FAMILY PARTNER/ PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST

MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM- SAN FRANCISCO

A Better Way is looking for Peer Support Specialists or Family Partners eligible to become Peer Support Specialists.

Job Summary:

A Family Partner/ Peer Support Specialist provides peer support to family members of clients and advocates on behalf of the family and clients developmental, mental health, or educational needs. A Family Partner/ Peer Support Specialist must have personal experience raising a biological or adoptive child who has received mental health or substance use services. Lived experience is required. A Family Partner/ Peer Support Specialist is an integral member of A Better Ways mental health service delivery team. The position helps the family navigate school, child welfare/family reunification, or other social service systems. The Family Partner/ Peer Support Specialist works collaboratively to ensure the parent/caregivers perspectives, the family relationship, and the familys culture and language is supported throughout the childs treatment and care.

This is accomplished both internally within ABW and through partnering with community agencies to provide the family with needed services. The Family Partner/ Peer Support Specialist works in a non-judgmental and respectful manner and works closely with families receiving mental/behavioral health services to promote independence and advocacy skills within the family. These duties are performed under licensed clinical supervision.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Participate in maintaining a network of services and resources for families with children/youth receiving mental health services. Assists with accessing and providing linkages to other services based on the family's needs. Assists with accessing and providing linkages to other services based on family needs.
• Assists families in developing their own support network on behalf of their child and familys individual needs.
• Helps increase the familys own advocacy skills to obtain services and support, support their participation in treatment, and offer encouragement and hope.
• Supports the parent/caregiver relationship with their child(ren) and fosters healthy parenting skills.
• Communicate and collaborate with the ABW therapists to provide updates and assist in the ongoing development and evaluation of the childs treatment plan.
• As an advocate for the families with children receiving mental health services, participates in collaborative meetings with both ABW therapists and outside providers.
• Maintain regular communication with families and other important stakeholders (social workers, schools, etc.)
• Works to increase awareness about the importance of parent / professional partnerships. Helps to support these partnerships as a liaison with ABW mental health service provider(s) and other service agencies.
• Attends and participates in meetings, related trainings, individual and group supervision, and workshops on behalf of the program as directed.
• Participates in outreach activities and community events to promote the knowledge, awareness, and access of mental health services.
• Completes all charting as appropriate in accordance with program requirements including San Francisco EPSDT Medi-Cal clinical paperwork.
• Maintain client information and case documentation in a confidential and professional manner.
• Performs all duties and service in full compliance with ABW policies and practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education, Experience and Skills Requirements:

• • Be at least 18 years of age.
  • Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.
  • Possess at the minimum a high school diploma or equivalent degree.
  • Peer certified per CalMHSA guidelines, or Family Partner engaged in the certification process and able to become certified within 6 months of start date.
  • Must be a primary caregiver of a child with behavioral health or developmental challenges who is now or has in the past received services from a public child-serving agency, i.e., special education, child welfare, mental health, substance use recovery, social services, and/or juvenile probation.
  • Experience in navigating child-serving and family support systems, preferably in San Francisco, required.
  • Minimum of 1 years experience working with children and families in some capacity.
  • Minimum one years prior experience working as a Family Partner or in a similar capacity preferred.
  • Experience with/knowledge of child-welfare systems preferred.
  • Experience working with people from socio-economically and ethnically diverse backgrounds.
  • Be willing to share their own personal experience.
  • Willingness to work with families with complex needs whose children are exhibiting mental health/behavioral issues. Understands the importance of, and able to preserve, client confidentiality.
  • Excellent verbal communication skills, demonstrated by ability to communicate effectively and relate to families, service providers, staff, etc.
  • Good organization skills.
  • Ability to work in a team.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft office- outlook and word.
  • Ability to learn and document within our electronic health record systems (Avatar and Exym).
  • Must have a reliable means of transportation.
  • Ability to work occasionally on evenings or weekends.
  • Agree, in writing, to adhere to the Code of Ethics.
  • Ability to pass background checks needed to work with children.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in an office setting and in the community. Occasional remote meetings through Zoom or similar platform.

Physical Demands

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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools or controls, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand, talk and hear.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (subject to change, with supervisor approval, to meet the business needs). Evenings may be required to accommodate families schedules.

Travel

Local travel to various worksites is required.

Work Authorization/Security Clearance

Employees must pass a livescan and receive TB and health clearances prior to employment. Driving records are reviewed annually. Compliance to Agency vaccination policy required. Must be able to provide proof of full Covid-19 vaccination including booster shots.

A Better Way is committed to workforce diversity. Qualified applicants will receive full consideration without regard to age, race, color, ethnic background, religion, gender, sexual orientation, HIV-status, national origin, or disability. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.