Reports to: CEO
Rate of Pay: $25/hr to start, 14-21 hours per week
Start Date: ASAP
How to Apply: Interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume to Josephine Gibson, CEO, at jgibson@mhaedu.org.

Family Peer Advocates use their own personal experience in order to personalize care and assist parents and care-givers with understanding the services that will help promote and support the success of their child/children with emotional and/or behavioral challenges. FPA’s help to empower parents/caregivers to attain the goals that they’ve identified through regular discussions and meetings.  FPA’s model strength-based, family-driven and youth-guided care at all levels of contact with families, communities, and service providers. Emphasis is made on FPA’s becoming certified within six months of employment through Families Together in NYS.

Job Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Provide strength-based support to families at their homes, a mutually agreed upon location or at the MHATC office. Use a strength-based approach by identifying with the family/caregiver goals they want to work on.

• Attend meetings with parents/caregivers when requested and when appropriate.

• Link and refer families to community-based services.

• Facilitate trainings in parenting skills. These may be in group settings or on a one-to-one basis. Facilitate support groups as needed.

• Act as spokesperson for Family Support Services and promote relationships with other agencies.  

• Conduct regular outreach to maintain and increase referrals, and community awareness of Family Support Services.

• Represent the agency at various councils, committees, and with other agencies.

• Meet documentation requirements in a timely manner per program guidelines.

• Other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

• Demonstrated lived experience as a parent or primary caregiver who has navigated multiple child-serving systems on behalf of a child(ren) with social, emotional, developmental, health, and/or behavioral health needs. Applications without clearly demonstrated lived experience will not be considered.

• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and decision-making skills.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and providing nonjudgmental support to families.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Cultural humility and the ability to work respectfully and effectively with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and social identities. Willingness to participate in anti-racism and diversity-focused training to strengthen cultural responsiveness.

• Proficiency in Google Workspace (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Calendar) and familiarity with virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom or Google Meet.

• Strong organizational and time management skills, including the ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, and manage multiple tasks and short-term projects efficiently.

• Availability to work some evenings and weekends as needed.

• Reliable transportation.