Family Peer Recovery Advocate
New Directions Youth & Family Services·City of Lockport, New York
New Directions Youth & Family Services·City of Lockport, New York
Provide direct advocacy, support, and navigation services to families caring for children with substance use or behavioral challenges. Coordinate family support groups and collaborate with community partners to improve outcomes for youth.
The Family Peer Recovery Advocate is responsible for the delivery of direct services for the Family Support Program. The Family Peer Support Specialist will provide an array of formal and informal services and supports provided to families caring for/raising a child who is experiencing substance use, social, emotional, developmental, medical,, and/or behavioral challenges in their home, school, placement, and/or community. The service is needed to allow the child the best opportunity to remain in the community. Activities included must be intended to achieve the identified goals or objectives as set forth in the child/youth’s treatment plan.
“Family” is defined as the primary care-giving unit and is inclusive of the wide diversity of primary caregiving units. Family is a birth, foster, adoptive, or self-created unit of people residing together, with significant attachment to the individual, consisting of adult(s) and/or child(ren), with adult(s) performing duties of parenthood/caregiving for the child(ren) even if the individual is living outside of the home.
Department New Directions’ Family Peer Support Program empowers caregivers through advocacy, education, support, and connection to community resources. Services help families navigate child-serving systems, build skills, strengthen natural supports, and improve outcomes for children and youth.
Agency New Directions is an equal opportunity employer committed to championing the principles of anti-racism, justice, and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse cultures and backgrounds, for all positions, who will uphold our values and contribute to our mission. We aim to have a leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.
Location Lockport, NY
Professional Development Opportunities New Directions supports professional growth through credentialing opportunities, continuing education, supervision, training, and advancement pathways within the organization.
? Coordinate and facilitate 2 family support groups around Niagara County monthly ? Coordinator child care for support groups ? Identify and train parent group leaders/facilitator ? Include guest speakers on relevant training topics and skill building activities as identified through FANS data,and through group requests
? Collaborate with formal systems including but not limited to LDSS, Juvenile drug courts, schools, mental health clinics, substance abuse clinics, local hospitals and crisis services ? Facilitate educational seminars on relevant topics regarding substance abuse to caregivers/parents at community agencies and internally ? Conduct outreach with collaboration with community agencies to provide information on the Family Peer Recovery Advocacy program ? Create and distribute promotional materials to support the Family Peer Recovery Advocacy program
? Utilize New Directions electronic case recording system for assessment, service planning, progress notes, purchase of services, and outcome monitoring purposes ? Maintain accurate and timely case records, including progress notes and tracking mechanisms, electronically and in each client’s file ? Keep all client and family information, verbal and written, confidential ? Adhere to all Medicaid requirements for billing and documentation ? Maintain documentation for all group meetings (group participant roster, dates, locations, topics), units of service and related expenditures, and submits required information to Supervisor ? Conduct client satisfaction surveys at regular intervals and discharges
? Complete Level One and Level Two of the Family Peer Advocate Core Training/ Parent Empowerment Program (PEP) training or approved comparable training ? Family Assessment of Strengths and Needs (FANS) ? Complete 20 hours of continuing education and renew FPA credential every two years. ? Attend all mandatory in-service trainings as per NDYFS policy and DOH/OMH requirements ? Complete motivational interviewing training ? Complete substance abuse related trainings to support families enrolled in program
? Participate in regular supervision (per New Directions policy and procedure) ? Maintain a flexible schedule based around client availability, including evenings ? Adhere to agency and department policies and procedures ? Utilize normative culture ? Agree to practice according to the Family Peer Advocate Code of Ethics. ? Perform all other duties as assigned by immediate supervisor
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities New Directions Youth & Family Services, Inc is an equal opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable persons with disabilities to perform essential functions. 1. Ability to work effectively with clients, families, staff and community contacts from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. 2. Ability to deal effectively with children/youth with behavioral, emotional and/or mental health challenges and their families. 3. Ability to accept supervision and perform as part of a team. 4. Ability to be flexible and adapt to change. 5. Must have a valid driver’s license, and meet the criteria for driving set forth in the New Directions Driver’s License policy and Auto Insurance policy. 6. Must comply with Agency safety standards and be responsible for own actions and conduct concerning safety and healthy working conditions.
Experience Demonstrate ‘lived experience' as a parent or primary caregiver who has navigated multiple child serving systems on behalf of their child(ren) with substance use, social, emotional, developmental, health and/or behavioral healthcare needs ? Can provide two letters of reference attesting to proficiency in and suitability for the role of a Family Peer Recovery Advocate Education High school diploma, high school equivalency preferred, or a State Education Commencement Credential (e.g., SACC or CDOS). Educational requirements may be waived by the State if the individual demonstrates sufficient competencies and relevant life experience. Preferred Family Peer Advocate (FPA) Credential. We want to emphasize that the preferred qualifications are not required and that we are committed to helping our future colleagues develop these preferred skills. We strongly encourage those who are passionate about fostering a diverse, inclusive and equitable human service organization to apply.
Market context
Behavioral health roles in New York are often in steady demand, especially for clinicians who can support diverse age groups and handle assessments or admissions. These positions can be competitive because employers commonly look for independent licensure, while also considering associate-level candidates with clear growth toward full licensure. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm your licensure status and assessment experience before applying.
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