Family Peer Support Specialist - ARCh

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Family Peer Support Specialist - ARCh

Seeking a caregiver who has experience raising a child with a mental health diagnosis and a developmental disability. This role is designed to provide families with support from someone who understands the systems, advocacy, and day-to-day realities of parenting a child with diverse needs. This person will use their lived experience to support and guide families currently raising children with similar needs. ARCh (Accessing Resources for Children) serves children, up to the age of 22, with mental health diagnoses and/or intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, other developmental disability, and medical diagnoses. The ARCh Program is rooted in the belief that every young person deserves to feel safe, seen, and supported.

Responsibilities:

• Provide one-to-one support to families/primary caregivers of children and/or adolescents with mental health and/or developmental disabilities.
• Empower families to make informed decisions regarding the nature of supports for themselves and their child.
• Providing emotional support for families on their parenting journey to reduce isolation, feelings of stigma, blame, and hopelessness.
• Helping families to discover and connect to natural supports already present in their lives.
• Provide information, referral and telephone support services to parents.
• Promoting continuity of engagement and supports as families’ needs and services change.
• Supporting families to advocate on behalf of themselves to promote shared decision-making.
• Complete agency and program documentation.

Requirements:

• Valid driver's license and use of a personal vehicle
• High School Diploma or GED
• Lived experience raising a child with a mental health diagnosis and a developmental disability.
• Peer Certification or commitment to start Peer Services Training and accumulate Peer Specialist Certification hours within one year of date of hire

Structure:

• Part time, 20 hrs/wk 
• Non-exempt
• AFSCME Union (dues will apply) 
• Starting at $21.56/hr
• We offer a competitive salary commensurate to experience 

Benefits:

• Generous time off starting at 36 days of combined time off per year for full-time employees (and increasing with years of service); pro-rated for positions 16 hours or more
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee referral program with financial payment
• Discounted online undergraduate/graduate courses through Champlain College truED
• Retirement through 401(k)
• Award-winning workplace wellness program including physical fitness groups for staff, financial wellness incentives, and ongoing workplace wellness advocacy and education
• Voluntary benefits from local/international businesses: discounted gym memberships, mobile phone service, ski/snowboard passes, auto/home insurance, and more!
• Employee referral, subject to Howard Center policy.

Our Values: Clients are at the heart of our decision making. We are committed to individual and collective well-being and success. We are responsible stewards of the resources entrusted to us. We are steadfast in our practice and pursuit of excellence.

Howard Center is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. The agency's culture and service delivery is strengthened by the diversity of its workforce. Minorities, people of color, LGBTQIA+ and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. EOE/TTY. Visit "About Us" to review Howard Center's EOE policy.