Job Summary

The Family Peer Advocate I or II is responsible for empowering families and assisting the family in navigating and advocating in multiple child serving systems. This individual will . As part of the Residential clinical team, the Family Peer Advocate I or II supports parents and caregivers of youth in Residential Services in their efforts to improve self-efficacy, and to be more confident and competent in their role as the expert on their child’s needs. The Family Peer Advocate assists caregivers to build upon their natural supports and provides linkage and referral to community resources to foster their children’s healthy development. The Family Peer Advocate II will lead projects and will mentor level I staff.

This role requires “Lived Experience” and flexibility with working hours, including evenings, as determined by family needs that arise outside of regular service hours. 

Essential Job functions

• 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 the efforts of families in caring for and strengthening their children’s mental, and physical health, development and well-being of their children by assisting the family learn and practice strategies to support their child’s positive behavior.
• Facilitate parent training and education to increase knowledge and skills while providing opportunities for networking with other families and creating natural supports.
• Form and maintain relationships using effective communication and collaboration acting as a bridge between family and providers.
• Administer assessments and help family to identify gaps in services needed and assist in planning to eliminate gap.
• Develop treatment plan and safety plan with parent/caregiver supporting the family’s own identified goals.
• Promote effective family-driven practice. Attend and/or facilitate meetings to promote family voice and infuse a family perspective at all levels: individual provider, agency, local planning, state and national policy making.
• Maintain all necessary records, forms, notifications, authorizations, reports and summaries in client files to ensure compliance with all Federal, State, Funder, Medicaid Managed Care and Hillside standards.
• Obtain and maintain credential/certification based on advocate’s role and funder requirements.
• Participate in agency and team meetings, in-service trainings, and team building activities as well as volunteer and serve on agency and community committees as needed.
• Serve as a resource to guide team performance.
• Lead/conduct Family Peer Advocate staff training and manage projects, as directed.
• Mentor Family Peer Advocate I staff.
• While this job description covers many aspects of the role, employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 1 of year of “lived experience” required based on program and funder requirements.
  • NYS Office of Mental Health requirement:
    • A parent/caregiver of a child with a social, emotional, developmental, medical, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges; experience in navigating child serving systems to obtain services and resources for their child/family. OR 
    • Personal “lived experience” as a person with social, emotional, developmental, medical, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges, or has received services in juvenile justice, foster care, special education or addiction recovery. 
• Minimum 18 months of related work experience required.

Family Peer Advocate I

Family Peer Advocate II

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must obtain appropriate credential required for the program within 6 months of hire.
• Unrestricted, valid NYS driver’s license for minimum of 1 year with a clean driving record and minimum insurance coverage that meets agency standards.
• Youth ACT program: CPR certification required or obtained within 60 days of hire.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

In addition to demonstrating the Hillside Professional Competencies of Communicates Effectively, Personal Excellence, Cultural Competence, Builds and Leverages Relationships, and Optimizes Decision Making, the following occupational competencies must be demonstrated:

• Ability to act as an adult role model for children/youth/families in all behaviors including communication, hygiene, and appearance, management of self, response to stress / challenges and in the demonstration of positive relationships with others.
• Ability to engage children/youth/families in trust-based, productive relationships in order to help children/youth and families prepare for transitions, interact in the community, and promote respect and independence.
• Ability to recognize and address, often through referral, problems related to substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, and child abuse and neglect.
• Ability to act as an advocate for children/youth/families in order to achieve the best possible children/youth/family’s outcomes; communicates reasonable expectations and facilitates the achievement of results.
• Demonstrates an awareness and sensitivity to cultural and social variations and shows respect for individual differences.
• Demonstrates and applies a working knowledge of applicable laws and regulations, an ability to
  identify and access community programs and resources as needed, and an understanding of public assistance access and eligibility

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to work a variable scheduling including evenings and weekends
• The following daily physical demands are required:
  • Sitting (up to 6 hours)
  • Occasional standing (up to 2 hour)
  • Occasional walking (up to 2.5 hours)
  • Driving (several times a week up to 6 hours)
  • Continuous balancing (up to 8 hours)
  • Occasional balancing, bending, stooping, climbing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching forward or down, reaching overhead, running, and twisting (up to 2.5 hours)
  • Weekly lifting up to 10-15 lbs. on a daily basis
  • Manual dexterity is required, including the frequent ability to grasp in both hands and continuous use of fine manipulation skills in both hands (approximately 1-2.5 hrs.)
  • Occasional exposure to dust, fumes, gases, chemicals, or smoke is apparent
  • Ability to change positions as needed.

Hillside is committed to equal opportunities for all, supporting a diverse workforce, creating great opportunities for our Agency, our people, and to those whom we serve. We offer a competitive benefits package to include very generous paid time off, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending account, 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match, paid holidays, and Employee Assistance Plan, just to name a few of the amazing benefits at Hillside! You’ll be working with great people and great clientele where you can truly make a difference. Apply online, get on board, and grow you career with us. You’ll be so glad you did!

EOE/AA Disability/Veteran