We have an incredible opportunity for a Family Peer Advocate I at our Syracuse, NY location.
Full time position (40 hours) week Monday to Friday with a flexible schedule for evenings and occasional weekends.
Under the direction of the manager or supervisor, the individual in this position is responsible for empowering families and assisting the family in navigating and advocating in multiple child serving systems. This individual will support parents as they develop positive approaches and methods to meet the needs of youth and their families at risk of or actively involved in the Juvenile Justice System. The Family Advocate will work with the Community Asset Navigator, Care Coordinator and community partners to assure overall needs of the client and family are met in order to prevent, reduce or eliminate involvement in the Juvenile Justice System. The family advocate will participate in program, agency meetings and in the County’s System of Care providing the family perspective and sharing their expertise in family driven care.
This role requires “Lived Experience” and flexibility with working hours, including evenings, as determined by family needs that arise outside of normal service hours.
Essential Job functions
- Provide informational and educational support on system navigation, advocacy and rights to empower families to become active participants in their child’s services.
- Make referrals and linkages to needed services and resources and assist with access.
- Supports the efforts of families in caring for and strengthening their children’s
mental, and physical health, development and well-being of their children by assisting the family learn and practice strategies to support their child’s positive behavior. - Facilitate parent training and education to increase knowledge and skills while providing opportunities for networking with other families and creating natural supports.
- Forms and maintains relationships using effective communication and collaboration acting as a bridge between family and providers.
- Administer assessments and help family to identify gaps in services needed and assist in planning to eliminate gap.
- Develop treatment plan and safety plan with parent/caregiver supporting the family’s own identified goals.
- Promote effective family-driven practice. Attend and/or facilitate meetings to promote family voice and infuse a family perspective at all levels: individual provider, agency, local planning, state and national policy making.
- Maintain all necessary records, forms, notifications, authorizations, reports and summaries in client files to ensure compliance with all Federal, State, Funder, Medicaid Managed Care and Hillside standards.
Other Duties
- Obtain and maintain credential/certification based on advocate’s role and funder requirements
- Participate in agency and team meetings, in-service trainings, and team building activities as well as volunteer and serve on agency and community committees as needed
- This job description is not exhaustive. Employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.
Education & Experience
Education:
- High School or GED
Experience:
- Minimum 2 years of “Lived Experience”
- “Lived Experience” as a parent/caregiver of a child with a social, emotional, developmental, medical, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges; experience in navigating child serving systems to obtain services and resources for their child/family.
Special Requirements:
- Unrestricted, valid NYS driver’s license with a clean driving record and minimum insurance coverage that meets agency standards.
- Note: Proof of any required license and/or accreditation will be required pre-employment and, as required, during employment.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
In addition to the Hillside Professional Competencies the following are requirements of this role:
- Acts as an adult role model for children/youth/families in all behaviors including communication, hygiene, and appearance, management of self, response to stress / challenges and in the demonstration of positive relationships with others.
- Demonstrates a capability for engaging children/youth/families in trust-based, productive
relationships in order to help children/youth and families prepare for transitions, interact in the
community, and promote respect and independence - Ability to recognize and address, often through referral, problems related to substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, and child abuse and neglect
- Demonstrates ability to act as an advocate for children/youth/families in order to achieve the best possible children/youth/family’s outcomes; communicates reasonable expectations and facilitates the achievement of results
- Demonstrates an awareness and sensitivity to cultural and social variations and shows respect for individual differences
- Demonstrates and applies a working knowledge of applicable laws and regulations, an ability to
identify and access community programs and resources as needed, and an understanding of public assistance access and eligibility - Ability to work both independently and as part of a treatment team
Physical Demands & Work Environment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Must be able to work a variable scheduling including evenings and weekends
- The following physical demands are required:
- Occasional sitting (up to 3 hours)
- Occasional standing (up to 1 hours)
- Occasional walking (up to 4 hours)
- Occasional driving (up to 60 Minutes)
- Continuous balancing (up to 5 hours)
- Occasional balancing, bending, stooping, climbing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching forward or down, reaching overhead, running, and twisting (up to 2.5 hours)
- Weekly lifting up to 50 lbs., 10-15 lbs. on a daily basis
- Weekly carrying up to 50 lbs. approximately 10-100 ft., 10-15 lbs. on a daily basis
- Manual dexterity is required, including the frequent ability to grasp in both hands and continuous use of fine manipulation skills in both hands (approximately 5.5-8hrs.)
- Occasional exposure to dust, fumes, gases or chemicals is apparent.
- Protective clothing or equipment required: Close toed shoes; Protective Shields, Universal Precaution PPE, Gloves for toileting and food preparation
- Ability to change positions as needed
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
May be required to attend community events or home sites that may occasionally expose employee to cigarette smoke or household cleaning products.
Hillside is committed to equal opportunities for all, supporting a diverse workforce, creating great opportunities for our Agency, our people, and to those whom we serve. We offer a competitive benefits package to include very generous paid time off, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending account, 403(b) retirement savings plan with employer match, paid holidays, and Employee Assistance Plan, just to name a few of the amazing benefits at Hillside! You’ll be working with great people and great clientele where you can truly make a difference. Apply online, get on board, and grow you career with us. You’ll be so glad you did!
