Family Engagement Specialist; Chemung

Family Peer Advocate

Aspire Hope NY, Inc. has an immediate opening in Chemung County, NY.

Family Peer Advocates have 'lived-experience' as the parent or legal guardian of a child/youth with an emotional, behavioral, social, and/or developmental disabilities.

The Family Peer Advocate provides outreach, information, referrals, and advocacy services, and helps to coordinate family support services for families of children and youth.

• Under general supervision, the Family Peer Advocate functions as both advocate and deliverer of services.
• They foster effective parent‑professional partnership and promote the practice of family‑driven and youth‑guided approaches.

• Provide emotional support to families through phone and face‑to‑face meetings.
• Meet program specific billable service requirements (as appropriate).
• Meet documentation requirements in a timely manner per program guidelines.
• Provide family support as needed.
• Coach families on how to advocate for themselves.
• Facilitate/co‑facilitate meetings with families in their home or at an agency location.
• Help families find ways to meet their basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, safety, and health.
• Assist families in identifying parenting skills which could be strengthened, and model these skills to the families.

Reports directly to Family Services Coordinator.

• You must have personal 'lived-experience' as the parent or primary legal caregiver of a child/youth with an emotional, behavioral, social, and/or developmental disabilities.
• Must have reliable transportation, flexible schedule, home internet and home office space.
• Must demonstrate sensitivity and respect for diverse cultural backgrounds and practices of families and be committed to supporting and empowering advocacy.
• Experience navigating multiple child-serving systems.
• Must be eligible for Provisional Family Peer Advocate credential, and complete Professional Credential after 1000 hours of employment. Must maintain and re-certify for credential.
• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends.
• Must pass all criminal history background checks.
• Bi‑lingual in Spanish a plus.

• Job Type: Part time (20 hours) position. Hours are flexible and typically Monday‑Friday between 9am‑9pm. Occasional weekends may be needed.
• Salary:
  Pay rate $18.32/hour and $18.82 after Professional Credentialing.
• Mileage reimbursement.
• Paid time off.