Parent Partner

Family & Children Services, Inc.; Kalamazoo (MI); On-site; USD 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Family & Children Services, Inc. in Kalamazoo, MI seeks a Parent Partner to provide peer-based support, advocacy, and mentoring to caregivers involved in the child welfare system.

Using lived experience, you will build trusting relationships, help families navigate services, participate in meetings, and coordinate with the MI Family Together team to promote family stability. This on-site role offers meaningful community impact, requires weekly contact with families, and compliance with program

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
• Lived experience as a parent or caregiver involved with CPS, foster care, prevention services, and/or the public behavioral health system, with successful case closure.
• Stable family situation with no current CPS substantiations related to child safety.
• Willingness and ability to share lived parenting experience as a learning, engagement, and support tool for others.
• Ability to build respectful, nonjudgmental relationships with families, community partners, and service providers.
• Eligibility for and participation in all required MDHHS-approved Parent Partner training and certification curricula.

Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing peer-based support to caregivers through phone, virtual, and face-to-face contact in accordance with program requirements, including required weekly contacts and at least one monthly face-to-face contact.
• Meet, greet, and welcome families to the MI Family Together program and build trusting, respectful, and nonjudgmental relationships.
• Utilize lived experience to provide encouragement, mentorship, and peer support to caregivers.
• Coach parents on child welfare processes, expectations, and self-advocacy.
• Help caregivers build confidence, recognize self-efficacy, and use their voice to advocate for their needs.
• Communicate hope, celebrate successes, and reinforce progress toward family goals.

Skills

Lived experience

Peer support

Advocacy

Mentoring

Communication

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

SUMMARY

The Parent Partner provides peer-based support, advocacy, and mentoring to caregivers involved in the child welfare system. Using lived experience, the Parent Partner builds respectful, nonjudgmental partnerships with caregivers to promote engagement, self‑efficacy, and protective factors that support child safety and family stability. Working collaboratively with the MI Family Together team and system partners, the Parent Partner elevates the caregiver perspective, supports navigation of the child welfare system, and strengthens connections between families, community resources, and service providers.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Peer Support, Engagement & Advocacy

• Provide ongoing peer‑based support to caregivers through phone, virtual, and face‑to‑face contact in accordance with program requirements, including required weekly contacts and at least one monthly face‑to‑face contact.
• Meet, greet, and welcome families to the MI Family Together program and build trusting, respectful, and nonjudgmental relationships.
• Utilize lived experience to provide encouragement, mentorship, and peer support to caregivers.
• Coach parents on child welfare processes, expectations, and self‑advocacy.
• Help caregivers build confidence, recognize self‑efficacy, and use their voice to advocate for their needs.
• Communicate hope, celebrate successes, and reinforce progress toward family goals.

Support for Family Participation & Service Coordination

• Support caregivers’ participation in meetings, court hearings, service‑related activities, and collaborative planning.
• Collaborate with families, MFT team, and other stakeholders to support Prevention Plans and desired outcomes.
• Inform, empower, and link families to appropriate community services and resources.
• Follow up with families to support referral completion and assess satisfaction with services.
• Respond to caregiver needs in a timely and supportive manner.

Groups, Activities & Community Engagement

• Facilitate monthly voluntary caregiver support groups.
• Facilitate groups, events, or activities as required by contract.
• Use creative and flexible engagement strategies with families and stakeholders.

Documentation, Funds Administration & Compliance

• Complete accurate and timely case notes and required documentation in accordance with agency and MDHHS requirements.
• Maintain files and records in compliance with agency quality monitoring and funding source standards.
• Administer specific assistance funds in accordance with program policies and procedures.
• Summarize accomplishments, progress, and next steps collaboratively with families and stakeholders.

Professional Conduct & Ethical Practice

• Provide nonjudgmental, respectful support to families, colleagues, community partners, and service providers.
• Honor family culture, strengths, values, and lived experience in all interactions.
• Customize engagement and support approaches to fit each family’s unique needs, culture, and interests.
• Assess and respond appropriately to immediate safety and stabilization needs, in coordination with the MFT team.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education, Experience & Qualifications

Required

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
• Lived experience as a parent or caregiver involved with Child Protective Services (CPS), foster care, prevention services, and/or the public behavioral health system, with successful case closure.
• Stable family situation with no current CPS substantiations related to child safety.
• Willingness and ability to share lived parenting experience as a learning, engagement, and support tool for others.
• Ability to build respectful, nonjudgmental relationships with families, community partners, and service providers.
• Eligibility for and participation in all required MDHHS‑approved Parent Partner training and certification curricula.

Preferred

• Experience navigating complex service systems such as child welfare, behavioral health, juvenile justice, special education, foster care, or related systems.
• Prior experience providing peer support, advocacy, mentoring, or group facilitation.
• Familiarity with community-based resources and systems of care.

Restrictions & Eligibility Requirements

• Not eligible for employment if convicted of any felony or listed on the Michigan Central Registry.
• Parent Partner activities must be suspended during any CPS investigation involving the employee.
• A confirmed finding of abuse or neglect results in immediate ineligibility to provide services.
• Parent Partners may not work independently with children, transport children, or supervise visits.

Certifications / Licensure

Valid driver’s license and required vehicle insurance.