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Job Title: Family Peer Advocate

Department: Family Peer Support

Position Summary

The Family Peer Advocate is responsible for the delivery of direct services for the Family Support Program. The Family Peer Advocate provides an array of formal and informal services and supports to families caring for or raising a child who is experiencing social, emotional, developmental, medical, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges in their home, school, placement, and/or community. These services are designed to help the child remain safely in the community and to achieve the identified goals or objectives set forth in the child or youth’s treatment plan.

•Family” is defined as the primary caregiving unit and includes a wide diversity of family structures. Family may include birth, foster, adoptive, or self-created units of people residing together with significant attachments, consisting of adults and children, where the adults perform duties of caregiving or parenthood even if the individual lives outside of the home.

Department

New Directions’ Family Peer Support program empowers caregivers through advocacy, education, and connection. It offers both individualized and group supports that strengthen family systems, promote self-advocacy, and improve access to community-based services for children and families.

Agency

New Directions 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.

Pay and Benefits

+ Starting Pay: $19.00 – $19.96 per hour (based on education and experience)

+ Paid Time Off: 3 weeks of PTO in the first year, plus 13 paid agency holidays

+ Insurance: Access to medical, dental, and life insurance

+ Retirement: 401K with up to 3% company match

+ Flexible Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. schedule, with some day and evening availability required

+ Join our company, where over 30% of staff have been with us for 10 years or more

Location

Erie County Cases - Amherst Office

Professional Development Opportunities

New Directions invests in developing future leaders through training opportunities, professional credentialing support, and internal advancement pathways.

Position Specific Duties/Responsibilities

Individual Family Support:

+ Provide outreach and advocacy to parents/guardians of youth with emotional or behavioral challenges.

+ Use the Family Assessment of Needs and Strengths (FANS) to assess needs, strengths, and goals.

+ Provide engagement, bridging, and transition support, helping families access and navigate services.

+ Assist families with gathering necessary documentation and overcoming barriers to participation.

+ Serve as a bridge between families and service providers to promote productive, respectful partnerships.

+ Empower families to make informed decisions about their supports and services.

+ Provide leadership opportunities and parent skill development.

+ Support families in transitioning out of services as they reach their goals.

Group Family Support:

+ Coordinate and facilitate family support groups across the county.

+ Develop discussion topics that promote education, community resource access, self-advocacy, and skill building.

+ Identify and train parent group facilitators and support ongoing peer-led groups.

+ Coordinate guest speakers and skill-building activities based on family and group needs.

+ Assist families with transportation coordination for meetings and events.

Collaboration and Documentation:

+ Collaborate with formal systems, providers, and community partners.

+ Maintain accurate, timely documentation in New Directions’ electronic system for assessments, service plans, and progress notes.

+ Ensure confidentiality and compliance with all Medicaid documentation and billing standards.

+ Record all group meetings, participant rosters, topics, and relevant expenditures.

+ Conduct client satisfaction surveys at regular intervals.

Training:

+ Complete Family Peer Advocate Core Training (PEP) Levels One and Two, or approved equivalent.

+ Complete Family Assessment of Needs and Strengths (FANS) training.

+ Obtain or maintain Family Peer Advocate (FPA) or CPRA with Family Specialty credential.

+ Participate in 20 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain credential.

+ Attend all mandatory in-service trainings per NDYFS, OMH, and local county standards.

Agency Standards:

+ Participate in regular supervision and agency meetings.

+ Maintain flexibility to accommodate family and program needs.

+ Follow agency policies, procedures, and the Family Peer Advocate Code of Ethics.

+ Perform all other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

+ Ability to work effectively with families, youth, staff, and community partners from diverse backgrounds.

+ Strong communication and advocacy skills.

+ Ability to provide emotional support while promoting self-sufficiency and empowerment.

+ Flexibility, adaptability, and professionalism in a changing environment.

+ Valid NYS driver’s license, adequate auto insurance, and reliable transportation.

+ Ability to pass an annual physical for Category 1 job classification.

+ Compliance with agency safety and health standards.

Qualifications

+ Personal (not professional) lived experience raising or caring for a child with a mental health or behavioral challenge.

+ Experience navigating multiple child-serving systems such as SPOA, counseling, care management, psychiatric inpatient, and/or Family Peer Support or other CFTSS programs.

+ Preferred: Family Peer Advocate (FPA) Credential or CPRA Credential with Family Specialty.

+ Education: High school diploma or equivalency preferred, or a State Education Commencement Credential (e.g., SACC or CDOS).

+ Valid driver’s license required.

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.