Family Peer Advocate I or II - Cortland County

About the Role

The Family Peer Advocate empowers families and assists them in navigating and advocating within multiple child-serving systems. This role supports parents in developing positive approaches to meet the needs of youth and their families, including self-care strategies. The position requires "lived experience" as defined by the NYS Office of Mental Health.

Responsibilities

• Provide informational and educational support on system navigation, advocacy, and rights to empower families to become active participants in their child’s services.
• Make referrals and linkages to needed services and resources, and assist with access.
• Support families in caring for and strengthening their children’s mental and physical health by teaching strategies to support positive behavior.
• Facilitate parent training and education to increase knowledge and skills, while providing opportunities for networking with other families.
• Form and maintain relationships using effective communication and collaboration, acting as a bridge between family and providers.
• Administer assessments, help families identify gaps in services, and assist in planning to address those gaps.
• Develop treatment and safety plans with parents/caregivers, supporting the family’s own identified goals.
• Promote effective family-driven practice and attend/facilitate meetings to ensure family voice is represented at all levels.
• Maintain all necessary records, forms, and reports in client files to ensure compliance with Federal, State, Funder, Medicaid Managed Care, and agency standards.
• Obtain and maintain required credentials/certifications based on role and funder requirements.
• Participate in agency and team meetings, in-service trainings, and team-building activities, as well as volunteer on agency and community committees as needed.

Family Peer Advocate II additionally:

• Serve as a resource to guide team performance.
• Lead/conduct Family Peer Advocate staff training and manage projects, as directed.
• Mentor Family Peer Advocate I staff.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Minimum 1 year of "lived experience" as defined by program and funder requirements:
  • A parent/caregiver of a child with social, emotional, developmental, medical, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges; experience navigating child-serving systems to obtain services and resources for their child/family.
  • OR personal "lived experience" as a person with social, emotional, developmental, medical, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges, or has received services in juvenile justice, foster care, special education, or addiction recovery.
• Family Peer Advocate II: Minimum 18 months of related work experience.
• Must obtain appropriate credential required for the program within 6 months of hire.
• Unrestricted, valid NYS driver’s license for a minimum of 1 year with a clean driving record and minimum insurance coverage that meets agency standards.

Skills & Abilities

• Ability to act as an adult role model for children, youth, and families in behaviors including communication, hygiene, self-management, and positive relationships.
• Ability to engage families in trust-based, productive relationships to help them prepare for transitions and promote respect and independence.
• Ability to recognize and address issues related to substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, and child abuse/neglect, often through referral.
• Ability to advocate for families to achieve the best possible outcomes, communicate reasonable expectations, and facilitate results.
• Demonstrates cultural awareness, sensitivity, and respect for individual differences.
• Knowledge of applicable laws and regulations, community programs, resources, and public assistance access/eligibility.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Must be able to work a variable schedule, including evenings and weekends.
• Daily physical demands include:
  • Sitting (up to 6 hours).
  • Occasional standing (up to 2 hours).
  • Occasional walking (up to 2.5 hours).
  • Driving (several times a week, up to 6 hours).
  • Continuous balancing (up to 8 hours).
  • Occasional balancing, bending, stooping, climbing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching forward/down/overhead, running, and twisting (up to 2.5 hours).
  • Weekly lifting up to 10-15 lbs. on a daily basis.
  • Manual dexterity required, including frequent grasping and continuous fine manipulation (1-2.5 hours).
  • Occasional exposure to dust, fumes, gases, chemicals, or smoke.
  • Ability to change positions as needed.

Pay

• Family Peer Advocate I: $18.50 minimum pay rate, $26.00 maximum pay rate, based on experience.
• Family Peer Advocate II: $19.50 minimum pay rate, $28.00 maximum pay rate, based on experience.