Summary

Per the tenets of the SAMHSA NC Healthy Transitions grant, the Family Peer Support Partner will adhere to the principles of System of Care (SOC), person-centered care, and trauma-informed approaches to provide direct support to the families of youth and young adults, ages 16-25, who are struggling with serious mental illness and/or co-occurring disabilities. Drawing from their own lived experience, the Family Peer Support Partner will build authentic, supportive relationships with program participants and their families, helping them to navigate mental health services, build resilience, and strengthen the families’ ability to support their young person’s recovery and independence. This role emphasizes empathy, advocacy, and guidance for the families of transition-aged youth.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Comply with grant-required activities as defined in the Scope of Work.
• Provide input into the development, implementation, and evaluation activities of the Healthy Transitions Project.
• Support efforts to meet or exceed Healthy Transition Project grant goals and objectives.
• Model the tenants of recovery and resiliency to program recipients, team members, and internal and external stakeholders.
• Models hope and self-efficacy to navigate informal and formal systems.
• Ensure program services are provided in accordance with System of Care principles, trauma-informed approaches, person-centered / self-directed care, and honor youth voice and choice.
• Assist with program activities and events for internal and external audiences that leverage youth and family peers, youth leadership, and youth self-advocacy.
• Provide services and participate in team processes in accordance with CHA global and program-specific policies and procedures.
• Provide peer support, encouragement, and advocacy for families of transition-aged youth experiencing mental health challenges, including outreach and engagement, input into care and support planning, and case support.
• Utilize lived experience to build trust and rapport with families, normalizing challenges, and fostering hope and resiliency.
• Educate families on youth-centered, recovery-oriented principles to empower them in supporting their young person’s independence.
• Assist families in understanding and navigating mental health systems, education services, and other community resources.
• Participate in routine care team meetings with the youth or young adult, their families, and their formal and informal supports.
• Participate in the building of a supportive, positive, and performance-driven team culture.
• Engage in individual supervision and performance coaching for professional development.
• Assist with interviews and training of other Healthy Transitions Team members to establish understanding of youth & young adult-driven programming.
• Assist in the development of a Youth Advisory Council and facilitation of their meetings.
• Assist in the planning and facilitation of low-barrier engagement events for transition-aged youth and their families, serving as a supportive and approachable presence to foster connections and promote participation.
• Build relationships, communication and referral pathways with internal and external stakeholders that serve youth and young adults and their families.
• Assist with the design and provision of training and presentations to community stakeholders and the mental health workforce about the NC Healthy Transitions project.
• Assist and or facilitate training activities that involve youth and family peers, youth leadership, and youth self-advocacy.
• Participate in local collaboratives that leverage the voice of youth and young adults and their families, including the County System of Care Collaborative.
• Assist in the development of campaigns and events to increase community awareness and anti-stigma efforts focused on youth and young adults and their families.
• Provide input into policy change efforts to solidify and sustain the role of Youth & Young Adult Peer Support in NC.
• Provide input into System of Care Guidelines for transition age youth and their families.
• Partner and network with other Youth Peers and Family Peers on joint projects, policy efforts, and other activities likely to support the ongoing influence of the NC Healthy Transitions Project statewide.
• Remain abreast of current and emerging industry trends and best practices for transition age youth and their families.
• Complete all documentation within agency deadlines, according to regulatory guidelines.
• Prepare reports and reviews in a timely, clear, and concise manner as requested or assigned.
• Complete assigned training within required time frames.
• Other duties as assigned.

All employees have the following expectations:

Mission: Contribute to and enhance company mission

Organization: Prioritize and plan work responsibilities appropriately

Professional Development: Attend and/or successfully complete all required trainings and meetings

Timeliness and Accuracy: Perform quality work within given deadlines and expectations with or without direct supervision

Professionalism: Comply with all applicable policies, practices, and procedures; report all out-of-compliance and unsafe activities to supervisor; interact professionally with other employees, volunteers, families, children, and the community

Teamwork: Serve effectively as a team contributor on all assignments

Communication: Utilize effective communication skills both verbally and in writing; provide effective feedback and is receptive to feedback

Leadership: Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with other appropriate individuals

Cultural Competence: Is sensitive to the cultural, ethnic and religious views of the children and families served, and in community and public contact.

Education and Experience Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• North Carolina Peer Support Specialist Certification is preferred. If not certified, must obtain certification within 12 months of hire.
• Lived experience as the parent/guardian of a youth/young adult with mental health challenges is required.
• One year of previous work experience in the mental health field preferred.
• Qualified Professional (QP) designation is preferred.
• Certification with the National Federation of Families as a Certified Family Peer Specialist Preferred. Must obtain certification within 18 months of hire.

Physical Requirements

• 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.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands and fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, talk, and hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands or arms, stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
• Specifics vision abilities required by this position include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Physical functions which are considered essential to the satisfactory performance of the job include the following: reading, typing, writing, speaking, and using the telephone and prolonged sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Employee must be able to operate a vehicle for job duties, and keep a valid NC drivers license with insurance.
• The work environment will contain slight to moderate office-related noises. The employee is not exposed to extreme weather conditions, toxic fumes, or airborne particles.
• The employee must occasionally travel to different locations in the course of work.
• Physical functions which are considered essential to the satisfactory performance of the job include the following: public speaking, reading, typing, writing, using the telephone, and driving.