Parent Peer Support Specialist

Department

Community Support Services

Reports to

Peer Support Services Manager

Position Type

Full Time

Travel

Regular travel within service area

Work Hours

Mon – Fri, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Positions Supervised

None

Summary

The Parent Peer Support Specialist provides family-centered, recovery-focused peer support to parents and legal guardians raising a child with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED), Substance Use Disorder (SUD), or co-occurring behavioral health conditions. Drawing on lived experience raising a child with these needs, the specialist promotes hope, resilience, self-advocacy, and practical skills that support the child’s stabilization and improve the family’s quality of life. Services help families navigate treatment and community systems, strengthen natural supports, and maintain stability in the home and community.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Provides individualized parent-to-parent peer support using lived experience raising a child with SED, SUD, or co-occurring behavioral health conditions. Uses purposeful, appropriate sharing to support family goals while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Provides individual and group parent/family peer support in homes, agency offices, and community settings, and through approved virtual services, consistent with the treatment plan and applicable service requirements.
• Tailors services to the child’s individual needs and treatment goals. When services are provided to a parent or legal guardian without the child present, ensures the child remains the focus and direct beneficiary of the service, consistent with clinical guidance and applicable requirements.
• Supports parents and caregivers in identifying family strengths, developing recovery goals, and participating actively in treatment planning and decisions about services.
• Helps parents develop skills for coping with their child’s behavioral health needs, recognizing triggers and early warning signs, strengthening communication, establishing routines, managing stress, and supporting recovery at home.
• Encourages self-advocacy and informed decision-making. Helps parents prepare questions and communicate concerns about diagnoses, medications, and treatment options to the treating providers.
• Assists families in navigating outpatient behavioral health and substance use treatment, school systems, and community services. Helps parents understand and participate in Individualized Education Program (IEP) and Section 504 planning processes within the peer support role.
• Helps families identify, access, and maintain community resources and natural supports, including parent networks, family-serving organizations, and other sources of practical assistance.
• Facilitates or co-facilitates parent support, educational, and skills-based groups related to parenting, family wellness, and recovery, within the employee’s training and authorized scope of services.
• Supports families during a child’s psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) placement or other higher level of care, as assigned. Participates in transition meetings, helps parents prepare for discharge, and connects families with community services to promote continuity of care.
• Provides follow-up peer support after discharge, based on assessed needs, the treatment plan, and service authorization. Helps families build routines, engage in ongoing care, and strengthen supports that reduce crises and placement disruption.
• Supports family engagement in treatment and recovery activities and any agency-approved participation or incentive programs, as assigned.
• Collaborates with treatment teams, schools, community partners, and family-serving agencies to support coordinated care, consistent with consent and confidentiality requirements.
• Helps families understand and use individualized safety and crisis plans developed with the treatment team, access crisis services when needed, and promptly communicate safety concerns according to agency procedures.
• Meets the client service and contact encounter expectations established for the position while maintaining service quality and accurate documentation.
• Maintains accurate, complete, and timely records of services, including progress notes, appointment records, treatment plan contributions, client status reports, timesheets, and other required paperwork. Documents services according to KDADS parent peer support standards, applicable Medicaid requirements, and CrossWinds policies.
• Practices trauma-informed, culturally responsive care; respects family preferences and experiences; maintains confidentiality; and follows agency safety procedures and professional boundaries.
• Participates in required supervision, certification training, continuing education, team meetings, and professional development. Follows CrossWinds policies, procedures, and applicable service standards.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Environment

This position operates in community and professional office settings. Services may occur in family homes, schools, agency facilities, and other approved locations, as well as through approved virtual platforms. The position requires regular travel within the service area and interaction with families experiencing behavioral health challenges or stressful situations. Standard office equipment includes computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing systems.

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. This list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; handle objects; grasp and reach for items with hands and arms; manipulate hands and fingers; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, or crouch; and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds. The employee is required to become certified in Managing Aggressive Behaviors (MAB), which includes training in proper restraint/physical intervention techniques to be utilized as a last resort. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Language skills are required, including the ability to read, write, comprehend, and speak the English language. This position also requires the ability to interpret written materials, write reports and business correspondence, and effectively present and respond to questions. 

Important Information

This job description has been examined for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The agency has reviewed this job description to ensure that essential functions and basic duties have been included. It is intended to provide guidelines for job expectations and the employee’s ability to perform the position described. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This document does not represent a contract of employment, and the agency reserves the right to change this job description and/or assign tasks for the employee to perform, as the agency may deem appropriate.

Skills & Abilities

Education & Experience

High school diploma or equivalent is required. Prior experience in peer support, family advocacy, or the health and human services field is preferred.

Certifications & Licenses

Must self-identify as a person with lived experience raising a child with SED, SUD, or co-occurring mental health conditions. 

Must obtain and maintain Kansas Certified Parent Peer Support Specialist (KCPPSS) certification through the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS). Employees entering the training pathway must complete Level 1 training and the Families Together IEP training, obtain Kansas Certified Parent Peer Support Specialist in Training (KCPPSST) status, complete the required 90-day supervision period, and complete Level 2 training when eligible. Full certification requires completion of both levels and acceptance of the certification application by KDADS. Must complete required renewals, continuing education, and agency-designated training. Must obtain and maintain Managing Aggressive Behaviors (MAB) certification as required by CrossWinds.

Computer Skills

Computer experience in Microsoft Office programs and basic computer fluency.

Additional Qualifications

Must be at least 18 years of age. Must demonstrate knowledge of family recovery and wellness principles, effective interpersonal skills, and the ability to support families without imposing personal beliefs or experiences. Must work independently and as a member of a treatment team, maintain boundaries, and recognize when clinical consultation is needed. Must have satisfactory results from KBI, DCF child abuse registry, adult abuse registry, and motor vehicle checks before hire, consistent with agency requirements.