Family Peer Support Specialist
: Job Details :

Program SummaryPhiladelphia Family Voices is Philadelphia's first and only family-legacy organization. As a family legacy organization, the mission of Philadelphia Family Voices is families helping families navigate and improve child-serving systems by creating opportunitiesfor education, empowerment, advocacy and support. Position SummaryReports to: Program SupervisorDirect Reports: NoneStatus: Non-Exempt; 22-hour workweek (part-time); may include evenings and weekendsThe Family Peer Support Specialist (FPSS) provides support for families of children and youth with behavioral health and/or autism spectrum disorder who need more assistance and support than information/referral and straightforward linkage to services. The FPSS works with families who have mid-level needs to connect their child/youth to screening, evaluation, treatment, and other supports, building and strengthening the family's competency and confidence, and providing other opportunities for family engagement and support. Summary:

• Utilize experience and partnership skills to help other families and the systems that serve them.
• Establish and maintain strong effective relationships with the Program Supervisor and/or Manager, Philadelphia Family Voices staff, management, and key stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain strong effective relationships with members of the community that we support:

Families and youth

General public

Community agencies and organizations

The Philadelphia child serving systems [Department of Human Services (DHS), Juvenile Justice (JJ), Early Intervention (EI), Behavioral Health and Autism related services and programs

Schools and Education System

Community Behavioral Health (CBH)

Administrators/ staff of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health & Intellectual Disabilities (DBHIDS).

• Promote a positive public image of all PFV programs and serve as a representative in assigned committees, task forces, as well as other meetings.
• Promote and model high ethical, professional and respectful behaviors both within Philadelphia Family Voices and externally.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:Administrative

• Participate in regular 1:1 supervision and team meetings as scheduled.
• Participate in all required agency staff meetings.
• Attend required trainings.
• Attend all required meetings/conference calls in the community in a professional manner.
• Gather and provide data as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

Program and Staff Responsibilities:

• Connect families to screening, evaluation, treatment and other supports for their child/youth; build and strengthen family member's competency and confidence to manage child/youth's needs.
• Coach families to develop advocacy skills and make informed decisions; serve as an emotional support and positive role model to parents and caregivers.
• Provide education, training and resources to parents and caregivers to enhance their capacity to meet their child's overall wellness needs; link families to other supports.
• Schedule regular meetings with assigned families, preferably in-person; attend meetings with families; maintain documentation of all provided services through our electronic database. Follow workflow and documentation expectations as outlined in the Philadelphia Family Voices' program manual.
• Along with families, identify needs and develop goal plans and action steps to achieve their goals; review and update plans as needed.
• Adhere to the Philadelphia Family Voices family support empowerment and family-driven model and philosophy in providing community-based peer-to-peer support to parents of children and youth with behavioral and/or mental health challenges or autism.
• Utilize knowledge of service systems and the range of resources available for children, youth and families; share knowledge effectively during family meetings and consultation with professionals.
• Facilitate support groups, workgroups, trainings and presentations; represent Philadelphia Family Voices at resource fairs and other community events.

Electronic Health Record (EHR) Data Base

• Enter participant data in the Electronic Healthcare Records/ Program Database system upon intake.
• Ensure that all participants' contacts are documented in EHR/Database according to agency polices.
• Document all services and activities (i.e. trainings, system meetings) according to agency policies.

Education, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:Minimum Experience

• Parent/guardian with direct experience raising a child with autism spectrum disorder who has utilized the local child serving systems.

• Ability to use lived experience to support other families.
• At least one year of experience working to support children, young adults and/or families impacted by autism or behavioral health challenges, or other significant experience working with the disability community.
• One year experience/knowledge of Philadelphia child-serving systems and resources for children/adults with autism or behavioral challenges.
• Completion of Family Peer Support training and Autism Family Peer Support* training within 3 months of hire.

*the Autism Family Peer Support training is required for Navigators on the ASD Team only

• Child Abuse, FBI Fingerprint, and Criminal Background Clearances.
• Reliable mode of transportation.

Preferred Experience Requirements

• Knowledge of or training in Systems of Care and trauma informed care.
• Experience with Child and/or Family Advocacy.
• Experience in working with families and communities on behalf of children with mental health issues is highly desirable.
• Experience working with and understanding of billable service with the Medicaid system.
• Philadelphia County Resident.

Minimum Education RequirementsHigh School Diploma or GED.Required Skills

• Demonstrated effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to interact with families and other external parties effectively and professionally, including multi-disciplinary teams.
• Possess strong computer skills to perform job duties including desktop computing, email, time sheet management, electronic health records, using Microsoft Office Applications, ADP and other relevant software.
• Ability to be flexible, collaborative, and creative.
• Dependable with strong time management and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication, listening and interpersonal skills including public presentations.
• Negotiation and conflict resolution abilities.
• Utilizes a strength-based perspective.
• Ability to maintain regular and punctual attendance; available for flexible work schedule including evenings and weekends as needed.

Physical Requirements

• Able to sit/work at a computer and perform general office functions.
• Able to travel within the community that may not be handicap accessible, including stairs.
• Able to use public transportation and/or drive around the city, including in inclement weather.
• Able to carry computer equipment to external sites as needed.
• Able to communicate clearly with others; possible exposure to vulgar or inappropriate language or gestures.

Working Environment Work in a variety of settings, including but not limited to:

• Philadelphia Family Voices office,
• ZOOM or other approved digital meeting platforms,
• Community settings and schools,
• Family's homes,
• Treatment programs and Children's Crisis Response Center (CRC),
• Family Court,
• Community Behavioral Health office.

Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job duties.