Parent Peer Support Specialist

Wisconsin Community Services (WCS)

Specialized Services Program – Wraparound

Position Summary: To engage the parents/caregivers of Wraparound Milwaukee enrolled youth in the Wraparound process.  Utilize the unique lived experiences of parenting a child with significant mental health, substance use, co-occurring, and life needs to provide hope to parents/caregivers currently enrolled in Wraparound programming.  The role of the Parent Peer Specialist is to enhance parenting knowledge and skills to minimize crisis and maximize the long-term benefit of involvement in the Wraparound process through a focus on parent and youth strengths as part of the solution and family participation as partners in all aspects in their care.  

Essential Functions:

• Provide one to one peer support to parents/caregivers in a variety of community settings, including the family home
• Utilize unique lived experience to build professional relationships with youth and families enrolled in Wraparound to assist in navigating the mental health/behavioral health, youth justice, and/or child welfare systems to walk with the parent/caregiver and youth to ensure their needs are being met and their voice is heard, understood, and respected by the Child and Family Team.
• Work directly with the parent/caregiver within the family system to proactively and reactively reduce crisis triggers, role model parenting and crisis management skills, provide education to the family, and support families during crisis.
• Role model recovery in all interactions and utilize lived experience to engage families.
• Support the team to understand and identify the family’s needs and develop strategies to meet the identified needs.
• Work closely with the family to identify a sustainable network of supports and resources in the community to meet the family’s needs.
• Partner with the Care Coordinator to build strong working relationships with community organizations that serve Milwaukee youth and their families.
• Collaborate closely with the Wraparound team to ensure the needs of the youth and family are met.
• Support youth and family to engage in mental health services by accompanying at appointments and community activities.
• Attend and actively participate in Child and Family Team Meetings including the development and implementation of the Plan of Care and Crisis Plan.
• Complete all necessary paperwork in a strengths-based manner per Wraparound Milwaukee/Agency requirements
• Attend and actively participate in weekly supervision.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

Attend in-services and participate in staffing, weekly and monthly meetings and consultations.

Assist with coverage for co-workers as needed.

Other job-related duties as may be necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the position.

Minimal Qualifications:

• High school or GED/HSED required
  
• Graduate of state Parent Peer Specialist training
  
• Possess current Certified Parent Peer Specialist certification or become certified within one year of employment.
  
• Meet all WCS and contractor requirements for criminal and caregiver background check, driving record, and references.
  
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
  
• Complete all Wraparound trainings as required for the position. 
  
• Ability to display cultural competence by responding respectfully and effectively to people of all cultures, languages, classes, races, ethnic backgrounds,
• religions and other diversity factors in a manner that recognizes, affirms and values the worth of each individual. 
  
• Knowledge and skills to work with children, young adults, and families. 
  
• Lived experience of parenting a youth with mental health, substance use, co-occurring, juvenile justice, and/or life needs. 
  
• Valid driver’s license, automobile, and sufficient insurance to meet agency requirements is preferred.

Work Relationship and Scope:

Reports directly to the Wraparound Program Manager. Has contact with a wide variety of

individuals including youth/young adults and family members, other program staff, including consulting Psychologist/Psychiatrist, and other collateral contacts, neighbors, funders, Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services, Milwaukee County Delinquency & Court Services Division (DCSD), Children’s Court officials, MPS staff and administrators, staff of youth serving agencies and the general public.

Personal Attributes:

Follow agency Code of Conduct; adhere to established policies and procedures of the agency and of all funding sources; conduct self in an ethical manner; maintain professional and respectful relationships with program staff, other WCS staff, people being served by WCS, and all external persons and agencies involved with service provision; sensitivity toward cultural, ethnic and disability needs; demonstrate commitment to agency values and mission.  Demonstrates a strengths-based, person centered, and culturally intelligent approach to serving people with mental health and co-occurring needs.  Focused on embracing recovery in all interactions and utilize lived experience to engage youth/young adults and their families.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Working knowledge of positive youth/young adult development; patience and understanding of challenging life needs; knowledge related to mental health and co-occurring needs, the ability to interact with youth, young adults, and caregivers in a calm and professional manner; ability to follow oral and written instructions and cues; ability to remain calm and respond appropriately in crisis situations; computer skills; accurate documentation; ability to meet deadlines; sensitivity towards cultural, ethic and life needs.  

Working Conditions:

Work is performed in a busy office environment and in the community serving children, young adults and families. Some of the work is done sitting at a desk using a computer; requires significant outreach in the community and families’ homes; much of the outreach is done in communities throughout Milwaukee and several hours per day may be spent driving; hours average 40 per week; flexible work schedule includes some hours outside the normal work schedule on evenings and weekends.

Physical Demands:

Position is mobile with time spent in the community, including home visits and time spent in the office; driving throughout Milwaukee County is required; must be able to go up and down stairs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Wisconsin Community Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, disability, status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

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