Peer Support Specialist – Parent Partner

at  YMCA of Greater Seattle

JOB SUMMARY

Provides culturally competent, and strength-based peer support to families to decrease crisis, increase in-home stabilization, and assist families in decreasing negative contact with law enforcement and the juvenile justice system. Identifies natural supports and coaches parent/caregiver skills to effectively navigate community resources to meet priority needs. Provides services in client homes, schools or other convenient community locations. The goals of Parent Partner Peer Support include identifying parenting resources and supports, coaching parents/caregivers to effectively and peacefully resolve conflict in the home, and assist in navigating systems that impact family, such as the educational system, mental health, substance use, or juvenile justice. Collaborates effectively with co-workers, supervisors, outside professionals and others involved in delivering care to meet safety plan needs and action plan goals. This may include collaborating with law enforcement with the goal of reducing harm to youth and family. Supports the family and acts as a bridge between the youth, family and system representatives. Willing to self-identify as a parent. Because of life experience, such persons have expertise that professional training cannot replicate.
This position is at the Social Impact Center Y, the social services branch of YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS). The mission of the Social Impact Center Y is to accelerate young people’s ability to build safe, successful, and happy lives. Every year, we serve 5,000 children, youth, young adults, and families across King County with programs that aim to strengthen young people’s ability to develop to their fullest potential through four strategies: reducing risk factors; navigating systems towards successful life transition; ensuring stability, safety and wellness in times of crisis; and building competencies and social capital. The Social Impact Center Y’s programs include housing, behavioral health, foster care licensing, violence prevention, education, and employment. Many of the young people we serve have had involvement in the foster care, criminal justice system, and/or homelessness systems.

• Provides both immediate and scheduled community outreach services to families in the Snoqualmie Valley (Carnation, Duvall, Fall City, North Bend & Snoqualmie) and the (Sno. Valley & Riverview School Districts).
• Flexes schedule to include evenings and possible weekends to meet the needs of families.
• Assist parent/caregiver in developing self-determination and empowerment skills through self-advocacy.
• Identify family stresses, instability and provide appropriate support.
• Identifies community resources and natural supports and works with the parent/caregiver to effectively navigate resources.
• Collaborates effectively with co-workers, supervisors and outside professionals to create and meet action plan goals.
• Works with families to build their own “Child & Family Team”. Attends wrap around and other team meetings to support youth and ensure that their voice is heard. Acts as a role model for effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.
• Maintains a working knowledge of current trends and developments in behavioral health.
• Completes required documentation within program deadlines.
• Reports all critical incidents and adheres to YMCA program rules and procedures.
• Assess and create safety plans to meet immediate safety and stabilization needs
• Customize helping approaches to fit the family’s uniqueness, personality, culture and interest
• Reassure and communicate hopefulness so clients know, “they are not in this alone.”
• Willing and able to self-identify as a person who has lived experience i.e. has or is receiving mental health services and/or interactions with the juvenile court system
• Articulates own Lived experience and resilience stories in ways that are relevant to the obstacles faced by the yout