Job: Parent Partner

Southwest Network is a local non-profit behavioral health organization serving both adults and kids within the community. We believe and others will agree that we are the best of the best within Behavioral Health...and now is your chance to continue to prove this statement true. By joining Southwest Network, you will be helping us grow into a bigger and even better organization and thus allowing us to accomplish our ultimate goal - to improve the lives of those we are proud and honored to serve.

Primary Functions of the Parent Partner position:

Under the supervision of the Parent Partner Team Lead and the agency's program definition and policies, the Parent Partner will:
1. Provide peer to peer support and intervention to parents of enrolled children and youth.
2. Assist family members to achieve their stated goals.
3. Deliver interventions and activities that meet needs, build on strengths and achieve outcomes.
4. Collaborate with other individuals involved in providing support and care to families enrolled in services.

This position is established to directly provide and manage peer to peer support to parents of children enrolled in the Behavioral Health system. This role exists as a key role for the purpose of assuring quality implementation of the Arizona Vision, which means:

“In collaboration with each child, family and others, Arizona will provide accessible behavioral health services designed to aid children to achieve success in school, live with their families, avoid delinquency and become stable and productive adults. Services will be tailored to the child and family and provided in the most appropriate setting, in a timely fashion, and in accordance with best practices, while respecting the child and family’s unique cultural heritage.”

Knowledge and Ability:
Must be able to demonstrate an accepting stance while responding with empathy and clarity to the family. Must be able to encourage collaboration and have knowledge of the systems of care in the community in which he/she is working. The ability to present to small groups or provide training is an asset to this position. Must be able to obtain fingerprint clearance through the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Must have a valid drivers license and proof of car insurance and dependable transportation. Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills. Must have basic typing/computer processing skills. Must have good organizational and time management skills.

Work is performed in the community. Parent Partner services occur in families’ homes, schools and other community based settings. Flexible work schedule based on the needs of the family served.

Education and Experience:
High School Diploma or G.E.D. required. Must be a parent or caregiver that has raised a child with behavioral health needs and have experience in at least two child serving systems. (Example: Education, Juvenile Justice, Child Protective Services, Developmental Disabilities, etc.)

Essential Skill Requirements:

Engagement Skills:

Meet, greet, and welcome families.

Support families as a peer and someone with a common background.

Represent Parent/Family perspective in all program activities at the agency.

Work intensively with the family to identify formal and informal supports.

Assist parents with information regarding family involvement activities and provide assistance for their attendance in these events.

Utilize personal and professional experiences to provide peer support to parents.
Strengths, Needs and Culture:

Assist the family in identifying its strengths, family culture and concerns

Promote the individual family culture in the development of the Work Plan and Agreement.

Offer support and encouragement as well as respect and curiosity to parents/caregivers.

Listen to the parents story to identify strengths and natural supports.

Communicate with referring agency about newly identified strengths and needs.

Participate in Network Quality Reviews as a parent interviewer.
Planning Skills:

Provide ongoing support through listening and helping communicate what is and isnt working.

Identify emergency or urgent needs and work with agency staff or community organizations to meet these needs.

Locate and orient the family about natural supports available in the community and help them connect with them.

Redirect statements that assign blame.

Reach agreement with the parent about child/family needs and objectives to measure success.

Respond to phone calls and emails from families in a timely fashion that fits with family needs & their expressed concerns.
Implementation:

Perform assignments agreed to by the Child and Family Team and processed through the Southwest Network referral system.

Regularly monitor implementation and progress of Work Plan objectives with the family.

Summarize and communicate Work Plan revisions with the team.

Attend other meetings such as IEP, court hearings, and probation meetings to achieve Work Plan objectives.

Document Progress Notes, Work Plans, and Measuring Tools that are clear and concise and capture the work performed for a specific day and time.

Modify and adjust individual interventions/action steps in working toward completing objectives.
Transition:

Reach agreement with the parent about ending services.

Summarize and distribute the family and referral person of accomplishments.

Arrange and negotiate ongoing communication between the parent and community resources in the future.

Create a resource packet to assist the parent in connecting to natural supports in preparation for transition.

Plan, develop and host a culturally appropriate leaving/ending event.