Qualifications: Be at least 18 years of age, have a valid NYS driver’s license, and must have completed required background checks as per Vendor Agreement and agency policy.
Experience Required: Must be the parent (foster, adoptive, or biological) or primary caregiver of a child or adolescent with significant social, emotional, behavioral, mental health, medical, addiction, or developmental needs with onset prior to the age of 21. (Child can be older than 21 at the time of application).
Certificate/License: NYS Credentialed Family Peer Advocate (FPA) OR Provisional Credential FPA OR Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) with a Family specialty
Minimum Education: High school diploma, high school equivalency, or NYS Education Commencement Credential
Training Requirements: Prior to any case assignment, vendor must successfully complete the 3 Day High Fidelity Wraparound Erie County Vendor Training, Question Persuade Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Training, Erie County Department of Social Services approved Mandated Reporter Training, and any other required trainings as identified by individual vendor agencies.
Service Code Description: Family Peer Advocate services are an array of formal and informal activities and supports provided to families caring for/raising a child who is experiencing social, emotional, medical, developmental, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges in their home, school, placement, and/or community. Family Peer Advocate services provide a structured, strength-based relationship between a Family Peer Advocate and the parent/family member/caregiver for the benefit of the youth through the delivery of:
- providing information and referral
- conducting outreach and engagement
- working with families to discern their strengths, needs, and priorities
- providing 1:1 assistance to help families connect to and participate in services
- accompanying parents to meetings to assure their voice is heard
- increasing parents’ feelings of self-efficacy
- reducing stigma and feelings of isolation
- serving as members of wraparound and child and family planning teams
- helping families identify goals and track progress
- supporting families to develop their ‘informal’ networks of support
- participating as the FPA in specific evidence-based treatment models (e.g. MFG)
- empowering parents by increasing their knowledge and skills
- coaching in constructive self-advocacy skills
- coaching in effective parenting strategies
- initiating and supporting parent groups
- helping families learn about special education services, procedures, and rights
- serving as cultural brokers within organizations and systems
- helping families understand mental health diagnoses, medication, and treatment options
- facilitating effective family-provider partnerships
The service is needed to allow the youth the best opportunity to remain in the community. Activities included must be intended to achieve the identified goals as set forth in the Plan of Care such as: strengthening the family unit, building skills within the family for the benefit of the youth, promoting empowerment within the family, and strengthening overall supports in the youth’s environment. Progress notes must be clear and specific, document progress toward goal completion aligned with the Plan of Care, and address risk, safety, permanency, and well-being.
Transition Responsibility: When Family Peer Advocate services are authorized, a sustainability goal must also be added to the Plan of Care. The Child Family Team will build/enhance the skills of the caregiver and assist in the identification of a natural/community support to eliminate the need for this service. The overall goal is to reduce risk/safety and enhance permanency/well-being. Please note that all vendor services are time-limited and transition to natural and/or community supports is an expectation of the High Fidelity Wraparound process.
*Bilingual/Multilingual candidates are strongly encouraged.
Top 5 languages (besides American English) spoken in the Buffalo, NY metro area:
1. Spanish: 30,790 speakers (2.87% of area)
2. Polish: 7,951 speakers (0.74% of area)
3. Italian: 5,970 speakers (0.56% of area)
4. Arabic: 5,608 speakers (0.52% of area)
5. French: 4,455 speakers (0.41% of area)
Job Types: Part-time, Contract
Work Location: Multiple Locations
If interested in this postion, please email your resume and cover letter to jobs@accesswny.org or apply on 