Job Details
Title:Family Peer Support Specialist - Mental Health Anne ArundelLocation:Annapolis**This is an excellent opportunity for people who want to help families in need!**
**We seek people who have *personal experience (not work related)* as a parent or caregiver of a child/youth with mentalhealth challenges.**
**We offer** **flexible schedules, remote work, and full benefits!**
**Who We Are**
Founded in 1999, Maryland Coalition of Families (MCF) is a statewide nonprofit with a central office in Columbia, MD, and staff located in communities throughout the state. Using personal experience as parents, caregivers, youth and other loved ones, we connect, support and empower Marylands families.
**Overview**
Maryland Coalition of Families has an employment opportunity for a Family Peer Support Specialist (FPSS) to serve families in **Anne Arundel**. The candidate must have personal (not work-related) experience as a parent/primary caregiver of a child, or adolescent who has/had mental health challenges. Provide education and support to families with children or adolescents with mental health challenges to negotiate their way through the social, legal, educational and health care systems. *
* Facilitate a process for families to develop a plan to: clarify the problem(s); provide emotional support; identify needs and strengths; and identify resources including appropriate levels of services, entitlements, community resources and other natural supports.
* Assist families and youth to build their own community based support network, and ensure that their goals are integrated into one unified plan as necessary.
* Facilitate families in accessing supports and services by: sharing information about resources and supports; supporting families to fully understand their rights; reviewing documents such as IEPs or reports with families to ensure they fully understand documents; empowering families to effectively articulate their concerns and needs; accompanying families to meetings; and educating families on laws, policies and procedures.
* Build and maintain strong partnerships with agencies and providers of services related to behavioral health and other child-serving systems.
* Facilitate open house events in assigned region for families and community partners as assigned in contract deliverables.
* Collaborate with other MCF staff to develop supportive and educational programs that empower families.
* Partner with other MCF staff to serve families of youth with complex needs.
* Administrative duties.
* **Personal, lived experience as a parent or primary caregiver of a child or adolescent who has/had mental health challenges is required.**
* **Must live in Anne Arundel County and requires familiarity with local resources and agencies.**
* High school diploma.
* Prior experience assisting other families to obtain appropriate services and supports for their child and family members is desirable.
* Willingness and strong ability to build and maintain partnerships with agencies and providers.
* Active listening skills for providing peer support and engagement to families.
* Strong written and oral communication skills.
* Strong computer skills and the ability to efficiently utilize internet search to identify resources.
* Current Maryland drivers license and access to own vehicle; some in-state travel required.
* Successful completion of a background check.
* Fluency in speaking Spanish desirable but not required.
* 40 hours per week
* Flexible work schedule
* Comprehensive benefits
* Salary is $17 per hour
**To Apply**
To be considered for this position, you must submit (along with your resume) a cover letter describing your personal, lived experience as the parent/primary caregiver of a child or adolescent with mental health challenges. Please describe other services and resources you have used to support your loved one.
Please note that mailed or faxed resumes will not be considered. No phone calls please.
**Diversity**