Family Partner / Family Support Specialist

Hours: 32 – 40 hours a week (hourly/non-exempt)

Location: A combination of remote, in-office and community work

Pay: $19.00 – $24.00 per hour

Benefits: Health, dental, vision, life, short-term disability, vacation, sick leave, and holidays. Employer retirement contributions after 1 year of employment.

Who We Are

At NAMI Multnomah, our mission is to improve the quality of life for people with mental illness and their families through support, education, and advocacy. We work to educate and empower individual and family voices, build community, model peer-leadership, and improve personal outcomes. Our programs work together to eliminate the stigma of mental illness, and support people as they better understand how to live with mental illness, begin the process of recovery, and sustain wellness. We are an equal opportunity employer, and have a clear vision to be a place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come, stay, and do their best work.

The Role

Family Partners support families in Multnomah County who are participating in Wraparound Services or Youth Intensive Care Coordination (YICC). Family Partners support and walk alongside these families to optimize the mental health services their child receives. A key feature of this position is that Family Partners have lived experience as a parent or caregiver of a child/youth with mental health, emotional, or behavioral health difficulties. Family Partners use this lived experience, along with knowledge of social service systems (e.g., mental health, developmental disabilities, child welfare, juvenile justice), to support other families.

1. Support families to fully participate in the Wraparound or YICC programs.
2. Learn the family’s story, strengths, needs and cultural perspective, and serve as a bridge to assure that the family and providers understand each other’s perspective.
3. Participate in family/professional meetings to assure that youth and family voices are heard, and choices are respected.
4. Provide a consistent source of encouragement and hope while also providing non-judgmental, unconditional support to parents and caregivers.
5. Connect families with information on mental health, service options, and community resources.
6. Model effective coping techniques.
7. Produce and maintain accurate and timely documentation.
8. Understand and follow all HIPAA guidelines regarding personal medical information.
9. Provide services in a culturally responsive manner.
10. Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Be the parent or caregiver of a child who has received mental health services, or had involvement with multiple child service systems
• Have some knowledge of Oregon’s intensive treatment services (e.g., psychiatric residential or day treatment services, treatment foster care).
• Have some knowledge, understanding, or experience with case management.
• Be competent/comfortable using computers, the internet, and Microsoft Office programs.
• Have good reasoning and problem solving skills.
• Possess strong coordination and collaboration, excellent customer service skills.
• Be familiar with issues of diversity, equity and inclusion, and possess skills or strategies to support individuals and families across various populations.
• Be familiar with issues of poverty, race/ethnicity, mental health/addictions and the impact those issues place on day-to-day life for families.
• Have a high school education or equivalent
• Complete Family Support Specialist Training, and register as a Traditional Health Worker before or immediately after hire.
• Pass a background check.
• Have a valid driver’s license and a reliable, fully insured vehicle for daily use.
• We encourage applicants who can provide culturally-specific services to apply (e.g., to Black/African-American, non-English speaking, or part of LGBTQ+-identifying families).

To Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter that offers ALL of the following information to [email protected] .

1. Your experience as a parent/caregiver of a child/youth with mental health challenges;
2. Your knowledge of Wraparound or YICC services and/or the Children’s System of Care;
3. Why you feel suited to fill this position; and
4. A brief summary of your work with families who are culturally different from you.

Applications will be reviewed as received.

Questions

If you have questions, please contact NAMI Multnomah’s Director of Peer-Delivered Services, JoLynn Thompson, at [email protected]

NAMI Multnomah is an Equal Opportunity Employer

NAMI Multnomah is wholly committed to advancing equitable access to information, services, and supports to underserved and vulnerable populations. To effectively do that, we need the perspectives of many people with various lived experiences. We value recovery, resiliency, and the lived experiences of people affected by mental illness. We value diversity, inclusion and cultural responsiveness. We believe our strength is in the rich variety among us. We celebrate both our commonalities and differences as we pursue our shared goals. All employment opportunities are provided without regard to race, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, national origin, age, Veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.