Parent Partner - Carson

The Parent Partner is an integral member of the Multi-disciplinary team who is a non-clinical peer provider serving child and youth behavioral health programs. Drawing appropriately on lived experience as a parent or caregiver, the position provides peer support, promotes family voice and choice, self-advocacy, resiliency, engagement, and connection to natural and community support while collaborating with the multidisciplinary team. Through trusting, peer-to-peer relationships, the Parent Partner helps parents and caregivers navigate complex behavioral health, child welfare, juvenile justice, educational, and community service systems. The position supports families in preparing for Child and Family Team (CFT) meetings, communicating their needs and priorities, strengthening family relationships, and building the confidence and skills necessary to sustain progress following transition from services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

PEER MENTORING AND SUPPORT: Develop trusting peer-to-peer relationships with parents and caregivers by drawing appropriately upon relevant lived experience to provide encouragement, hope, practical guidance, and emotional support. FAMILY VOICE AND CHOICE: Help parents and caregivers identify their strengths, priorities, concerns, culture, values, and goals so their voice is meaningfully represented in service planning and decision-making. Strengthen their confidence and skills to advocate effectively for their child or youth. CHILD AND FAMILY TEAM PARTICIPATION: Assist parents and caregivers in preparing for and participating in CFT meetings, including identifying goals, organizing questions, understanding recommendations, and communicating their family's needs and preferences. SYSTEM NAVIGATION: Help families understand and navigate behavioral health, healthcare, education, child welfare, juvenile justice, social services, benefits, and other community systems. Connect families with relevant peer, natural, and community-based resources and supports. ADVOCACY: Support parents and caregivers in developing the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary to advocate effectively for their child or youth and participate as equal partners with service providers. FAMILY ENGAGEMENT: Conduct outreach and engagement activities to establish rapport, reduce barriers to participation, and encourage consistent involvement in services, and support re-engagement when appropriate. FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT: Provide peer-based education and practical support related to parenting or caregiving, communication, coping, resiliency, problem-solving, crisis preparation, family relationships, and effective collaboration with service systems within the peer scope. NATURAL AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTS: Assist families in identifying, developing, and sustaining natural supports, community connections, and sustainable resources that can continue after formal services end. RESOURCE COORDINATION: Connect parents and caregivers with relevant community resources, support groups, educational opportunities, and other services that address identified family needs. SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION: Provide peer-based education and practical support related to coping skills, wellness, parenting, communication, resiliency, crisis preparation, and effective collaboration with service systems. SERVICE AND PLAN-OF-CARE SUPPORT: Support implementation of the child or youth's and family's individualized treatment, service, or plan of care within the peer scope. Reinforce family-identified goals and strategies and communicate relevant observations to the treatment team in accordance with consent and program requirements. CRISIS SUPPORT: Provide peer-based support during periods of increased stress or crisis, follow the family's safety or crisis plan, and promptly connect the family with appropriate clinical team members or emergency resources. This position does not independently perform clinical assessments or make clinical determinations. TRANSITION PLANNING: Help parents and caregivers prepare to manage their family's plan following transition from FSP-HFW services by strengthening self-advocacy skills, natural supports, community connections, and long-term wellness strategies. TEAM COLLABORATION: Participate in team meetings, supervision, case consultation, training, and care coordination activities while maintaining the distinct role and perspective of a peer support provider. FIELD-BASED SERVICES: Provide services in homes, schools, community settings, Agency locations, and other environments that are accessible and appropriate for the family. DOCUMENTATION AND DATA REPORTING: Complete accurate and timely service documentation, progress notes, activity records, and required program data in accordance with Medi-Cal, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, FSP-HFW, payer, and Agency requirements. CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES: Protect client and family confidentiality, maintain appropriate peer-support boundaries, and comply with HIPAA, mandated reporting obligations, ethical standards, and Agency policies. TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION: Maintain all required certifications and complete continuing education, supervision, and training necessary to remain qualified to provide Medi-Cal Peer Support Services. SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES: Supports and maintains a safe, hazard-free workplace and complies with agency safety policies, OSHA requirements, established safety procedures, and applicable workplace health and safety regulations. Promptly reports injuries, illnesses, hazards, unsafe conditions, or safety incidents. Employee-related injuries or illnesses must be reported immediately to Human Resources, and Nurse First Response (NFR) should be notified for assessment in accordance with agency procedures. NFR is available 24/7/365 at View phone number on click.appcast.io. Other Duties: Perform other related duties consistent with the scope and purpose of the Parent Partner/Peer Support Specialist role. Position Requirements: High School diploma or GED. Current certification through a California-approved Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification Program. Lived experience as a parent or caregiver who has raised or is currently raising a child or youth involved with the child welfare system, juvenile justice system, or both. Valid California Driver's License, proof of automobile insurance, good driving record. Driving is an essential function of the position. Must meet all applicable California requirements for providing Medi-Cal Peer Support Services, including required continuing education, recertification, supervision, and training. Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a multidisciplinary FSP-HFW team while preserving the unique voice and function of the peer role. Understanding of family-driven, youth-guided, strengths-based, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and culturally responsive practices. Ability to work a flexible schedule, which may include evenings, weekends, or participation in services outside regular business hours based on family and program needs. Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. When performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to: Remain in a stationary position for extended periods while completing documentation, participating in meetings, or working at a computer. Move throughout agency offices, clinic locations, homes, schools, and community settings to provide services and participate in meetings. Operate a computer and standard office equipment and communicate frequently in person, by telephone, email, and virtual platforms. Occasionally move routine work materials and equipment weighing up to 20 pounds. Travel to client homes, schools, agency sites, community locations, trainings, and meetings as required. Work Environment: The work environment is primarily an office, clinical, and remote or hybrid setting and may include community-based locations when required by operational needs. The position may involve contact with individuals experiencing significant behavioral health symptoms, psychiatric crises, or acute emotional distress. Work schedules and in-office attendance are based on agency policy, department requirements, and operational needs. #J-18808-Ljbffr Counseling and Research Associates, Inc.