Parent Peer Specialist

Position Summary: To engage the parents/caregivers of Wraparound Milwaukee enrolled youth in the Wraparound process. Utilize the unique lived experiences of parenting a child with significant mental health, substance use, co-occurring, and life needs to provide hope to parents/caregivers currently enrolled in Wraparound programming. The role of the Parent Peer Specialist is to enhance parenting knowledge and skills to minimize crisis and maximize the long-term benefit of involvement in the Wraparound process through a focus on parent and youth strengths as part of the solution and family participation as partners in all aspects in their care.

Essential Functions:

· Provide one to one peer support to parents/caregivers in a variety of community settings, including the family home

· Utilize unique lived experience to build professional relationships with youth and families enrolled in Wraparound to assist in navigating the mental health/behavioral health, youth justice, and/or child welfare systems to walk with the parent/caregiver and youth to ensure their needs are being met and their voice is heard, understood, and respected by the Child and Family Team.

· Work directly with the parent/caregiver within the family system to proactively and reactively reduce crisis triggers, role model parenting and crisis management skills, provide education to the family, and support families during crisis.

· Role model recovery in all interactions and utilize lived experience to engage families.

· Support the team to understand and identify the family’s needs and develop strategies to meet the identified needs.

· Work closely with the family to identify a sustainable network of supports and resources in the community to meet the family’s needs.

· Partner with the Care Coordinator to build strong working relationships with community organizations that serve Milwaukee youth and their families.

· Collaborate closely with the Wraparound team to ensure the needs of the youth and family are met.

· Support youth and family to engage in mental health services by accompanying at appointments and community activities.

· Attend and actively participate in Child and Family Team Meetings including the development and implementation of the Plan of Care and Crisis Plan.

· Complete all necessary paperwork in a strengths-based manner per Wraparound Milwaukee/Agency requirements

· Attend and actively participate in weekly supervision.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

· Attend in-services and participate in staffing, weekly and monthly meetings and consultations.

· Assist with coverage for co-workers as needed.

· Other job-related duties as may be necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the position.

Work Relationship and Scope: Reports directly to the Wraparound Program Manager. Has contact with a wide variety of individuals including youth/young adults and family members, other program staff, including consulting Psychologist/Psychiatrist, and other collateral contacts, neighbors, funders, Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services, Milwaukee County Delinquency & Court Services Division (DCSD), Children’s Court officials, MPS staff and administrators, staff of youth serving agencies and the general public.

Personal Attributes: Follow agency Code of Conduct; adhere to established policies and procedures of the agency and of all funding sources; conduct self in an ethical manner; maintain professional and respectful relationships with program staff, other WCS staff, people being served by WCS, and all external persons and agencies involved with service provision; sensitivity toward cultural, ethnic and disability needs; demonstrate commitment to agency values and mission. Demonstrates a strengths-based, person centered, and culturally intelligent approach to serving people with mental health and co-occurring needs. Focused on embracing recovery in all interactions and utilize lived experience to engage youth/young adults and their families.

Working Conditions: Work is performed in a busy office environment and in the community serving children, young adults and families. Some of the work is done sitting at a desk using a computer; requires significant outreach in the community and families’ homes; much of the outreach is done in communities throughout Milwaukee and several hours per day may be spent driving; hours average 40 per week; flexible work schedule includes some hours outside the normal work schedule on evenings and weekends.

Physical Demands: Position is mobile with time spent in the community, including home visits and time spent in the office; driving throughout Milwaukee County is required; must be able to go up and down stairs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Working knowledge of positive youth/young adult development; patience and understanding of challenging life needs; knowledge related to mental health and co-occurring needs, the ability to interact with youth, young adults, and caregivers in a calm and professional manner; ability to follow oral and written instructions and cues; ability to remain calm and respond appropriately in crisis situations; computer skills; accurate documentation; ability to meet deadlines; sensitivity towards cultural, ethic and life needs.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school or GED/HSED required
• Graduate of state Parent Peer Specialist training
• Possess current Certified Parent Peer Specialist certification or become certified within one year of employment.
• Meet all WCS and contractor requirements for criminal and caregiver background check, driving record, and references.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Complete all Wraparound trainings as required for the position.
• Ability to display cultural competence by responding respectfully and effectively to people of all cultures, languages, classes, races, ethnic backgrounds,
• religions and other diversity factors in a manner that recognizes, affirms and values the worth of each individual.
• Knowledge and skills to work with children, young adults, and families.
• Lived experience of parenting a youth with mental health, substance use, co-occurring, juvenile justice, and/or life needs.
• Valid driver’s license, automobile, and sufficient insurance to meet agency requirements is preferred.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

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

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

Experience:

• serving people with substance use : 1 year (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License with insured vehicle (Required)
• Graduate of state Parent Peer Specialist training (Required)

Work Location: In person