When you join The Home for Little Wanderers, you join a team of professionals dedicated to creating better, brighter futures for kids. For over 200 years, The Home for Little Wanderers has helped build stable lives and hopeful tomorrows for vulnerable children and their families. Our 25 community-based and residential programs serve thousands of at-risk youths from birth to age 26. Many of these children have experienced abuse, neglect, trauma, or a disrupted family life. As the oldest child welfare agency in America, we provide them with safe surroundings, permanent loving relationships, and a secure path toward a better, brighter future.

Are you a leader looking to make an impact in the lives of children and families? The Home for Little Wanderers seeks a Full-Time Parent Support Specialist for a new DMH funded program for supporting parents and caregivers. It is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic team impacting the lives of diverse children and families who live in Boston and Suffolk County!

To learn more about the incredible impact our employees have on the lives of children and families, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXedSArtYbg

Under the direction of the Program Director, the Parent Support Specialist applies lived experience as a parent/caregiver of a child or youth with mental health needs to coaching and assisting parents/caregivers in developing the skills needed to ensure their voice is reflected in access, planning, and delivery of services for their youth. Also coaches and assists community-based providers on identifying and navigating service systems for youth and families.

How You Will Be Making A Difference

• Models for and coaches parents/caregivers to lead and coordinate their Youth’s care; problem-solve and advocate for themselves and their youth; and effectively partner with service providers, schools and other family-serving systems in multiple settings involved in the care of their Youth. 
• Provides information on available mental health services and supports available to the Youth and their families at a local, state, and where relevant, national level. Guides, supports, and assists parents/caregivers to effectively navigate service systems that serve youth and families; and finds, accesses, and utilizes formal and informal community-based services, supports, and resources.
• Provides emotional support using the shared experience of caring for a Youth with mental health needs with the purpose and intent of fostering hope, resilience, and social connection.
• Facilitates groups for parents and caregivers to come together with others who share similar caregiving experiences in a supportive, safe, and non-judgmental environment to share information and experiences.
• Attends staff meetings. Presents client/family material; consult with supervisor and team members on challenging and difficult client/family issues. Participates in regular individual and group supervision. 

Qualifications

• Lived experience as a caregiver of a child or youth with mental health needs is required.
• Can demonstrate receipt of training in providing peer support and sharing lived experience with purpose and intent to a variety of audiences.
• Bachelor’s degree in a human services field from an accredited university and one (1) year of experience working with children/adolescents/transition age youth; or high school diploma or GED and a minimum of two (2) years experience working with children/adolescents/transition age youth.
• Preferably knowledgeable about the home community(ies) of the families to be served.
• Spanish or Haitian Creole fluency preferred but not required.
• Computer literate including Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer with the ability to learn new software applications.

Driving Requirements

• May be required to operate a vehicle 
• May be required to have a valid driver’s license and a “satisfactory” driving record
• May be required to have access to a personal vehicle for use during work hours
• May be required to use personal vehicle to transport clients on occasion if/when needed
• If required to transport clients, must maintain the minimum amounts of liability insurance as required by The Home and/or other regulatory requirements and vehicle registration must be current

Valuing Diversity

We are committed to excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion, while simultaneously creating a culture that supports those values. We believe the differences we bring enhance our ability to provide exceptional service and care to diverse children, families, and communities. Moreover, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging align with our values and our mission to help vulnerable children and their families build permanent, positive change.

What The Home Can Offer You

In addition to the chance to make a lasting impact on the lives of the youth we serve, The Home for Little Wanderers offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Generous time off including up to 20 days per year for new full-time employees, plus 11 holidays, 5 sick days, and 2 personal days
• Health and Dental Insurance that is effective immediately upon hire
• Extensive training to new staff
• Tuition reimbursement of up to $2,400 per fiscal year
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with employer match
• Employer paid Long-term and Short-term Disability Insurance, plus Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• And more!