Family Peer Support Specialist; Bilingual; SUD

Bilingual (Spanish/English Family) Peer Support Specialist

This is an excellent opportunity for people who want to help families in need! We seek people who have had personal experience as a primary caregiver of a loved one with a behavioral health challenge. MCF provides equipment, mileage reimbursement and paid training. This is a Home-Based work opportunity and we offer full benefits (see below)!

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.

The Bilingual (Spanish/English Family) Peer Support Specialist (FPSS) must have experience as a parent or caregiver of someone with substance use challenges. After training and orientation, the Bilingual FPSS will provide family-to-family support, education, advocacy, coaching, information, referrals, and follow-up to families during or immediately following a crisis that required a response from the mobile crisis team. This position provides service to families in Baltimore City.

The successful incumbent must reside within the limits of Baltimore City or Baltimore County.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide support, encouragement, and education to help parent and caregivers of people with substance use disorders navigate behavioral health, social, legal, educational and health care systems.
• Offer a strengths-based, non-judgmental, solutions-oriented approach to helping families identify challenges and needs and develop a plan to overcome them.
• Provide opportunities for families to engage in activities that help and encourage them to build a natural support network.
• Educate families about available resources and facilitate access as needed.
• Educate families about their rights within various systems.
• Advocate on behalf of the families with key stakeholders in various systems with which they are involved to ensure needs are met.
• Support families to be equal partners in planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating plans of care or service.
• Facilitate educational workshops for families on behavioral health topics or other subjects relevant to the community.
• Build and maintain strong, positive partnerships with behavioral health, child-serving agencies, and other service providers.
• Act as an ambassador to disseminate information and raise awareness about all of MCF's programs and services.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation regarding the 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 and boards as assigned to increase awareness of family peer support and provide family voice as part of conversations related to policies, systems, and other issues that impact families, caregivers, and allies.
• Contribute positively to a community of peers supporting each other in the delivery of high-quality services to families, caregivers, and allies.

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Bilingual English/Spanish
• Personal, lived experience as a primary parent or caregiver of an individual with a substance use challenge is required.
• Residency within Baltimore City or Baltimore County limits.
• 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 in obtaining 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.
• Willingness and strong ability to build and maintain partnerships with agencies and providers.

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