Family Peer Specialist

***Effective October 15, 2021, all employees/contractors/interns/volunteers are required to provide our office with proof of COVID vaccination.***

Work Scheduled:

Monday-Friday 9:00AM-4:30PM

Pay Rate:

Annual salary is $32,175.00 ($16.50/HR)

Family Peer Specialist Position Summary

The Family Peer Specialist will provide support to children and their families by engaging with families, incorporating their voice into treatment, and by providing resources as needed. A Family Peer Specialist will be helpful to families in supporting initial and continuing engagement with Intensive Behavioral Health Services (IBHS). Many families may have had previous experiences with behavioral health treatment or with other child serving systems that may make initial and continuing engagement in treatment challenging.

The Family Peer Specialist is to provide support to families around IBHS from the perspective of a peer. This may include empowering the family to understand their role as a member of the treatment team, providing support and coaching during meetings, and working with families to develop natural support. It is the expectation that, initially, one family peer will be assigned to each cluster.

Family Peer Specialist Duties and Responsibilities

• Engage families who may be at-risk and provide stage-appropriate recovery education and introduction to IBHS system of care.
• Assist in the orientation process for families who are new to receiving mental health and/or co-occurring disorders services.
• Assisting with the engagement of service-resistant clients.
• Assist in development and implementation of educational and support groups, activities deemed beneficial by the program community, e.g., warm line, calendar of events, etc.
• Introduce and link individuals to community resources and peer supports outside of the program to promote community integration, e.g., public transportation training, computer educational/G.E.D. classes, vocational services, (OVR, job training), health and wellness, banking, and financial entitlements, etc.
• Complete One Care Vermont Self-Sufficiency Outcome matrix with families.
• Actively participate in team meetings and promote a recovery perspective as a key component of all discussions.
• Lead and develop peer support groups.
• Other duties reasonable and related to this position as directed by related supervisors.

Essential Shared Functions under COMHAR, INC.:

• The ability to work collaboratively with Care Coordinator staff around identification and provision of resources to client families.
• Work with Care Coordination staff on developing and maintaining a resource catalogue for families.

Education, Employment and Credential Requirements

• Have a high school diploma or the equivalent of a high school diploma and will have to complete a peer family specialist certification.
• Have a minimum of two (2) years of experience as an adult with lived experience as a family member of a child with behavioral health challenges.
• Valid PA State Criminal, FBI, Child Abuse clearances.
• Clearances must be updated every 3 years per COMHAR policy.
• Must have a current ACT 31 (Child Abuse reporting certificate). Non-licensed individuals must renew every 5 years.
• Physical examination including TB test.
• Adult and Child CPR w/AED & First Aid certification

We are proud to be an EEO employer M/F/D/V. We maintain a drug-free workplace. COMHAR, Inc. is a not-for-profit community based health and human service organization founded in 1975. We do not discriminate in services or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, past or present receipt of disability-related services or supports, marital status, veteran status, or any other class of persons protected by federal, state or local law.