Family Peer Support Specialist - 10 hours a week
New Directions Youth & Family Services·City of Lockport, New York
New Directions Youth & Family Services·City of Lockport, New York
Provide direct support, advocacy, and outreach to families raising children with social, emotional, or behavioral challenges. Collaborate with community partners and maintain accurate case records to help families navigate complex service systems.
The Family Peer Support Specialist is responsible for providing direct services to families caring for or raising a child experiencing social, emotional, developmental, medical, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges. Services support the child’s ability to remain safely in their community and are designed to achieve goals identified in the child or youth’s treatment plan. The Specialist empowers families through outreach, advocacy, and skill development, while fostering productive partnerships between families, service providers, and community resources.
Department New Directions Youth & Family Services’ Family Peer Support program provides individualized and group support to strengthen families’ ability to navigate complex systems. Staff work collaboratively with families, service providers, and community partners to promote stability, growth, and resilience.
Agency New Directions Youth & Family Services is an equal opportunity employer committed to anti-racism, justice, and equity. We welcome applicants from diverse cultures and backgrounds to uphold our values and mission and to reflect the communities we serve.
Paid time off (pro-rated for per diem) Opportunities for professional growth within a supportive organization Compensation $35 per hour
Hours/Schedule Per Diem, flexible schedule based on client and program needs (evenings may be required).
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Ability to work respectfully with families, youth, and community partners from diverse backgrounds. Strong advocacy, observation, and communication skills (verbal and written). Flexibility and adaptability to changing needs and emergent situations. Teamwork and willingness to accept supervision. Knowledge of behavioral health and child-serving systems. Must meet agency driving and health requirements.
Demonstrated lived experience as a parent or primary caregiver navigating multiple child-serving systems on behalf of a child with emotional, developmental, health, or behavioral needs.(required) Must have the Family Peer Advocate (FPA) Professional Credential(required) High school diploma or equivalency preferred (may be waived for relevant life experience sufficient for peer certification). Valid driver’s license, adequate auto insurance, and ability to meet driving criteria per agency policy. Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 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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