Therapeutic Mentor and Family Peer Support

About the role

Blue Kite Wellness provides accessible, compassionate, individualized, and holistic mental health services to children, teens, adults, and families. We are seeking a Therapeutic Mentor and Family Peer Support (TM/FPS) to support children, youth, parents, and caregivers participating in the Illinois Pathways to Success program. The TM/FPS delivers individualized, strengths‑based services in clients’ homes and communities, working one‑on‑one with youth to strengthen communication, confidence, emotional regulation, interpersonal skills, problem‑solving, and positive social behaviors, while using lived or caregiver experience to help parents and caregivers build coping, advocacy, and navigation skills across behavioral health, education, healthcare, child welfare, juvenile justice, and other child‑ and family‑serving systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide Therapeutic Mentoring and Family Peer Support services to eligible youth and families in accordance with authorized service plans and Illinois Pathways requirements.
• Work one‑on‑one with youth to practice and strengthen communication, emotional regulation, problem‑solving, self‑advocacy, confidence, interpersonal skills, and positive social behaviors.
• Use lived or caregiver experience purposefully and appropriately to build trust, reduce isolation, and support parents and caregivers.
• Help caregivers strengthen coping skills, parenting strategies, family voice and choice, advocacy abilities, and connections to natural and community supports.
• Support youth and caregivers in navigating behavioral health, education, healthcare, child welfare, juvenile justice, and other child‑ and family‑serving systems.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries and clear distinctions between Therapeutic Mentoring and Family Peer Support services, goals, interventions, and documentation.
• Collaborate with caregivers, the Child and Family Team, the Pathways Supervisor, the supervising QMHP or LPHA, and other authorized providers.
• Recognize changes in youth or family functioning, engagement, behavior, service needs, or safety and promptly communicate concerns to the appropriate supervisor or clinical team member.
• Complete timely and accurate documentation and participate in supervision, coaching, case consultation, team meetings, and required training.
• Maintain a reliable schedule, communicate changes promptly, and follow Blue Kite Wellness procedures related to confidentiality, professional boundaries, client safety, mandated reporting, and crisis response.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• At least 21 years of age.
• Meets the qualifications of a Rehabilitative Services Associate as defined by applicable Illinois requirements.
• Lived experience and/or experience as a caregiver of a child with special needs.
• Experience navigating child‑serving systems and supporting, educating, or advocating for families involved with those systems.
• Ability to use lived experience thoughtfully and appropriately while maintaining professional boundaries and respecting each family’s individual preferences and decisions.
• Ability to build rapport with youth and caregivers, model positive behavior, teach practical skills, and support family voice and choice.
• Strong communication, organization, documentation, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work independently in home and community settings while accepting and applying supervision, coaching, and feedback.
• Willingness and ability to complete the Illinois Pathways Therapeutic Mentor and Family Peer Support training process, Blue Kite Wellness orientation, and all required ongoing training and coaching.
• Reliable transportation, a current valid driver’s license, and current auto liability insurance for travel to client homes and community‑based service locations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Additional education in psychology, social work, counseling, education, human services, or a related field.
• Experience working with children, adolescents, and families or providing mentoring, peer support, caregiver support, family advocacy, parent education, skill‑building, or community‑based services.
• Familiarity with behavioral health, education, healthcare, child welfare, juvenile justice, or other child‑ and family‑serving systems.

Benefits

• Medical and dental insurance
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Professional‑development stipend
• Employee referral program
• Mileage reimbursement for eligible business travel

Pay

• Hourly direct client care: $30.00–$35.00 per hour
• Hourly indirect and administrative work: $17.05 per hour
• Direct client care includes individual and family therapeutic services and applicable caregiver or team collaboration.
• Indirect and administrative work may include documentation, travel between client locations, care coordination, clinical supervision, required meetings, training, and professional‑development activities.
• Hourly employees are paid based on actual hours worked.
• Placement within the applicable compensation range is based on experience, licensure, credentials, and overall qualifications.
• Reimbursable mileage is paid at the current IRS standard mileage rate.

Schedule and Work Setting

• This is a field‑based position involving frequent local travel and independent work in clients’ homes, schools when authorized, community locations, and office settings.
• Telehealth may be used when permitted by the service plan and program requirements.
• Scheduling is based on youth and family needs and may include evening hours.
• Must be able to safely navigate varied