Family & Adolescent Advocate

JOB SUMMARY:

·This position encompasses peer-recovery supports in our Exeter facility. The position will serve traditional recovery supports with a focus on family and adolescent peer support. Our family and adolescent peer support services are an array of services and supports provided to families raising an adolescent aged ten to eighteen, who is experiencing challenges with substance use along with social, emotional, developmental and/or behavioral health challenges. These services are community-based and are provided in a variety of settings that meet a family and adolescent’s needs and schedule.

· Under supervision of our Family & Adolescent Support Manager functions as both an advocate and deliverer of services that are trauma-informed and designed to support caregivers in achieving and sustaining their family’s good health, emotional wellness and stability.

· This position will work closely with the ongoing launch and implementation of our new adolescent program being developed in collaboration with Dr. Ross Greene and his, “Collaborative Proactive Solutions” (CPS) model. This work will be targeted towards youth and families involved in the “Children in Need of Services” (CHINS), DCYF involved adolescents and families, as well as those facing challenges in school and the community

·This position will also focus on outreach efforts to build connections within Exeter and greater seacoast area serving adults as a recovery support coordinator. We currently have partnerships with Exeter Hospital and Lamprey Healthcare responding to patients with a substance use disorder navigating treatment, recovery supports and crisis response.

· Full-time, some nights and weekends may be required. This work will require some travel and office based hours with some travel across the Seacoast and Strafford County. A drivers license and a reliable and insured vehicle is required.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILTIES:

· Establish structured, strength-based, supportive relationships with caregivers that benefit adolescents. Meet families in the office, at home or in the community as requested;

· Assist families in identifying their strengths, challenges and goals;

· Connect families to needed resources and supports;

· Promote effective parent-professional partnerships and address barriers that may prevent their participation;

· Using an electronic database, document demographic data on all individuals seen, track all services provided to caregivers and monitor progress towards identified goals;

· Facilitate support groups, evidence-based parenting education programs, and targeted workshops to enhance parenting skills;

· Support and encourage family participation in community, regional, and state-wide activities to expand leadership skills;

· Coordinate with community partners to ensure cross-systems collaboration on behalf of families served;

· Advocate for services and systems that are equitable, responsive, and family-driven;

· Complete all documentation in compliance with agency policy and funding regulations in a timely fashion. This includes, but is not limited to case records, time sheets, mileage forms and expense reports;

· Participate in all agency quality improvement activities.

· Individuals must be comfortable with the principles of harm reduction and respect family and youth autonomy while understanding that change is self-driven and strengths based. Our focus will be on helping families and adolescents address root causes rather than behavioral modification or punitive approaches.

· Provide a supportive environment that welcomes and encourages a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice for those marginalized, especially the LGBTQIA community and Black, Indigenous, and people of color.

· Check email daily, maintain communication on internal staff communications platforms (i.e., Slack).

· Connect and encourage participants to resources while honoring their self-directed goals.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS/ABILITIES:

Excellently demonstrated listening skills and a high level of social and emotional intelligence.

One year of previous direct service experience working with adolescents and families.

Parents/primary caregivers with lived experience with a youngster with social, emotional or behavioral challenges preferred.

Demonstrated ability to work with participants compassionately and empathically.

A State of NH, Certified Recovery Support Worker (CRSW) credential is preferred and will be required within 6 months of hiring.

Formal training and proficiency in Motivational Interviewing skills will be required within 12 months and is preferred upon hire.

Engagement and completion of comprehensive Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) training within 6 months of hire (SOS will cover costs of all curriculums and paid training).

Completion of Nurturing Parents curriculum for facilitators within 12 months of hire.

Completion of Invitation to Change Level 1 facilitator training within 12 months of hire.

A basic understanding of harm reduction principles and the ability to support them.

Working knowledge of a variety of addiction recovery modalities and ability to articulate, support and respect the delivery of multiple pathways of recovery in a community-based setting. Flexibility is required as weekly scheduling will vary and will regularly include Saturdays.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

A bachelor’s degree relevant to this work is strongly preferred.

Experience in peer-based recovery support services, harm-reduction preferred and/or previous experience within the substance use disorder treatment field preferred.

experience.

Certificate of completion for The Art & Science of Peer Assisted Recovery® (PAR) or equivalent, as well as completion of Ethical Considerations for Peer-Assisted Recovery or equivalent is required.

Physical Requirements:

· Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

· Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00 - $22.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• 403(b) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Mileage reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20 - $22