Parent Partner

Description

Your experience has power. Help another parent find their way forward. Some forms of support can only come from someone who has lived it. A Parent Partner is more than a peer support professional. They are proof that difficult circumstances do not define a family's future. As part of Michigan's MiFamily Together (MFT) program, Parent Partners use their lived experience navigating the child welfare system to support parents who are walking a similar path today. MiFamily Together was designed to strengthen families, reduce the need for out-of-home placement, support reunification, and help families build lasting stability through a coordinated, whole-family approach. Families are best served when they feel understood, supported, and connected to someone who believes in their ability to succeed. As a Parent Partner, you become that person. You understand the uncertainty, fear, and frustration that can accompany involvement with child welfare services because you've experienced it yourself. You know how important it is to have someone who listens without judgment, explains unfamiliar processes, offers encouragement during setbacks and celebrates progress along the way. The Parent Partner role transforms your lived experience into meaningful impact for families. You'll walk alongside parents as they navigate systems, advocate for themselves and their children, participate in important meetings, and work toward their goals. You'll help families recognize strengths they may not see in themselves and remind them that change is possible, even when the path forward feels overwhelming.

Qualifications & Requirements

• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Experience as a parent or caregiver who has successfully navigated the child welfare system, including an open CPS or foster care case with successful case closure.
• No current CPS safety concerns or substantiated safety issues.
• Preference given to applicants residing within the assigned service area.
• Ability to build trust quickly, communicate effectively, and support families while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Comfort working independently and collaboratively, navigating community resources, facilitating difficult conversations, and helping parents identify strengths and opportunities for growth.
• Experience with trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices is valued, and bilingual or multilingual skills are a plus.
• Technology skills necessary to complete documentation and communicate with families.
• Flexible schedule that may include evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime as needed.

Work Environment

This position combines work performed from a home office or other designated workspace, including virtual visits with parents. Also required are some in-home visits and community outreach throughout the service area. Parent Partners spend time meeting families and supporting them in real-world settings. The role requires flexibility, independent travel with mileage paid, and comfort working in a variety of home and community environments. This may include homes with multiple occupants, pets, environmental considerations, or heightened emotional stress related to family circumstances. Evening and occasional weekend availability may be required to accommodate families' schedules, and regular travel occurs in varying weather conditions.