STEPS Kinship Peer Support Specialist

University of Kentucky; Lexington, Northern (KY, KY); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Kentucky’s KY Kinship Resource Center seeks STEP Kinship Peer Support Specialists to offer structured peer support and outreach to kinship caregivers. You will assist families with life-area needs and connect them to local and state resources.

Role emphasizes confidential, client-centered service, training with KY certification opportunities, and collaboration with the KKRC team to sustain high-quality services.

Qualifications

• Extensive first-hand lived experience with kinship caregiving.
• Experience working with diverse individuals and groups.
• Knowledge of policy, processes, and resources for kinship caregiving.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide structured peer support and outreach to kinship caregivers.
• Support KY-KINS participants in home stresses, family dynamics, goal setting, and resources.
• Promote positive behavior through modeling, goal setting, and social capital development.
• Contact new caregivers to inform them of services and register participation.

Skills

Lived kinship caregiving

Strong communication

Policy knowledge kinship

Teamwork

Schedule management

Video conferencing internet access

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

At least 1.5 years “lived” experience as a kinship caregiver for a child.

Required License/Registration/Certification

Physical Requirements

Repetitive motion typical of desk work (sitting, bending, typing, twisting); prolonged exposure to computer screen; pushing, lifting, or pulling up to 20lbs; occasional travel required

Shift

Flexible schedule, daytime to early evening hours; 40 hours/week

Job Summary

The STEPS Kinship Peer Support Specialists will work within the Kentucky Kinship Information, Navigation, and Support (KY- KINS ) program housed in the College of Social Work’s Kentucky Kinship Resource Center ( KKRC ).

STEPS Kinship Peer Support Specialists will:

• Provide structured peer support and outreach to kinship caregivers
• Support KY- KINS participants in an array of “life” areas, including home stresses, familial dynamics, goal setting, social relationships, and locating local and state resources through regular one-on-one and small group interactions with families and caregivers
• Promote positive behavior through experimental sharing, behavior modeling, goal setting, skill development, promoting self-efficacy, and fostering the development of healthy social capital.
• Contact new caregivers referred to the program to inform them of program services and register for participation
• Complete documentation of services provided and communication with caregivers in the kinship portal/database
• Participate in professional development trainings/UK mandated trainings to maintain Family Peer Support Specialist certification and provide high-quality services.
• Maintain confidentiality for all caregivers/families served

STEPS Kinship Peer Support Specialists will be required to engage in a rigorous 40+ hour training protocol and will have the opportunity to receive a Family Peer Support Certification through the KY Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities.

Kinship Care refers to the care of a child(ren) by a relative or fictive kin if the child is unable to reside safely within their natural home and is often used as an alternative to placement in foster care.

Kinship care refers to the full-time care and nurturing of a child(ren) by caretakers who are considered relatives (related by birth, marriage, or adoption) to the child(ren), or, fictive kin (unrelated but have developed an emotionally significant relationship) with the child(ren).

Skills / Knowledge / Abilities

Candidates should have:

• Extensive first-hand, or “lived”, personal experience with kinship caregiving
• Experience working with varied and diverse individuals and groups
• Knowledge of policy, processes, and resources associated with kinship caregiving
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work as a team member
• Ability to manage your schedule ensuring all duties are performed
• Immediate access to internet connections that will support video calling or zoom meetings

Candidates should be customer service oriented. Computer and data entry skill as well as the ability to utilize Microsoft Office Suite is also desired. Occasional travel required.

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities?

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? No

Preferred Education/Experience

Deadline to Apply

Deadline to Apply 10/22/2026

Our University Community

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Do you have a high school diploma or GED?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Kinship care is providing primary, full-time care, to a child that you are related to (by birth, marriage, or adoption), or, have a significant emotional relationship with. Have you provided this type of kinship care for 1.5 years or longer?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have reliable internet connections in order to attend zoom meetings and complete daily data entry into a portal?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Are you willing to submit to a background check annually?
  • Yes
  • No