Family Peer Advocate at Vanderheyden Hall

Rate: $22 USD per hour

About the role

The Family Peer Advocate provides an array of formal and informal activities and support to families caring for/raising a child who is experiencing social, emotional, medical, developmental, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges in their home, school, placement, and/or community. This is a full-time position requiring travel between locations in the Capital District/Troy area.

Family Peer Support Services provides a structured, strength-based relationship between a Family Peer Advocate (FPA) and the parent/family member/caregiver for the benefit of the child/youth. Services are delivered in a trauma-informed, culturally and linguistically competent manner.

Responsibilities

• Engage the family/child to begin the partnership and connection to service delivery.
• Conduct a family/caregiver needs assessment to determine family/caregiver and child's strengths and needs during the intake process.
• Write a treatment plan based on assessment, including service components such as outreach and information, bridging and transition support, self-advocacy, self-efficacy and empowerment, parent skill development, and community connections and natural supports.
• Assist family/caregiver in carrying out specific tasks as outlined in the treatment plan.
• Collaborate with any collateral contacts that are part of the family/caregiver's treatment team, including attending team meetings as requested.
• Complete all required documentation of services and contact.
• Participate in regularly scheduled supervision.
• Facilitate family peer group if designated FPA to facilities; if not, act as co-facilitator as needed to lead the group.
• Perform all reasonable, related duties assigned.

Requirements

• Strong writing and communication skills.
• Exceptional organizational skills and be highly detail-oriented.
• NYS Driver's license with a clean MVR and access to reliable transportation.
• Demonstrate "lived experience" as a parent or primary caregiver who has navigated multiple child-serving systems on behalf of their child(ren) with social, emotional, developmental, health and/or behavioral health needs.
• At a minimum, have a high school diploma, high school equivalency, or a State Education Commencement Credential.
• Must be 21 years of age.
• Available to work a flexible schedule to meet agency needs.

Qualifications

Family Peer Support will be delivered by a New York State Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) or a CRPA with a Family Specialty. If not credentialed at the time of hire, the following applies:

• Complete Level One and apply for Provisional Family Peer Advocate Credential within the first 3 months of employment.
• Complete Level Two and a 2-day face-to-face training of the Parent Empowerment Program Training for Family Peer Advocates, plus phone conferences or approved comparable training, and apply for the Family Peer Advocate Credential within the first 6 months of Provisional Employment.
• Agree to practice according to the Family Peer Advocate Code of Ethics.
• Complete 20 hours of continuing education and renew the FPA credential every two years.

For CRPA with a Family Specialty:

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Demonstrate lived experience as a primary caregiver of a youth who has participated in (or navigated) the addiction services system.
• Provide outreach, advocacy, and recovery support services for families seeking and sustaining recovery on behalf of a child or youth.
• Have a high school diploma or General Equivalency Degree (GED) preferred or a State Education Commencement Credential (waivable by the State if competencies and relevant life experience are demonstrated).
• Complete a minimum of 46 hours of content-specific training covering advocacy, mentoring/education, recovery/wellness support, and ethical responsibility.
• Document 500 hours of related work or volunteer experience.
• Provide evidence of at least 25 hours of supervision in a peer role.
• Pass the NYCB/IC and RC Peer Advocate Exam or other exam by an OASAS-designated certifying body.
• Demonstrate a minimum of 20 hours in the area of Family Support (combined online and classroom training).
• Complete 10 hours of continuing education per year of certification, including 2 hours of Ethics.

Skills

• Ability to talk, hear, sit, and use hands and fingers to handle or feel.
• Ability to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, bend, crouch, or crawl.
• Vision abilities including close and far vision.

Pay

$22-$24 per hour based on education.