Family Peer Specialist

Metropolitan Center for Mental Health (MCMH); New York (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Metropolitan Center for Mental Health (MCMH) seeks a Credentialed Family Peer Specialist to join our integrated clinical team. The Family Peer Advocate will provide recovery-oriented peer support to families and caregivers of individuals receiving behavioral health services, with on-site and community-based delivery, including home visits when appropriate.

The role involves education, advocacy, mentoring, and emotional support to empower families, strengthen engagement in treatment, and support

Qualifications

• Credentialed Family Peer Advocate (FPA-C), Family Peer Advocate Provisional (FPA-P), or CRPA-F strongly preferred; provisional accepted if credential obtained within six months.
• Must possess lived experience as a parent, caregiver, or family member with a loved one facing substance use or mental health challenges.
• Commitment to working with families, caregivers, adults, and older adults affected by substance use disorders.
• Ability to communicate a positive attitude and professional demeanor.
• Team-oriented with flexibility and willingness to support.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to travel within the local community to conduct outreach and provide peer support.
• Strong organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Computer proficiency with Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems.
• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Knowledge of NYS CCBHC model and its core principles.

Responsibilities

• Provide outreach to the community to identify and connect families with behavioral health services and community resources.
• Collaborate with partnering agencies to ensure smooth transitions and continuity of care.
• Conduct telephone, community, and field outreach to establish supportive relationships with patients and families.
• Utilize lived experience to provide peer support, education, advocacy, mentoring, and encouragement.
• Assist families in identifying strengths and coping strategies and advocating for needs.
• Work with patients, families, and the treatment team to promote engagement, recovery, and wellness.
• Support families in focusing on and achieving identified goals.
• Maintain documentation in the EHR including weekly contact and progress toward goals.
• Provide individual family peer support and facilitate family peer support groups and wellness activities.
• Promote MCMH CCBHC services through presentations and outreach to community organizations and partners.
• Attend weekly supervision sessions.

Skills

Lived experience

Bilingual Spanish

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Job description

MCMH is seeking a Credentialed Family Peer Specialist (Family Peer Advocate) to join our integrated clinical team. Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). The Family Peer Specialist will provide recovery-oriented peer support services to family members and care givers of individuals receiving behavioral health services. Services will be provided both on-site and in community settings, including home and community visits when appropriate. Utilizing lived experience, the Family Peer Specialist will provide education, advocacy, mentoring, and emotional support to empower families, strengthen engagement in treatment, promote resilience, and support recovery and overall wellness. The Family Peer Specialist will work collaboratively with the interdisciplinary treatment team and function within the regulatory framework of the NYS Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model.

• Credentialed Family Peer Advocate (FPA-C), Family Peer Advocate Provisional (FPA-P), or Certified Recovery Peer Advocate with a Family Specialty (CRPA-F) is strongly preferred. Candidates with a provisional credential will be considered provided they obtain the permanent credential within six (6) months of hire, if applicable.
• Must possess lived experience as a parent, caregiver, or family member who has supported a loved one with substance use, mental health, or co-occurring challenges, and demonstrate a commitment to recovery-oriented and family-driven practices.
• Commitment to working with families, caregivers, adults, and older adults affected by substance use disorders.
• Ability to consistently communicate a positive attitude and professional demeanor.
• Ability to be team-oriented with a willingness to be flexible and supportive.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary treatment teams.
• Ability to travel within the local community to conduct outreach and provide peer support services.
• Strong organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Computer proficiency, including experience with Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems.
• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Bilingual Spanish strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of and commitment to the NYS Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model and its core principles, including whole-person care and team-based delivery.

Responsibilities

• Provide outreach to the community to identify, engage, and connect individuals and families with behavioral health services and other community resources, as outlined in the Recovery/Action Plan.
• Collaborate with partnering agencies to ensure smooth transitions and continuity of care for patients and their families.
• Conduct telephone, community, and field outreach to establish supportive relationships with patients and families in need of services.
• Utilize lived experience to provide peer support, education, advocacy, mentoring, and encouragement to families navigating behavioral health systems and services.
• Assist families in identifying strengths, developing effective coping strategies, accessing community resources, and advocating for the needs of their loved ones.
• Work collaboratively with patients, families, and the interdisciplinary treatment team to promote engagement, recovery, resilience, and overall wellness.
• Support families in maintaining focus on and accomplishing their identified goals.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in the electronic health record (EHR): Weekly contact with patients and/or family members must be documented, including progress toward goals, interventions provided, and any changes to the Recovery/Action Plan.
• Provide individual family peer support and facilitate family peer support groups, educational workshops, and wellness activities as appropriate.
• Promote MCMH's CCBHC services by providing presentations and outreach to community organizations, referral sources, and partner agencies.
• Attend weekly individual and group supervision.