Family Peer Support Specialist

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 Supervisor

Direct Reports: None

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

The 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.

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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. Families and youth
2. General public
3. Community agencies and organizations
4. The Philadelphia child serving systems [Department of Human Services (DHS), Juvenile Justice (JJ), Early Intervention (EI), Behavioral Health and Autism related services and programs
5. Schools and Education System
6. Community Behavioral Health (CBH)
7. 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 Requirements

High 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.