Family Peer Support Specialist - Per-diem

Job Title: Per-diem Family Peer Support Specialist - Cattaraugus County

Department: Family Peer Support
Position Summary

The Family Peer Advocate is responsible for delivering direct services for the Family Support Program. The Advocate provides an array of formal and informal services and supports to families caring for or raising a child who is experiencing social, emotional, developmental, medical, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges in their home, school, placement, and/or community. The service is designed to allow the child the best opportunity to remain in the community and achieve the goals or objectives outlined in the child/youth's treatment plan

"Family" is defined as the primary caregiving unit and includes a wide diversity of family structures. Family may include birth, foster, adoptive, or self-created units of people residing together with significant attachments, consisting of adults and/or children, where adults perform duties of caregiving or parenthood even if the individual lives outside the home.
Department

New Directions' Family Peer Support program empowers caregivers through advocacy, education, and connection. It offers individualized and group supports that strengthen family systems, promote self-advocacy, and improve access to community-based services for children and families.
Agency

New Directions is an equal opportunity employer committed to championing the principles of anti-racism, justice, and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse cultures and backgrounds, for all positions, who will uphold our values and contribute to our mission. We aim to have a leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.
Compensation

• $35.00 per hour for service delivery
• $15.50 per hour for administrative tasks

Hours/Schedule

• Per Diem
• Flexible schedule based on family and program needs

Professional Development Opportunities

New Directions invests in developing future leaders through professional credentialing, supervision, and training opportunities.
Position Specific Duties/Responsibilities

Individual Family Support:

• Provide outreach and advocacy to parents/guardians of youth with emotional or behavioral challenges.
• Use the Family Assessment of Needs and Strengths (FANS) to assess needs, strengths, and goals.
• Provide engagement, bridging, and transition support by connecting families with services, assisting with documentation, and helping to overcome barriers to participation.
• Serve as a bridge between families and providers to promote respectful partnerships.
• Empower families to make informed decisions regarding their supports and services.
• Provide leadership opportunities and parent skill development.
• Support families in transitioning out of services as they reach identified goals.

Collaboration and Documentation:

• Collaborate with formal systems, service providers, and informal networks involved with the youth and family.
• Maintain accurate, timely case documentation in the agency's electronic case recording system.
• Ensure confidentiality and adherence to Medicaid documentation and billing requirements.
• Record group participation, attendance, and related data as required.
• Conduct family satisfaction surveys as directed.

Training:

• Complete Family Assessment of Needs and Strengths (FANS) training.
• Attend all mandatory in-service trainings per agency, OMH, and local county requirements.
• Maintain renewal credential requirements.

Agency Standards:

• Participate in regular supervision and meetings as required.
• Maintain a flexible schedule to meet family availability, including evenings.
• Follow agency policies, procedures, and the Family Peer Advocate Code of Ethics.
• Utilize normative culture and uphold agency standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to work effectively with clients, families, staff, and community partners from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to support youth with behavioral, emotional, or mental health challenges and their families.
• Strong advocacy and communication skills.
• Flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic work environment.
• Valid NYS driver's license, adequate auto insurance, and reliable transportation.
• Ability to pass an annual physical for Category 1 job classification.
• Compliance with agency safety and health standards.

Qualifications

• Experience: Demonstrated lived experience as a parent or primary caregiver who has navigated multiple child-serving systems on behalf of their child(ren) with social, emotional, developmental, health, and/or behavioral health needs.
• Credential: Must possess a Family Peer Advocate (FPA) Professional Credential.
• Education: High school diploma or equivalency preferred, or a State Education Commencement Credential (e.g., SACC or CDOS). Educational requirements may be waived by the State if the individual demonstrates competencies and has relevant life experience sufficient for peer certification.

We want to emphasize that the preferred qualifications are not required and that we are committed to helping our future colleagues develop these preferred skills. We strongly encourage those who are passionate about fostering a diverse, inclusive and equitable human service organization to apply.