Therapeutic Mentor

Centerstone is among the nation’s leading nonprofit behavioral health systems with thousands of employees dedicated to delivering care that changes people’s lives. A dynamic, well-established organization, we offer rewarding opportunities to serve all ages in a variety of settings. Come talk to us about joining the Centerstone team!

The Parenting Partner/Mentor provides active, hands‑on peer support to a caseload of parent/caregivers of children and youth receiving services in three counties (Manatee, Sarasota, and Desoto). Parenting partner/Mentor support may be delivered in individual or group settings at the agency, in family homes, or in community environments. The role of the Parenting Partner/Mentor is to provide peer support but also to work collaboratively to support systems change by increasing family involvement and decreasing unintentional bias about parents.

Provides guidance based on a combination of evidence‑based/evidence‑informed training and personal firsthand experience and lived expertise. Empowering and coaching parents through the process with DCF, child welfare, the courts, and other family‑centered community partners is an important aspect of this work.

• Provide support and assistance to parents in meeting the physical, emotional, and educational needs of their children.
• Work with and model for the entire family a positive, sensitive, non‑judgmental manner of relating.
• Assist the team in understanding the parent’s perspective, culture, and beliefs in a way that increases understanding by others while decreasing differences and highlighting similarities.
• Assess and prioritize needs of a parent regarding parenting tasks or sources of self‑confidence. Some examples include:
  • Providing information on child development and parenting skills
  • Assisting a parent in acquiring practical/organizational skills (i.e., budgeting, utilizing resources)
  • Assist a parent in developing their own interests and personal goals
  • Providing information that assists the parents’ understanding of their child’s developmental needs, promotes positive parenting, and develops the parent/child relationship.
  • Teach problem‑solving skills to manage crises
• Maintain appropriate documentation that outlines the services provided to the family.
• Present workshops to parents and other groups.
• Serve on committees with project stakeholders, and serve as the parents’ voice.
• Coordinate with parent resource centers and provide them with special education information and with trainings for parents.
• Attend IEP and school meetings as requested by the caregivers or team members.
• Accompany parent into the community for meetings and forums.
• Coordinate with other agencies, groups and project stakeholders.
• Research information needed by the parent/family.
• Facilitate webinars or trainings for parents/caregivers, including trauma‑informed, evidence‑based parenting curriculum.

• Ability to maintain and manage confidential information.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Must have direct current or previous life experiences as the biological, kin, foster or adoptive parent of a youth with complex needs and receiving community mental health services, child welfare, and/or juvenile justice system.
• Have tolerance and respect for individual differences, opinions, and perspectives. Be respectful of low‑income families, as well as have a good understanding of different socioeconomic populations.
• Ability to work independently, and exercise ethical and swift judgment during times of crisis.
• Knowledge of/linkages with diverse populations, key community stakeholders, and populations with/at risk for trauma.
• Public speaking experience, excellent organizational skills, strong communication and writing skills.
• Creative problem‑solving skills, and ability to coordinate multiple tasks.
• Must value cultural differences, work independently and/or as a member of a team, problem solve, and be genuinely interested in working with survivors of trauma.
• Must be able to travel up to 50% of the time.

High school diploma or GED required.