Family Peer Support Specialist Mental Health

Who We Are

Founded in 1999, Maryland Coalition of Families (MCF) is a statewide nonprofit with a central office in Columbia, Md., and staff located in communities throughout the state. Using personal experience as parents, caregivers, youth and other loved ones, we connect, support and empower Maryland’s families. Our staff provide one-to-one support to parents and caregivers of people with mental health, or substance use challenges. We also advocate for improving systems that impact individuals with behavioral health challenges.

Overview

Maryland Coalition of Families (MCF) has two full-time (40 hours per week) employment opportunity for a Family Peer Support Specialist (FPSS) to serve families in PG County .

General Description: The Family Peer Support Specialist (FPSS) must have experience as a as the parent or caregiver of a youth or young adult (18-26 y/o) who has/had mental health needs . The FPSS, after training and orientation, will provide family peer support, education, systems navigation assistance, advocacy, coaching, information, referrals, and follow-up to families seeking assistance. This FPSS must live in PG County, though could will also provide support to other jurisdictions as needed and assigned by their supervisor.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide support, guidance, and education to help parents and caregivers who care about someone with behavioral health needs navigate behavioral health, social, legal, educational and health care systems.
• Offer a strengths-based, non-judgmental, solutions-oriented assessment to help parents and caregivers identify challenges and needs and develop a plan to overcome them.
• Provide family engagement opportunities for parents and caregivers to engage in activities which promote the development of a natural support network.
• Educate parents and caregivers about community resources available to meet identified needs and facilitate access as needed.
• Educate parents and caregivers regarding their rights in various systems.
• Advocate on behalf of the parents and caregivers with key stakeholders in various systems with which they are involved to ensure needs are met.
• Support parents and caregivers to be equal partners in planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating plans of care or service.
• Facilitate educational workshops for parents, caregivers, and community partners related to behavioral health topics or other subjects relevant to families with a loved one who has behavioral health challenges.
• Build and maintain strong, positive partnerships with behavioral health, child-serving agencies, school systems, local behavioral health authorities, local management boards, and other service providers.
• Act as an ambassador to disseminate information and raise awareness about all MCF programs and services.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation regarding delivery of services.
• Stay abreast of emerging issues within the field of family peer support and specific program focus area through a commitment to professional growth and continued learning.
• Represent MCF on various state and local committees, commissions, teams, and boards to increase access to and awareness of family peer support and provide family voice as part of conversations related to policies, systems, and other issues that impact parents and caregivers.
• Contribute positively to a community of peers supporting each other in the delivery of high-quality services to parents and caregivers.

Requirements

• Personal, lived experience as a parent or primary caregiver to a youth or young adult (18-26 y.o.) with mental health challenges.
• Must live in PG County.
• High school diploma or equivalent; some combination of college and/or professional work experience preferred.
• Familiarity with state and local resources and knowledge of how to access them.
• Prior experience assisting other families to obtain appropriate services and supports for their child or family members is desirable.
• Familiarity and comfort with public speaking and conducting outreach to the community preferred.
• Ability to build and maintain productive partnerships with agencies and providers.
• Active listening skills for providing non-judgmental peer support to families with a strength-based perspective.
• Ability to work independently while contributing positively to the work of the team.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to follow through.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong computer skills and the ability to efficiently utilize internet search to identify resources.
• Ability or willingness to learn how to use a database (Salesforce).
• Current Maryland driver’s license and access to own vehicle; in-state travel required.
• Successful completion of a background check.

Hours/Compensation

• Full-Time/40 hours per week.
• Salary: $18/Per Hour
• MCF provides equipment, mileage reimbursement, and paid training.
• Full benefits include generous paid time off (2-Weeks Vacation, 2-Weeks Sick leave, 3-Personal days, 2-Floating holidays, 11-Holidays per year), health plans, dental, vision, life insurance, FSA, long-term disability, 401(k), and EAP.

To apply

To be considered for this position, you must respond to the screener question about your relevant personal experience as the primary caregiver of a loved one with a mental health challenge.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer – all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other classification protected by applicable discrimination.

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