New Directions Youth & Family Services·Salamanca, New York
Provide direct outreach, advocacy, and support to families caring for children with social, emotional, or behavioral challenges. Collaborate with service providers and maintain accurate case documentation to help families achieve treatment plan goals.
The Family Peer Advocate is responsible for delivering direct services for the Family Support Program. The Advocate provides an array of formal and informal services and supports to families caring for or raising a child who is experiencing social, emotional, developmental, medical, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges in their home, school, placement, and/or community. The service is designed to allow the child the best opportunity to remain in the community and achieve the goals or objectives outlined in the child/youth’s treatment plan “Family” is defined as the primary caregiving unit and includes a wide diversity of family structures. Family may include birth, foster, adoptive, or self-created units of people residing together with significant attachments, consisting of adults and/or children, where adults perform duties of caregiving or parenthood even if the individual lives outside the home.
Department New Directions’ Family Peer Support program empowers caregivers through advocacy, education, and connection. It offers individualized and group supports that strengthen family systems, promote self-advocacy, and improve access to community-based services for children and families.
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.
Compensation $35.00 per hour for service delivery $15.50 per hour for administrative tasks Hours/Schedule Per Diem Flexible schedule based on family and program needs Professional Development Opportunities New Directions invests in developing future leaders through professional credentialing, supervision, and training opportunities.
Complete Family Assessment of Needs and Strengths (FANS) training. Attend all mandatory in-service trainings per agency, OMH, and local county requirements. Maintain renewal credential requirements.
Agency
Standards: Participate in regular supervision and meetings as required. Maintain a flexible schedule to meet family availability, including evenings. Follow agency policies, procedures, and the Family Peer Advocate Code of Ethics. Utilize normative culture and uphold agency standards. Perform other duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Ability to work effectively with clients, families, staff, and community partners from diverse backgrounds. Ability to support youth with behavioral, emotional, or mental health challenges and their families. Strong advocacy and communication skills. Flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic work environment. Valid NYS driver’s license, adequate auto insurance, and reliable transportation. Ability to pass an annual physical for Category 1 job classification. Compliance with agency safety and health standards.
Experience: Demonstrated lived experience as a parent or primary caregiver who has navigated multiple child-serving systems on behalf of their child(ren) with social, emotional, developmental, health, and/or behavioral health needs.
Must possess a Family Peer Advocate (FPA) Professional Credential.
High school diploma or 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 competencies and has relevant life experience sufficient for peer certification. 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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