MARYLAND COALITION OF FAMILIES

Employment Opportunities

Employment Opportunities >> Family Peer Support Specialist - Behavioral Health/Developmental
Family Peer Support Specialist - Behavioral Health/Developmental
Summary
Title:Family Peer Support Specialist - Behavioral Health/Developmental
ID:1109
Location:Hughesville
Description

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 young people with mental health issues and to any loved one who cares for someone with a substance use or gambling issue. We also advocate to improve systems that impact individuals with behavioral health challenges. 

Overview 

MCF has a part-time (15 – 30 hours/week) employment opportunity for a Family Peer Support Specialist to serve families in Charles County. The candidate must have personal experience as a primary caregiver of a youth, adolescent or young adult who has/had intensive behavioral health needs. After training and orientation, the Family Peer Support Specialist will provide family-to-family support, education, advocacy, coaching, information, referrals and follow-up to families seeking assistance. Personal experience required; a degree and/or related work experience is not required.    
            

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Provide education and support to families with youth, adolescents and young adults with intensive behavioral health issues to negotiate their way through the social, legal, educational and health care systems.
  • Facilitate a process for families to develop a plan to: clarify the problem(s); provide emotional support; identify needs and strengths; and identify resources including appropriate levels of services, entitlements, community resources and other natural supports.
  • Assist families and youth to build their own community based support network, and ensure that their goals are integrated into one unified plan as necessary.
  • Facilitate the development of a Family Plan using strength-based approaches, along with the coordination of services and supports. 
  • Ensure the Family plan is accomplished using a family-driven process for families to choose and access supports, intervention and services by: sharing information about resources and supports; making phone calls to connect families with resources; providing guidance in completing forms and applications; reviewing documents such as IEPs or reports with families to ensure they fully understand documents; empowering families to effectively articulate their concerns and needs for coordination of their care; accompanying families to meetings; and educating families on laws, policies and procedures so they understand their rights.
  • Build and maintain strong partnerships with agencies and providers of services related to behavioral health, physical health, social services, basic need providers and other child-serving systems.
  • Ensure that families are equal partners in planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating their own plans.
  • Facilitate training workshops in assigned region for families as assigned in contract deliverables.
  • Partner with other members of the MCF Peer Support team to create and maintain a centralized, updated directory of behavioral health resources, including support meetings, screening and referrals for treatment, family education groups therapeutic and/or pro-social recreation, volunteer training opportunities and other services designed to meet the needs of their family.
  • Collaborate with other MCF staff to develop support and educational programs that empower families.
  • Partner with other MCF staff to serve families of youth/young adults with complex needs.
  • Administrative duties to include maintaining client files, submitting required documentation, active participation in supervision and in MCF internal and external training opportunities. 
  • Other duties as requested.

 

Qualifications

  • Personal, lived experience as a primary caregiver of a youth, adolescent or young adult who has intensive behavioral health needs is required. 
  • Prior experience successfully navigating various resources and services for their child or youth.
  • High school diploma or equivalent.
  • Prior experience assisting other families to obtain appropriate services and supports for their child and family members is desirable.
  • Familiarity with state and local resources and knowledge of how to access them.
  • Willingness and strong ability to build and maintain partnerships with agencies and providers.
  • Active listening skills for providing non-judgmental peer support and engagement to families.
  • 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 (required for all MCF employees). 


Hours/Compensation

  • 15 - 30 hours/week.
  • Flexible work schedule (mainly Monday – Friday, days)
  • Salary commensurate with experience. Salary range $16 -19 per hour.
 

To Apply

To be considered for this position, you must submit (along with your resume) a cover letter describing your personal experience as the primary caregiver of a child/youth with intensive needs via our website at www.mdcoalition.org. Please provide details regarding what services and resources you have used to support your loved one.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please note that mailed or faxed resumes will not be considered. No phone calls please.

 

Diversity

Maryland Coalition of Families is committed to hiring a diverse and talented workforce.  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 laws.

 

 

 

This opening is closed and is no longer accepting applications
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