MH Family Partner

Family Partners are experienced and trained parents or primary caregivers of a child/youth with a diagnosed mental health condition. Certified Family Partners are members of the recovery team. They provide support and advocate for families to assist in engagement, empowerment, self-advocacy, and wellness as they actively participate in the recovery of their child. Family Partners assist families in making informed decisions that drive families toward wellness and recovery. As a supportive partner, the Family Partner has a strong connection to the community and is knowledgeable about resources, services and supports for families. Certified Family Partners provide supports to the LAR and/or primary caregivers of the youth and do not provide services directly to the youth. Family Partners are instrumental in engaging families in services. They provide peer mentoring and support to the primary caregivers; introduce the family to the treatment process; model self-advocacy skills; provide information, referral and skills training; assist in the identification of natural/non-traditional and community support systems; and document the provision of all family partner services, including both face-to-face and non-face-to-face activities. Services may be both individual and group. Services may be provided at the office, in-home, or other community locations as needed to meet the needs of those served. Must be willing to travel and work a flexible schedule. Must be familiar with, and/or willing to be trained in, trauma-informed care. This includes understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects of all types of trauma, and an ability to work in a behavioral environment where staff convey dignity, respect, hopefulness, and the opportunity for choice and empowerment among consumers.

Skills and Qualifications: A successful candidate will have the following minimum skills and qualifications:

• Must be a parent or primary caregiver with a minimum of one year of lived experience being responsible for making the final decisions for a youth (person 17 years or under) who has been diagnosed with a mental, emotional or behavioral disorder.
• Must be at least 18 years or older and must have a high school diploma or GED.
• Have successfully navigated a child-serving system for at least one year (i.e., mental health, juvenile justice, social security or special education) and be able to articulate their lived experience as it relates to advocacy for their youth and success in navigating these systems.
• Have lived experience that speaks to accomplishments concerning their youth's mental health including their youth being in a stable place in their recovery and/or resiliency.
• Must be able to complete the Certified Family Partner training program designated by HHSC within one year of hire.
• Bilingual ability (Spanish/English) is preferred by not required.
• Computer operating skills are essential
• Role-modeling the concepts of hope and positive parenting, advocacy and self-care skills that will ultimately benefit the resilience and recovery of the youth
• Provide advocacy that encourages the positive choices of the caregiver, promotes self-advocacy for caregivers and their youth, and supports the positive vision that the caregiver has for their youth's mental health and recovery;
• Understanding of mental health services, supports, and community resources
• Ability to participate respectively as a team member during department and agency meetings.
• Ability to work independently and to carry out assignments to completion by following instructions given, prescribed routines, and standard accepted practices.
• Travel between locations as assigned.
• Participate in monthly Youth Services staff meetings.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.
• Must have a Texas driver's license, a good driving record for the past 3 years and a valid auto insurance card

Physical Abilities: Must be able to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, squat, lift at least 25 pounds, reach overhead, and sit for extended periods of time. Must be able to pass a work related physical.