Family Partner

FAMILY PARTNER

MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM - FRUITVALE

Job Summary:

The Family Partner provides peer support to family members of clients and advocates on behalf of a clients developmental, mental health, or educational needs. A Family Partner must have personal experience in raising a biological or adoptive child who has been the recipient of services. The Family Partner is an integral member of A Better Ways mental health service delivery team. The position works to bring the parents/guardians as well as the parent-child relationship perspective and the integrity of the individual familys culture and language into the care and support of their child/youth. This is accomplished both internally within ABW and through partnering with community agencies to provide the family with needed services. The Family Partner works in a non-judgmental and respectful manner closely with families receiving mental/behavioral health services, to promote independence and advocacy skills within the family. These duties are performed under licensed clinical supervision.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Participate in maintaining a network of services and resources for families with children/youth receiving mental health services. Assists with accessing and providing linkages to other services based on the needs of the family.
• Assists families in developing their own support network on behalf of their childs individual needs.
• Helps increase the familys own advocacy skills to obtain services and support.
• Working with the ABW treatment team, assists in the ongoing development and evaluation of the childs treatment plan.
• As an advocate for the families with children receiving mental health services, participates in mental health treatment teams engaging with ABW direct service providers to promote the parents and the parent-child relational perspective.
• Works to increase awareness about the importance of parent / professional partnerships. Helps to support these partnerships as a liaison with ABW mental health service provider(s) and other service agencies.
• Attends and participates in meetings, related trainings and workshops on behalf of the program as directed.
• Participates in outreach activities and community events to promote the knowledge, awareness and access of mental health services.
• Completes all charting as appropriate in accordance with program requirements including Alameda County EPSDT Medi-Cal clinical paperwork.
• Maintain client information and case documentation in a confidential and professional manner.
• Performs all duties and service in full compliance with ABW policies and practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education, Experience and Skills Requirements:

• Must be a primary caregiver of a child with behavioral health or developmental challenges who is now or has in the past received services from a public child-serving agency, i.e. special education, mental health, social services, and/or juvenile probation.
• Experience in navigating child-serving systems preferably in Alameda County.
• Experience working with children and families in some capacity.
• Experience working as a Family Partner for a minimum of 1 year
• Willingness to work with families with complex needs whose children are exhibiting mental health/behavioral issues. Understands the importance of, and able to preserve, client confidentiality.
• High school diploma (College or Graduate level education a plus).
• Good organization skills.
• Excellent verbal communication skills, demonstrated by ability to communicate effectively and relate congenially to families, service providers, staff, etc.
• Own transportation and proof of insurance.
• Ability to work occasionally on evenings or weekends.
• Experience working with people from socio-economically and ethnically diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to pass various background checks needed to work with children