JOB DESCRIPTION:

The Family Mentor will serve as a team member of the Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Team (START) program whose goal is to reduce the number of children entering out of home care by providing stronger services and supports to the family, as well as to reduce the rate of children reentering care. The position is for an individual who has lived experience with substance use and who is currently in long-term recovery (minimum two years) with abstinence from alcohol and drugs. Medication Supported Recovery (MSR) is supported by START. Applicants will have knowledge of the needs of those diagnosed with substance abuse and how to assist them with accessing community recovery resources. This position will be part of a dyad consisting of a Family Mentor and a Case Worker. The Family Mentor position will be based out of the Department of Social Services and work in collaboration with the Sobriety Treatment and Recovery Teams.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Escort and/or transport parent and/or child to appointments involving SUD treatment, medical, educational, social services, and mental health/ Connect parent with recovery supports.
• Provide linkage to participants to formal recovery supports.
• Interview parents in home or office to determine progress. Assist START worker in supporting the recovery of the family.
• Help arrange family needs by locating housing, food, clothing, and furniture as needed.
• Complete necessary documentation.
• Engage with individuals that are considering entering treatment.
• Converses with parents, other agencies, and public on phone referrals.
• Provide information and community services available and assists in scheduling appointments as needed for family or child services.
• Create, organize, and maintain case files for the team, as well as other statistical information.
• Help guide families by self-monitoring their recovery progress.
• Model effective coping skills
• Attend court and other system meetings as a support to parents with open cases as needed
• Support peers in advocating for themselves to obtain effective services.
• Assures the provision of consistent, non-judgmental, consumer-centered services that are strength-based and develop assets.
• Maintain case history records and prepare reports.
• Complete correspondence, records, or reports.
• Raise awareness of existing social and other support services
• Complete data entry and monthly statistics to agency
• Maintains accurate, up-to-date records of all contacts, and collects statistical data.
• Utilize an Electronic Medical Record.
• Attending committee meetings, staff meetings, agency training, seminars, and conferences.
• Perform other related duties as required.
• Participate in Supervision Sessions and participate in collaborative supervision protocols.
• Adheres to all applicable local, state, federal and agency regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of the program and needs of individuals served.
• Must follow program and agency policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Must have the ability to work well with others, be a positive role model and a good representative of the Agency.
• Must model appropriate problem resolution and living skills.
• Must be able to work independently as well as an intricate member of a team.
• Must maintain a high degree of professionalism, good judgment in accordance with CRPA Code of Conduct

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

NOTE: Farnham Family Services Training Institute offers the 50 hours of Required training to obtain CRPA-Provisional

• High School Diploma or GED.
• Have a valid driver license, adequate vehicle insurance and reliable transportation (Client transportation is required).
• Experience as a peer or family member with personal experiences of recovery regarding mental health concerns and substance use conditions.
• Have or in process of obtaining Certified Peer Recovery Advocate-Provisional (CPRA-P) certification at the time of employment or obtain provisional within 6 months of commencement of employment.
• Minimum of two years sobriety.
• Knowledge of or familiarity with basic office practices, how to carry out instructions in written or oral form, dealing with complex family issues, completing routine forms, and answering routine telephone inquiries.
• Ability to use a productive problem-solving approach; help others develop unique sobriety approaches for themselves; utilize supervision and work well with START workers; think about challenges they may face in their job and come up with ideas on how to address those challenges.
• Direct or Indirect child welfare experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience as a parent advocate/ family mentor in any system.