Youth Residential Certified Family Peer Specialist

Shift Details: FT 40 hours/week

Schedule: Monday-Friday days, some evening availability

Compensation:  starting at $25/hour
 
Location: Bar None Residential Services (Haven / Omegon) - Anoka, MN

About the job: 

As a Family Peer Specialist, you will partner with young people, caregivers, families, the residential treatment team, and interdisciplinary team members to support and empower the voice of families, ensure access to needed resources, and prioritize the family’s ownership within their residential and post-transition care plan(s). This role will serve as a supportive mentor to caregivers and as an engaged residential team member and client advocate. The Certified Family Peer Specialist draws on their own personal experiences (past or current) with accessing mental health services for a child to model wellness, offer hope, provide encouragement, and empower caregivers’ ability to support the family’s plan of care. This position requires completion of the Department of Human Services- approved Certified Family Peer Specialist Training and certification exam within 6 months of hire.

Essentials: 

• Act as a bridging support between families/caregivers and residential treatment providers
• Build trust and mutual respect with youth, caregivers and their teams
• Maintain regular contact with caregivers, as indicated on care plan
• Provide caregiver to caregiver mentoring and serve as a liaison for families to services decided upon within the residential treatment plan and transition services plan 
• Share personal story of caregiving for a youth with mental illness in an efficient, ethical and helpful way
• Provide support and advocacy for youth and families/caregivers, including continuously expanding knowledge of community resources, services and programs available
• Provide all services under supervision of a Licensed Mental Health Professional

Required Qualifications: 

• Candidates must have raised or be currently raising a child with a mental illness, have had experience navigating the children's mental health system, and must demonstrate leadership and advocacy skills and a strong dedication to family-driven and family-focused services.
• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent
• At least 21 years of age
• Certified as MN DHS-approved Certified Family Peer Specialist, or has previous related work experience and expects to be certified within 6 months of hire

Other Skills/Requirements:

• Ability to work from a strengths-based perspective
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and handle confidential information
• Ability to prioritize and remain flexible in a fast-paced, changing environment
• Ability to work independently
• Valid Driver’s License / Auto insurance / Reliable Vehicle

About Us:  

Bar None is part of Volunteers of America MN/WI which serves as an affiliate of the Volunteers of America parent organization.
 
Volunteers of America Minnesota is a nonprofit health and human services organization that annually serves more than 25,000 children, adolescents and their families, older adults, students, persons with disabilities and special needs, and adults completing incarceration. Since 1896, we have helped people gain self-reliance, dignity, and hope.

Take pride in helping others and join us today!

At VOA, we celebrate sharing, encouraging and embracing diversity. Equal employment opportunities are available to all without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We believe that blending individual strengths and unique personal differences nurtures and supports our organizations’ shared commitment to our mission and creates an inclusive and diverse environment where everyone feels valued and has the opportunity to do their personal best.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Salary : $25