Certified Family Partner - Community Based Peer Support at LifeWorks Austin in Austin, Texas

Job Description:

LifeWorks of Austin, TX is looking for Certified Family Partners to join our Community Based Peer Support team! A Certified Family Partner (CFP) provides family partner services and education to parents/caregivers/legal authorized representatives (LARs) of youth via group facilitation, individual mentorship, community collaboration, and the provision of alternative activities. The Certified Family Partner utilizes a trauma-informed, strengths-based model of support to help caregivers achieve the family’s needs, wants, and goals.

This is a non-exempt, part-time position which will average 16 hours per week. Expanding into a full-time position could be negotiable depending upon experience and program needs. The rate of pay for this position will be $22/hr.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide person-centered, healing-centered support to parents/caregivers/LARs of youth with a history of trauma and mental health, emotional, and/or behavioral health challenges.


• Openly share experience as a caregiver of a child/youth with emotional, behavioral, or co-occurring disorders, as appropriate, in order to promote and support recovery and resiliency.


• Meet with individual parents/caregivers/LARs, as needed, to establish a safe, healthy relationship for learning, problem-solving, and participating in community activities.


• Assist parents/caregivers/LARs in building a network of support including making referrals and coordinating additional services, as appropriate.


• Facilitate support groups in community locations to include experiential activities, presentations and discussions, field trips and/or skill-based activities.


• Plan, develop, and provide recovery-related presentations and outreach on a variety of topics, such as substance use and disease prevention/intervention, health/mental health promotion, trauma and recovery, community resources, relationship-building, and coping strategies.


• Advocate within the community, and internally, to ensure that parent/caregiver/LAR needs are being recognized, represented, and addressed.


• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with agency staff and community contacts such as referral sources, recovery community organizations, peer-run programs in non-recovery organizations, and other service providers.


• Maintain timely, complete, and accurate case records and documentation, including (but not limited to) progress notes, intake reports and incident reports.


• Comply with all requirements outlined by funding sources, licensure and accrediting bodies, the program, and the agency. These requirements may pertain to data, paperwork, philosophies, processes, and procedures, among other things.


• May be required to transport individuals as needed, utilizing personal vehicle for resource navigation and support.


• Maintain approved supervision and continuing education.


• Use crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques to assist individuals in mental or emotional crisis.


• Collaborate with Peer Specialist(s) in alignment with the family partner role as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Requires a GED or HS Diploma and 2 years of related individual and group support experience.


• Requires obtaining state certification as a Certified Family Partner within 9 months of hire.


• Requires being a parent/caregiver/LAR who has lived experience with 1) raising a youth with mental, emotional, or behavioral health challenges and 2) has at least one year of successfully navigating a child-serving system.


• Experience with databases; proficient level experience with Microsoft Office including, Word, Excel, and Outlook.

ABOUT LIFEWORKS

With more than 50 years of experience working with youth experiencing homelessness, youth aging out of foster care, young adults, and young parents, we are a fearless advocate for youths who are on journeys to lives they love and stability for themselves and their families. LifeWorks goal is to be able to provide clients with the resources they need a place to call home, the chance to heal, and the opportunity to learn and to work. We have one of the most comprehensive continuums of housing and support options for vulnerable youth in the country. We are committed to innovative problem saving, shared accountability and a relentless focus on achieving real, sustainable, and measurable results for the clients we serve. A career at LifeWorks offers opportunities to grow and develop your professional skills while making an immediate difference in the lives of youth and families in our community.

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