Certified Family Peer Support Specialist - Huron County

Harbor is seeking a Certified Family Peer Support Specialist to join the team in Huron County! This role supports families of youth with behavioral health needs through peer support, advocacy, and system navigation to help ensure family-centered, coordinated care.

Position is full-time.

REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Minimum of high school diploma or GED equivalent.

Experience:

• Parent, guardian, or primary caretaker of a child who is or has received services from the mental health system.
• Must possess the skills necessary to help clients achieve and maintain their highest level of functioning by striving for successful community living.
• Must have the ability to offer a unique perspective of parenting or raising a child with serious emotional disturbance or behavioral concerns.
• Must be proficient and accurate in computer use, including Microsoft Word.

Licensure and Certifications:

• Must obtain Ohio Parent Peer Support Certification within 120 days of hire.
• Certified Parent Peer Supporters must maintain current continuing education and requirements for renewal of their certificate.
• CPR/First Aid and NCI/CPI Certifications required within 90 days of employment.
• Must successfully demonstrate the basic competencies for Parent Peer Support services, as determined by supervisor review, within 90 days of hire.
• Must be at least 23 years of age, have a valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and show proof of personal auto insurance policy to be deemed insurable with Harbor’s vehicle insurance carrier.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience providing family peer support, parent advocacy, system navigation, wraparound, or community-based behavioral health services.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential Functions and Primary Responsibilities:

1. Uses lived experience as a parent, guardian, or primary caretaker in assisting and supporting youth and families on an ongoing basis.
2. Assists treatment and service coordination teams in the assessment and engagement of clients residing in the community and in the hospital.
3. Supports Child and Family Teams (CFTs) for wraparound and service coordination teams.
4. Assists clients and families in identifying, using, and accessing family, neighborhood, and community support services, and in achieving community integration.
5. Assists the team, clients, and staff members in completing documentation necessary to determine eligibility for community resources.
6. Follows crisis prevention and intervention protocols.
7. Acts as an advocate for clients and families to secure needed services.
8. Provides feedback on the needs of parents and families and assists in identifying gaps in services and supports.
9. Collects required data from youth and families for program evaluation.
10. Provides support, education, and consultation to clients, families, and/or significant others.
11. Provides education on self-management of symptoms to clients, families, and/or significant others.
12. Assures appropriate communication with team leaders and team members when responding to client calls and requests.
13. Assists in the client’s acquisition of social and recreational skills.
14. Assists the client and family in increasing social support skills and networks.
15. Attends local Family and Children First Councils and other parent/youth-specific community meetings.
16. Maintains client confidentiality and adherence to HIPAA requirements.
17. Participates in required agency and departmental meetings and staff trainings.
18. Works closely and cooperatively with a variety of service providers in the community and within Harbor.
19. Provides culturally competent services and seeks consultation and supervision when the complexity of a situation is greater than the employee’s knowledge base.
20. Maintains solid knowledge of agency services and knows how to secure services if they are not available within the agency.
21. Works with individuals with severe emotional disturbance and behavioral concerns and their families in natural environments and community-based settings.
22. Types clinical documentation in the format appropriate and acceptable to Harbor.
23. May provide billable services and may have to fulfill or exceed unit expectations established by Harbor.
24. Keeps current with trends and developments related to essential job competencies and demonstrates continued growth.

General Competencies/Performance Expectations:

• Utilizes information technology systems and software applications effectively and in accordance with organizational standards and security protocols.
• Demonstrates sound judgment by analyzing information thoroughly, reaching timely conclusions, and taking appropriate, decisive action.
• Plans, prioritizes, and organizes work to ensure maximum efficiency, productivity, and quality outcomes.
• Actively seeks and utilizes supervision and feedback appropriately to support professional growth and effective job performance.
• Manages time and utilizes leave in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.
• Performs additional duties and responsibilities as assigned to support departmental and organizational needs.

Working Conditions:

• Community-based, clinical, office, hospital, and field environments.
• Travel within the community is required. May drive an agency vehicle or personal vehicle for work, consistent with Harbor policy.
• Exposure to confidential information and HIPAA-protected client information.
• Potential exposure to behavioral health, crisis, and community-based situations involving youth with severe emotional disturbance or behavioral concerns and their families.
• Parent Peer Support Specialist is a highly visible position within the community and in the agency and must subscribe to Harbor’s mission and values.
• This position is union. Union eligibility applies only to full-time or part-time hires; contingent or temporary appointments are not covered by the union, even if the position is otherwise unionized.

About Harbor: 

• A leading provider of mental health and substance use treatment for over 100 years.
• 350+ clinical staff serving over 24,000 clients annually across multiple locations and within the community.
• Services include counseling, medication management, primary care, psychological testing, case management, substance use treatment, residential services, vocational programs, and more!

Why Work for Harbor?

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement plan with company match
• Generous paid time off, sick time, and paid holidays
• Tuition and professional license reimbursement programs
• Clinical supervision hours offered
• Opportunity to make a difference in your community