Works with individuals and groups to promote positive physical, social, and emotional health and safety.

Help individuals deal with issues associated with addictions and substance abuse, family, parenting, stress management, self-esteem, and aging.

Provide educational assistance and direct referrals.

Draws on his/her own experience of raising a child with emotional or behavioral issues as they work with the parents/caregivers and the team to discover the family’s values and priorities.

Deliver interventions and activities that meet needs, build on strengths, and achieve outcomes.

Responsible for assisting parents/caregivers with engaging in the enrollment process by utilizing knowledge and experiences encountering various service systems (i.e., school, mental health, juvenile justice, etc.). Help parents/caregivers assess their available resources and service needs.

Coach parents/caregivers on self-advocacy skills (i.e., delivering messages clearly and with the desired impact, self-expression, active participation in service plan development, etc.).

Provide information, referral, and telephone support services to parents.

Coordinate advocacy activities for parents of special needs children in catchment area.

Develop resources directories for parents of special needs children. Update as needed.

Coordinate workshops for parents of children with special needs.

Conduct needs assessments on a regular basis.

Maintain records and data collection.

Compile monthly and annual reports as requested.

High school diploma or general education degree (GED)

Obtain and maintain the Certification of Peer Support Specialist through the Mississippi Department of Mental Health

Parent or caregiver who are raising or have raised a child with and SED diagnosis and are personally familiar with the associated challenges.