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Job Title: Family Peer Recovery Advocate

Department: CMHP / CFTSS

Position Summary

The Family Peer Recovery Advocate provides direct services to families caring for children with substance use, emotional, developmental, behavioral, or co-occurring challenges. Drawing on lived experience as a parent or caregiver, the Advocate offers outreach, support, skill development, and advocacy to strengthen families, connect them to community resources, and help children remain safely in the community. Services may include both one-on-one support and group facilitation.

Department

New Directions Youth & Family Services’ Family Peer Support program empowers families through advocacy, peer-led groups, and individualized support, ensuring they have the tools and resources needed to navigate child-serving systems successfully.

Agency

New Directions Youth & Family Services is an equal opportunity employer committed to championing the principles of anti-racism, justice, and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse cultures and backgrounds, for all positions, who will uphold our values and contribute to our mission. We aim to have a leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Benefits

New Directions takes pride in offering a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees:

+ Medical, dental, and life insurance

+ 401k with up to 3% agency match

+ 3 weeks of paid time off in the first year, plus 13 agency holidays

+ Flexible Monday–Friday schedule with day and evening availability

+ Opportunities for training and professional development

+ A supportive agency culture where over 30% of staff have been with us for 10+ years

Compensation

$19.00 – $19.96 per hour in the first year

Additional raises guaranteed

Hours/Schedule

Full-Time, Monday–Friday with flexibility for some evening availability.

Professional Development Opportunities

We invest in our employees through training, supervision, and continuing education. Staff complete Family Peer Advocate Core Training (PEP), FANS training, motivational interviewing, and substance use-related trainings, with ongoing education to maintain FPA or CRPA-Family Specialty credentials.

Position Specific Duties/Responsibilities

Individual Family Support

+ Provide outreach and advocacy to parents/caregivers of youth with substance use or behavioral health concerns

+ Conduct assessments using the Family Assessment of Needs and Strengths (FANS)

+ Support families in navigating services, overcoming barriers, and advocating for their needs

+ Empower families to build self-advocacy skills and informed decision-making

+ Provide skill development and leadership opportunities for families

+ Assist families in transitions between services or care settings

Group Family Support

+ Coordinate and facilitate at least two family support groups monthly in Niagara County

+ Arrange child care, guest speakers, and skill-building activities for groups

+ Identify and train parent leaders for group facilitation

Collaboration & Outreach

+ Partner with LDSS, juvenile courts, schools, clinics, hospitals, and crisis services

+ Facilitate educational seminars on relevant topics for caregivers and community partners

+ Conduct outreach and distribute promotional materials for the Family Peer Recovery Advocacy program

Documentation

+ Maintain accurate and timely case records, progress notes, and assessments

+ Document group sessions, service units, and outcomes per Medicaid and agency requirements

+ Conduct client satisfaction surveys and discharge documentation

Training & Agency Standards

+ Complete and maintain FPA or CRPA-F credentials through required training and continuing education

+ Attend mandatory in-service trainings and supervision

+ Adhere to agency policies, normative culture, and Family Peer Advocate Code of Ethics

+ Perform other duties as assigned by supervisors

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

+ Ability to connect with families through lived experience

+ Strong advocacy and facilitation skills

+ Ability to work effectively with families from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds

+ Flexibility and adaptability to meet family needs, including evenings

+ Strong organizational and documentation skills

+ Ability to collaborate with families, staff, and community providers

Qualifications

+ Demonstrated lived experience as a parent/caregiver who has navigated multiple child-serving systems on behalf of a child with substance use or behavioral health needs (required)

+ High School Diploma, High School Equivalency, or State Education Commencement Credential (SACC or CDOS) (required; may be waived by the State with sufficient competencies and lived experience)

+ Certified Recovery Peer Advocate – Family Specialty (CRPA-F) or Family Peer Advocate (FPA) credential (preferred; required within established timeframe after hire)

+ Valid driver’s license and ability to meet agency driving criteria (required)

+ Ability to comply with agency safety standards and healthy work environment practices

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We want to emphasize that the preferred qualifications are not required and that we are committed to helping our future colleagues develop these preferred skills. We strongly encourage those who are passionate about fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable human service organization to apply.