Part-Time Family Support Partner

For over 60 years, HopeLink Behavioral Health (formerly PRS) has been a beacon of support for individuals and families facing behavioral health challenges and life crises. We envision a world where hope is accessible to all. Through high-quality mental health services, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention, we foster an inclusive community where everyone can achieve well-being and a sense of belonging.

About the role

This Part-Time Family Peer Support Partner is responsible for serving families with children/youth up to age 21 who experience one or more behavioral and/or mental health challenges. The youth may have had contact with the social services system or juvenile justice or court system; or who require emergency services or long-term community mental health and other supports. HopeLink also serves families who self-refer.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a peer partner and coach to families navigating behavioral health systems and other formal and informal community resources, ensuring families have the information they need.
• Work collaboratively with team coordinators/facilitators, including Intensive Care Coordinators (ICC) to provide High Fidelity Wraparound care or other team-based care for identified clients, if the family is engaged with these services.
• Support the voice and choice of the youth and family through modeling the effective presentation of ideas and suggestions during team meetings.
• Assist the youth and family in strengths and needs discovery, and promote and reinforce strength-based strategies.
• Mentor and coach families to act on strengths and use setbacks to increase resiliency.
• Build trust with parents/caregivers by engaging in confidential, respectful, nonjudgmental, and supportive relationships. Listen to and validate each family member's perspective, feelings, and values, allowing everyone to be heard.
• Help families understand their child's needs and services. Help families understand and manage information received related to diagnosis, treatment, and services.
• Support parents/caregivers and encourage them to continue to have hope, effectively use family and community supports, and learn skills to parent children so they become empowered and effective adults.
• Participate in connecting family with a variety of support services for parents/caregivers such as support groups, family activities, and other resources.
• Participate in evaluation, monitoring, and other evaluation processes, including but not limited to Wraparound Fidelity Monitoring, as appropriate.

Qualifications

• Must be the current or former biological or adoptive parent or person in the parent role who has been the primary caregiver of a child with emotional, behavioral, or mental health and/or substance use challenges.
• Must have experience navigating Virginia behavioral health systems with their child.
• High school diploma or GED; Certified Peer Support Specialist or Wraparound Facilitator Certification a plus.
• Bi-lingual (Spanish) speaking preferred.
• Must be a self-starter who possesses strong interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to build rapport with staff, clients, internal and external providers, and highly organized.
• Ability to learn quickly Electronic Health Record (EHR) software.
• High degree of empathy toward individuals with serious mental illness with the ability to connect with individuals of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to work occasional early evening and/or weekend hours which may be scheduled.

Skills

• Adaptability to changes in environment and situations
• Strong and effective communication skills and accepts criticism and feedback
• Dependability by following instructions, responds to management direction, and keeps commitments
• Meets attendance punctuality guidelines
• Maintains emotional self-awareness and manages relationships positively
• Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming, and building interpersonal relationships
• Contributes to building a positive team spirit and exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views

Benefits

• Meaningful Work: Make a real difference in the lives of others.
• Competitive Salary: $20.00 - $23.00/hr.
• Supportive Environment: Join a dedicated team committed to providing high-quality care.

Schedule

• 20 hours a week, Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
• This is a community-based position in Loudoun County.
• Some work-from-home/telehealth opportunities weekly.