Family Advocate Champion-UF Health Peds - Prudential Dr- Part-Time

About the role

The Family Advocate Champion serves as a member of the interdisciplinary care team to support children and youth with special health care needs and their families by promoting family-centered care, strengthening parent-professional partnerships, and connecting families with resources and support services. Drawing upon their own lived experience as the caregiver of a child or youth with special health care needs, the Family Advocate Champion provides peer support, care navigation, education, advocacy, and community resource coordination to empower families throughout their healthcare journey.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a peer support resource for families of children and youth with special health care needs by utilizing personal lived experience to provide encouragement, guidance, and emotional support while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Assist families in navigating healthcare, educational, and community systems by providing information on available services, helping establish family goals, supporting care planning, facilitating communication with the healthcare team, and responding to referrals from social workers and other providers.
• Identify, coordinate, and facilitate access to community resources, including respite care, childcare, camps, support groups, financial assistance programs, equipment resources, therapy services, and other community-based supports.
• Educate families regarding available services, clinic processes, patient rights, privacy practices, and community resources while promoting self-advocacy, informed decision-making, and confidence in managing their child's care.
• Offer emotional support to caregivers through individual interactions, support groups, and other activities that promote resilience, wellness, social connection, and caregiver engagement.
• Plan and facilitate support groups, educational workshops, webinars, guest speakers, and community outreach activities that promote peer connections, caregiver education, and family engagement.
• Work collaboratively with physicians, nurses, social workers, care coordinators, therapists, and community partners to communicate family needs, identify barriers to care, and improve the patient and family experience.
• Promote family-centered care by empowering families to participate in healthcare decisions, advocating for access to appropriate services, and supporting communication with healthcare providers, schools, and community agencies.
• Accurately document services provided, maintain required records, protect confidential information, and comply with organizational policies and applicable privacy regulations.
• Participate in staff meetings, training, quality improvement initiatives, and other departmental activities that support family-centered care and continuous program enhancement.

Qualifications

• Personal lived experience as the parent, legal guardian, or primary caregiver of a child or youth with special health care needs, chronic illness, disability, or medical complexity.
• Experience supporting or mentoring other families, either formally or informally preferred.
• High school diploma or equivalent required. Associate degree in Human Services, Social Services, Public Health, Education, or a related field preferred.