Family Peer Support Specialist

Program Summary

Philadelphia 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 opportunities for education, empowerment, advocacy and support.

Position Summary

Reports to: Program Manager

Direct Reports: None

Status: Non-Exempt; 35-hour workweek; may include evenings and weekends

The CRC Family Peer Specialist meets with families who present at the Philadelphia's Children’s Response Center and assists them in navigating the system by offering information, resources, and family peer support. The position performs a variety of day-to-day activities such as supporting/talking with families waiting on the unit or in the triage area. The CRC Family Peer serves as the linkage to the Philadelphia Family Voices’ program as well as provides additional resources and support to families telephonically after the child/youth discharges from the CRC.

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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:

1. 1. Families and youth
   2. Philadelphia Children’s Response Center staff and administration
   3. General public
   4. Community agencies and organizations
   5. The Philadelphia child serving systems [Department of Human Services (DHS), Juvenile Justice (JJ), Early Intervention (EI), Autism related services and programs
   6. Schools and Education System
   7. Community Behavioral Health (CBH)
   8. 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 a professional manner.
• Gather and provide data as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

Program and Staff Responsibilities:

• Meet with families and youth that present to the CRC; identify needs and provide support, resources, and referrals both verbally and in writing.
• Answer family questions about services; serve as the contact person to the family/caregiver as needed.
• Work collaboratively with CRC staff and administration in the administration of advocacy and peer support to families and youth.
• Maintain positive, compassionate, and professional demeanor during all interactions with CRC staff and administration, families, children, and youth; serve as an emotional support and positive role model to parents and caregivers.
• Provide information about Philadelphia Family Voices and connect families who are interested in family peer supports services to the Family Resource Partner or delegate.
• Collect data and utilize tracking systems/electronic health record for reporting purposes.
• Provide discharge resources to parents/caregivers; follow up with families via phone to ensure linkages occurred and/or offer additional assistance or resources as needed.
• Adhere to the Philadelphia Family Voices family support empowerment and family-driven model and philosophy in providing strengths-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 contacts with families and other professionals.
• Identify family needs in crisis situations and work collaboratively with CRC staff to provide support and de-escalate potentially volatile situations.
• Perform a variety of day-to-day activities depending upon number of families and needs, including talking to families in the waiting area or in the triage area, providing resources to CRC Social Workers, and supporting families/offering resources during discharge meetings.
• Interact with youth in non-clinical activities, including during meals/snacks and other CRC activities; check-in with youth and provide resources and information within CRC’s clinical staff’s direct line of sight.
• Co-facilitate support groups, workgroups, trainings and presentations; represent Philadelphia Family Voices at resource fairs and other community events.

Electronic Health Record (EHR) Data Base

• Enters participant data in the Electronic Healthcare Records or Program Database system
• Ensures that participants’ contacts are documented in EHR or tracking system according to agency polices.
• Document all services and activities (i.e. trainings, system meetings) according to agency policies.

Education, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Minimum Experience

• Individual who self-identifies as parent or primary caregiver of an individual with of an individual with behavioral and/or mental health challenges and/or autism spectrum disorder.
• Ability to use lived experience to support other families.
• At least one years’ experience working in human services with children, youth/young adult or family programs impacted by autism or behavioral and/or mental health challenges, or other significant experience working with the disability community.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the system of services for children/adults with behavioral/mental health challenges and/or autism.
• Completion of Family Peer Support training within 3 months of hire.
• Child Abuse 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 directly 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.
• Active Driver’s License.

Minimum Education Requirements

High School Diploma or GED.

Preferred Education Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree.

Required Skills

• Demonstrated effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to interact with families and other external parties effectively and professionally.
• 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 primarily at the Children’s Crisis Response Center at 3300 Henry Ave, Philadelphia and is not eligible for remote work. The position may require working in other settings, including but not limited to:

• Philadelphia Family Voices office,
• ZOOM or other approved digital meeting platforms,
• Community settings and schools,
• Family’s homes,
• Family Court,
• Community Behavioral Health office.

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