Certified Family Partner

A Family Partner is an experienced, trained primary caregiver to an individual with mental illness or serious emotional disturbance who provides peer mentoring, education, and support to the caregivers of the individual who is receiving mental health community services. The Family Partner works with caregivers and families of youth with serious emotional disturbance in order to build family empowerment and advocacy to promote long-term recovery and resiliency.

The Family Partner is an essential part of the treatment team and works alongside the Case Manager, Counselors, and Psychiatrist to ensure services are provided in a trauma informed, person/family centered model, and in a linguistically and culturally appropriate way. This position uses their own lived experience to inspire hope and model relationships built on respect, trust and validation.  By sharing their own lived experiences, the Family Partner helps caregivers by providing education and emotional support. Walking alongside the family on their journey, the family partner is an ally and advocate for caregivers of children with mental health concerns. This mutuality, often called “peerness” promotes connection, builds rapport, and inspires hope.

The Family Partner provides services that include, but are not limited to: introducing the family to the treatment process; modeling self-advocacy skills; providing information; making referrals; provides treatment intervention based on evidenced based practices, certifications, and scope; and assisting the identification of natural/non-traditional and community supports. Family partner services are strongly recommended to help address treatment barriers and engage families in services in every level of care.

This position will be community based and require travel within Collin County for service delivery. This position may be expected to travel out of town for a week to attain Certified Family Partner credential, if needed. Some travel will require use of personal vehicle.

Education, Training and Experience (including licensure and certification)

• Must be a parent or legally authorized representative (LAR) of a child with an emotional or behavioral health challenge. This may include: birth parent, adoptive parent, foster parent or family member standing in for an absent parent children with emotional or behavioral health challenges
• Must have either 1) a High School Diploma or GED AND at least 2 years’ experience navigating a child-serving system
• OR Bachelor’s degree in a human service related field that meets criteria for Qualified Mental Health Professional AND at least 1 year experience navigating a child-serving system.
• Must have reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge, experience, and proficiency in using standard Microsoft Office programs and systems databases. 
• Strong professional verbal and written communication skills and the ability to empathize with, relate to and effectively partner with families and treatment team.
• Must have a willingness to disclose their lived experience, where appropriate, for the purpose of empowerment.
• Able to effectively communicate their experience with other parents or caregivers with child(ren) with emotional or behavioral health challenges to build rapport and treatment alliance in order to navigate social service system and advocate for child and family needs
• Must be willing to work flexible hours that are convenient for youth and families.
• Knowledge of mental health disorders and recovery concepts. 
• Must be willing to attend Certified Family Partner training and other meetings and trainings as needed.

Salary : $16