Parent Peer Support - PT

Nexus Family Healing; Mendota Heights (MN); On-site; USD 29,000 - 32,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

401k match

Tuition assistance and training

Advancement pathways and internal/prom

Job summary

Nexus Family Healing, an outpatient and community mental health clinic in Mendota Heights, MN, seeks a part-time Parent Partner for the Youth ACT team. The role delivers trauma-informed, family-guided peer support to parents of youth ages 14-21 in home, school, or community settings.

Responsibilities include engaging families, coordinating referrals, advocating for families, and providing family education. Requires DHS background check and personnel training in Family Peer Specialist.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent is required, at least 21 years old.
• Must have prior experience as the primary parent or caregiver of a child with emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges.
• Experience with children’s mental health systems (DHS, DOC, social services, probation, etc.) is required.
• Background check completion is required.
• Currently have or be willing to complete the Department of Human Services-approved Certified Family Peer Specialist Training and certificate exam.

Responsibilities

• Provides active, trauma-informed, family-guided peer support to parents of youth.
• Increases family involvement within the program and connects families to resources.
• Advocates for families to reduce bias and improve engagement.
• Delivers collaboration with families, team members, and service providers.

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Job description

Nexus Family Healing, an outpatient and community mental health clinic located in Mendota Heights, MN, has an immediate opening for a part-time Parent Partner for our Youth ACT team!

Youth ACT services are provided in the home, school, or community using a multidisciplinary team. Individualized services help stabilize youth, ages 14-21, to decrease hospitalizations and out-of-home placements. The Youth ACT team works intensively with youth with severe mental health or co-occurring mental health and substance use issues to help them remain in their community and reduce the need for residential or inpatient placements. The team also works with youth discharging from hospitals or residential treatment centers to ensure a smooth transition back to their home, family, and community. Services are delivered in an age-appropriate and culturally sensitive manner designed to meet the specific needs of each member.

At Nexus Family Healing, we embrace diversity, promote equity, and foster inclusion. As a national mental health organization, we serve a diverse group of youth and families, and we strive for our workforce to support and represent that diversity.

Schedule/Pay/Location:

• Part-time, 20 hours per week
• Hourly range $21-23
• Flexible scheduling, may include some evenings
• Community-based work in Mendota Heights, MN

Nexus’ Comprehensive Benefits Include:

• 401k match
• Tuition assistance and training opportunities
• Advancement pathways and internal promotion
• And much more!

Position Summary: The Parent Partner provides active, hands-on, trauma-informed, and family-guided peer support to parents of youth receiving services while collaborating with families, team members, and service providers. The Parent Partner’s role is to increase family involvement within the program, connecting families to formal and informal resources, and advocating for families to decrease unintentional, programmatic, and institutional bias toward caregivers.

Primary responsibilities:

Family, Caregiver and Treatment Facilitation

• Manages and coordinates positive family involvement in the treatment process using trauma-informed, strength-based, and client-driven engagement techniques.
• Creates community relationships to enhance resource and referral opportunities.
• Connects with all families entering the program to engage and build involvement.
• Participates in the initial family information-gathering and assessment process to help identify needs and assist in the development of treatment goals.

Client Advocacy

• Works with families, caregivers, and treatment team members and all informal and formal supports to assist and support individualized family plans and treatment goals during and post-treatment.
• Attends and participates in a variety of meetings to help support and advocate for the well-being, needs and resources for caregivers and youth.
• Provides and assists with ongoing advocacy for families during the treatment process and with other providers involved in the family’s life. Role models skills and provides coaching so families can learn to advocate for themselves.
• Delivers consultation and training to treatment team members to enhance the delivery of family-driven care and positive family engagement techniques.

Family and Client Liaison

• Provides parent skill-building education, consultation, and role modeling; leads/co-leads parent support groups.
• Acts as a resource for families and responds to family crises in a prompt, effective, and collaborative manner.
• May coordinate and conduct family-finding activities to help youth establish a strong support network and support permanency as needed.
• Submits timely documentation in the electronic health record regarding work with families.
• Facilitates the linking of youth and families with appropriate community services, and follow-ups.
• Meets with the family and youth (virtually or in-person) as determined and prescribed by the treatment plan and family’s engagement level.

Required Education and Licensure:

• High School diploma or equivalent, and must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must have prior experience as the primary parent or caregiver of a child with emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges.
• Must have experience with children’s mental health systems such as DHS, DOC, social services, probation, or the Department of Mental Health.
• Completion of a successful background check.
• Currently have or be willing and able to successfully complete the Department of Human Services-approved Certified Family Peer Specialist Training and certificate exam.
• Valid driver’s license required. Must meet state regulating agency and Home Office driving requirements.
• Must successfully pass a DHS criminal background check.
• Must be open to meeting the cultural needs of individuals or communities, considering factors such as language, traditions, and values.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• College coursework in the behavioral/mental health field.
• Experience working with families and trauma-exposed children or adolescents.

At Nexus Family Healing, our voices and actions are focused on recognizing, affirming and respecting people of every race, ethnic background, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender expression and faith.

ICARE Values & Behavioral Competencies:

• Innovation: Leading the way and implementing creative, cutting-edge ideas and approaches.
• Compassion: Listening, honoring differences, and showing respect, kindness, empathy care, and concern.
• Agility: Exhibiting flexibility and adapting quickly.
• Responsiveness: Being quick, positive, and accurate.
• Excellence: Demonstrating quality results that surpass ordinary standards.

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.