We currently have a tremendous opportunity for a Family Peer Advocate I or II in a brand new program – The Healthy Families New York Visiting Program at our Syracuse, NY location.
Full time position (40 hours per week) Monday to Friday with a flexible schedule. Occasional evenings and Saturday.
This program is an evidence-based voluntary home visiting model designed to provide services to families that begin prenatally, or at birth, through age five. HFNY uses an infant mental health/relational development approach that promotes parent-child attachment to achieve its mission of preventing child abuse, neglect, and other adverse childhood outcomes!
Under the direction of the manager or supervisor, the Family Peer Advocate II is responsible for empowering parents by offering home-based services to support expectant families and new parents with the changes and needs that often come with the birth of a new child. You will connect expectant parents with medical providers for prenatal/well-baby visits and immunizations. Also, you will provide information on prenatal care, parenting, infant and child development, and child health. The Family Peer Advocate will also demonstrate activities for parents to practice with their child to increase bonding and to stimulate cognitive and physical development. You will assess the child for developmental milestones and provides referrals for early intervention if delays are indicated. You will also assist in accessing community resources and services, such as job training, ESL classes, legal services, GED preparation classes, and health care, among others!
Responsibilities:
- Provide all direct staff services to families, including: outreach activities in the community, direct engagement of families in home-based settings to reach performance measures and outcomes (15 families per caseload), and record keeping for data measures of performance
- Conduct outreach to families, administers assessments, offers information and referrals, and supports program recruitment and enrollment efforts
- Initiate and maintain regular home visiting schedule with families in an effort to assist in strengthening parent-child relationships, promote positive prenatal/child health and development outcomes and family self-sufficiency with the ultimate goal of preventing child abuse and neglect
- Make referrals and linkages to needed services and resources and assist with access
- Support the efforts of families in caring for and strengthening their children’s mental, and physical health, development and well-being of their children
- Promote effective family-driven practice
- Administer assessments and develop treatment plan with parent/caregiver supporting the family’s own identified goals
- Attend 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, reports and summaries in client files to ensure compliance with all Federal, State, Funder and Hillside standards
Requirements:
- Must have a minimum of a High School Diploma or GED
- Must have “Lived Experience” as a parent/caregiver of a child with a social, emotional, developmental, medical, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges; and/or experience in navigating child serving systems to obtain services and resources for their child/family
- Have a valid driver’s license and meet agency driving standards
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!
EOE/AA Disability/Veteran
