Peer Specialist

sfmexternalcareers; Hutchinson (KS); On-site; USD 21,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Saint Francis Ministries is seeking a Peer Specialist to help shape child welfare and prevention services with lived experience input. The role emphasizes ethical engagement, cultural responsiveness, and fidelity to evidence-based practices within a mission-driven team.

You will collaborate with families, staff, and partners to improve access, navigation, and service coordination while maintaining confidentiality and trauma-informed care in all interactions.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• At least one year of experience working with children and families.
• Must be 21 years of age.
• Must pass a drug screen, MVR, KBI, Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry Clearance check, and an Adult Registry Check.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record and reliable transportation.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct insight on program components and engagement strategies grounded in real-world experience.
• Support development of culturally responsive and family-centered approaches.
• Identify barriers to access and recommend solutions that improve service relevance and effectiveness.
• Assist families experiencing crisis during the week, including outside standard hours.
• Advise on outreach strategies that resonate with families with lived experience in or at risk of involvement with the child welfare system.
• Review communication materials for clarity, accessibility, and alignment with family needs.
• Participate in ongoing review of service delivery to ensure alignment with evidence-based practices and lived realities.
• Contribute to CQI meetings, discussions, and action planning.
• Provide insight into how families experience services to support fidelity monitoring processes.
• Identify gaps or barriers families encounter when interacting with prevention or child welfare systems.
• Recommend strategies to strengthen navigation support, accessibility, responsiveness, and service coordination.
• Work with program leadership, staff, and community partners to ensure lived-experience perspectives are integrated respectfully.
• Uphold confidentiality, professional boundaries, and trauma-informed practices.
• Travel to client locations within approximately two hours of the assigned home; participate in quarterly team gatherings and annual program-wide meetings.

Skills

Trauma-informed care

Communication skills

Family-centered practice

Independent work

Education

High School Diploma

Experience with children & families

Job description

BASIC PURPOSE OF THE JOB:This role brings essential firsthand experience navigating the child welfare and prevention systems to inform the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of program services. The peer specialist ensures that family voices directly shape service components, outreach strategies, accessibility considerations, cultural responsiveness, and fidelity to evidence-based practices. Peer Specialist participate as compensated partners that support ethical and equitable involvement. This role promotes, strengthens, and consistently articulates the mission of Saint Francis Ministries.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Provide direct insight on program components, workflows, and engagement strategies grounded in real‑world experience.
• Support development of culturally responsive and family‑centered approaches.
• Identify barriers to access and recommend solutions that improve service relevance and effectiveness.
• Assist families experiencing crisis situations during the week, including outside standard working hours.
• Advise on outreach strategies that resonate with families with lived experience in or at risk of involvement with the child welfare system.
• Review communication materials for clarity, accessibility, and alignment with family needs.
• Participate in ongoing review of service delivery to ensure alignment with evidence‑based practices and lived realities.
• Analyze participant and family feedback to identify strengths, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• Contribute to continuous quality improvement (CQI) meetings, discussions, and action planning.
• Provide insight into how families experience services to support fidelity monitoring processes.
• Help interpret fidelity data in ways that reflect cultural context and practical realities.
• Identify gaps or barriers families commonly encounter when interacting with prevention or child welfare systems.
• Recommend strategies to strengthen navigation support, accessibility, responsiveness, and service coordination.
• Work with program leadership, staff, and community partners to ensure that lived‑experience perspectives are integrated respectfully and meaningfully.
• Uphold ethical guidelines, including confidentiality, professional boundaries, and trauma‑informed practices.

Training, Compliance & Professional Expectations

• Participate in training or orientation to ensure consistency in role responsibilities.
• Follow all Saint Francis Ministries policies, SOPs, accreditation standards, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Report unusual incidents through appropriate clinical, safety, and risk‑management channels.
• Ensure clients’ rights are protected and maintain signed rights documentation in each file.
• Implement SFM policies and follow all directives, including SOPs, personnel policies, accreditation/licensure standards, and federal, state, and local contract requirements.
• Complete all documentation, reports, assessments, and billing requirements accurately, on time, and in FCT‑aligned language.

Travel Requirements

• Travel to client locations within approximately two hours of the assigned home; caseloads will be adjusted to account for travel demands.
• Participate in quarterly team gatherings, annual program‑wide meetings, and required trainings.

Qualifications & Skills

• Maintains appropriate professional boundaries and practices trauma‑informed care.
• Excellent communication, engagement, and relationship‑building skills.
• Commitment to trauma‑informed, family‑centered practice.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a high‑accountability team environment.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, LICENSURE/CERTIFICATIONS, AND JOB REQUIREMENTS

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• At least one year of experience working with children and families.
• Must be 21 years of age.
• Must pass a drug screen, MVR, KBI, Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry Clearance check and an Adult Registry Check.
• Must have valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record and reliable transportation
• Lifting requirements of 50 lbs.