Parent Support Partner

PARENT SUPPORT PARTNER - TRAVERSE CITY

Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority (NLCMHA) recognizes the value of and employs people with lived experience and believes strongly in Recovery and a Culture of Gentleness. To this end, this position requires a commitment to creating and maintaining a culture that "Expects Recovery" and "Encourages Gentleness." The role is for a parent or primary caregiver of a child with emotional, behavioral and/or mental health challenges and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities.

The PSP will work under the direction of the Chief Population Officer or Supervisor for Children and Families and in conjunction with the Child and Family Services Team to develop and enhance the system of care for children and their families and caregivers. The PSP will work within the community provider network to meet child and family service needs as identified in the IPOS.

The PSP engages family members and provides peer-to-peer support, education and training to families who are receiving mental health services. Focus is on empowering families to move toward independence through skill-building. Services provided in home, office or community.

• Work within NLCMHA's child and family provider team to ensure that services are provided consistent with the child and family s needs as identified in the IPOS.
• Maintain a working knowledge of current trends and development in the mental health field and trauma by reading books, journals and attending TF-CBT trainings. Maintain 24-hour child training per year.
• Provide training and skilled interventions as part of the treatment team to enable the parents to develop skills to assist their child to improve in functioning identified in the IPOS.
• Using their unique recovery experience, the PSPs will teach and role model the value of every family s story, culture and strengths to assist the consumer in obtaining decent and affordable housing of their choice in the most integrated, and least intrusive environment and model effective coping techniques, parenting skills, and self-help strategies.
• The PSPs are expected to utilize complex interpersonal and communication skills on a frequent basis, including group services and formal presentations.
• Serve as example and mentor. Be non-judgmental, encouraging and instill hope.
• Assist non-consumer staff in identifying program environments that are conducive to recovery; lend their unique family insight into mental illness and what makes recovery possible.
• Be knowledgeable about CMH services, guidelines and regulations and provide information to families.
• Use experience and knowledge to expand opportunities for choice and voice in services for child and family.
• Build partnerships with parents and professionals to promote mutual respect.
• Work directly with families in their home and community, implementing the specific aspect of the IPOS or treatment intervention. Meet MDCH provider qualifications and follow relevant guidelines (e.g., Medicaid regulations).
• Must meet management expectations each month; currently set at 30%.
• Services provided by PSPs will occur in the office setting, community setting and home environment.

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must be a parent or day-to-day caregiver who has or had a child with emotional, behavioral, and/or mental health challenges and/or Intellectual/developmental disabilities who has received treatment for these conditions.
• Knowledge of the public mental health system, special education, juvenile justice, child welfare and community resources.
• Experience navigating agency/agencies serving children, preferably public mental health.
• Able to relate to, interact with, communicate with and engage others.
• Able to partner with families, youth, professionals and the community in order to plan and implement services and family training.
• Supports family strengths in problem solving and solution seeking.
• Demonstrates comfort working with people having different life experiences and from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds and cultures.
• Maintains a respectful, non-judgmental attitude toward all.
• Has good written, verbal and listening skills.
• Knowledgeable…