Lead Peer Advocate

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Peer Respite Program is a pilot project of La Familia. This program is designed to support individuals reentering the community from various access points, including locked facilities,  to address their mental health needs and assist in avoiding future forensic involvement.

La Familia’s Peer Respite is 6-bed short-term respite home, run by and for adult participants, with lived experience of mental health and/ or substance use disorders and aims to increase the quality of mental health services for these individuals, and support their reentry and recovery.

The Lead Peer Advocate/Navigator will provide coordination and oversight for the Forensic Peer Respite Program as needed.  Monitors the delivery and provision of high quality and effective services, through intensive case management services, community outreach and relationship building with other community-based organizations. Provides one-to-one support to residents including intake, assessment and linkages to services that increase a resident’s access to mental health services and maintenance of independence; facilitates groups, workshops, activities; provides feedback for Quality Assurance and strategic planning; work closely with Peer Specialists and program staff. The Lead Peer Advocate will coordinate linkages to support services that foster mental wellness, reintegration, and support the resident’s independence. The Peer Support Specialist aims to reduce further justice involvement through their work.

Persons with lived experience of recovery from a behavioral or mental health challenge are encouraged to apply.

This role will uphold and champion the agency’s mission, vision, and values and contribute to a collaborative inclusive work culture.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities: 

Support Program Supervisor with Leadership Functions:

• Maintenance of a coordinated delivery system for all program components; 
• Delivery and provision of quality and effective services;
• Operation within budget requirements;
• Ensure that contractual goals and objectives are met;
• Train new program staff;
• Provide staff with guidance and assistance;
• Provide in vivo (in the moment) training and service provision; 
• Complete compliance reports as assigned; 
• Support with training, workshops, and other activities for agency staff, which includes finding appropriate training sources, communication of expenses related to training, and coordination of trainings to ensure staff across shifts receive all needed training.Utilizes motivational interviewing and other culturally appropriate evidence-based interventions
• In the absence of the Peer Respite Program Supervisor, perform duties required to maintain the delivery of services, adequate staffing ratio, and respond to emergency situations

Peer Advocate Support:

• Provide outreach, engagement, linkage, and follow-up services to participants 
• Serve as role model and coach to inspire, engage, and advocate for participants and their family member’s or caregivers’ rights 
• Utilize motivational interviewing and other evidence-based interventions 
• Accompany participants to appointments and other services with the goal of coaching and promoting sustained independence over time 
• Participate in weekly case management and peer review meetings, and monthly training sessions