 months of related work experience required.

• Must obtain appropriate credential required for the program within 6 months of hire.
• Unrestricted, valid NYS driver’s license for at least 1 year with a clean driving record and insured as per agency standards.

Demonstrate Hillside Professional

Competencies:

Communicates Effectively, Personal Excellence, Cultural Competence, Builds and Leverages Relationships, and Optimizes Decision Making. In addition, demonstrate:

• Ability to model positive behavior and communicate effectively with children/youth/families.
• Ability to engage families in trust-based, productive relationships to prepare for transitions and promote independence.
• Ability to recognize and address problems related to substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, and child abuse and neglect, often via referral.
• Ability to advocate for children/youth/families to achieve the best possible outcomes and facilitate results.
• Respect for cultural and individual differences.
• Knowledge of applicable laws and regulations and ability to access community programs and resources.

The physical demands described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

• Must be able to work variable hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Daily physical demands may include sitting, standing, walking, driving, balancing, bending, stooping, climbing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, running, and twisting.
• Weekly lifting up to 10-15 lbs and manual dexterity requirements.
• Occasional exposure to dust, fumes, gases, chemicals or smoke.

Family Peer Advocate I: $18.50 minimum, $25.50 maximum per hour, based on experience.

Family Peer Advocate II: $19.46 minimum, $29.00 maximum per hour, based on experience.