Parent Advocate (OMH Program)

The Child Center of NY strengthens children and families with skills, opportunities, and emotional support to build healthy, successful lives. Founded in 1953, The Child Center of NY has become a powerful community presence throughout the city. With 50 locations and 100 programs in NYC’s most under-served communities, our 1,000+ results-oriented professionals make a difference for more than 40,000 children and their families each year.

Summary:
Family Peer Advocates (FPA) are parents or caregivers who are raising or have raised a child with serious mental health concerns and are personally familiar with the associated challenges and available community resources for children and families. The FPA must possess a credential recognized by the Office of Mental Health and receive specialized training and supervision.

Essential Functions:

• Serves as bridge between families and the various systems involved, offering advocacy, education, and support. Working with clients ages from 7-21 within Upper Manhattan area.  
• Field Work is required, no on-call, no crisis calls or weekends. But some flexibility if urgent, emergency or conference calls. Schedule is Monday-Friday 10am-6pm. 
• Connect families to appropriate services and supports in areas such as housing, public assistance, medical care and various sector within the educational system.
• Works in collaboration with the treatment providers to help ensure the effective delivery of care to the child and family. 
• Supports the child and family with implementing their Plan of Care, Treatment Plan, and Service Plan in an integrated way.
• Engages the child and family in various ways that support the everyday application of the treatment methods as described within Service Plans.
• Designs strategies that designed to be individualized and sensitive to the family’s culture and values.
• Approaches to Care are Family-Driven helping families with skills building, coaching, engagement, bridging and transition support.
• Building Self-advocacy, self-efficacy and empowerment within the family, assisting with community connections and natural supports.
• Documents all services provided both timely and accurately.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• A high school diploma, high school equivalency preferred or a State Education Commencement Credential.
• Demonstrate ‘lived experience’ as a parent or primary caregiver who has navigated multiple child serving systems on behalf of their child(ren) with social, emotional, developmental, health and/or behavioral healthcare needs. Having experience working with Youth facing mental health/behavioral/substance use is a plus. 
• Ability to work amongst diverse social, cultural, and economic groups.
• Excellent written, verbal, and listening skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and have some knowledge and using Electronic Health Records (EHR).
• Strong time management skills.
• OMH Certifications required.
• Bilingual in Spanish is preferred not required.
  
  

The Child Center of NY is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status or any other category protected by Federal, State or local law. EOE M/F/D/V