Certified Family Partner – Peer Services (Part Time)

LifeWorks of Austin, TX is looking for a temporary part-time Certified Family Partner to join our Peer Services team with potential to join as full-time staff, working in our Peer-led Youth Drop-in Center. A Certified Family Partner (CFP) provides family partner services and education to parents/caregivers/legal authorized representatives (LARs) of youth via group facilitation, individual mentorship, community collaboration, and the provision of alternative activities. The Certified Family Partner utilizes a trauma-informed, strengths-based model of support to help caregivers achieve the family’s needs, wants, and goals. The typical schedule for this role will be Monday-Friday, 2:00pm-6:00pm with flexibility to attend team meetings, etc.

This is a non-exempt, temporary part -time position, scheduled 20 hours per week at a competitive pay rate of $22.00/hr. Benefits are also included, which consist of 24 PTO days per year (accrued); 15 paid holidays per year; a free employee medical plan with $100 per month HSA contribution (plus other affordable employee or family medical, dental, and vision options!); a retirement savings plan with 50% match on the first 6% of contributions, and much more!

RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide person-centered, healing-centered support to parents/caregivers/LARs of youth with a history of trauma and mental health, emotional, and/or behavioral health challenges.
Openly share experience as a caregiver of a child/youth with emotional, behavioral, or co-occurring disorders, as appropriate, in order to promote and support recovery and resiliency.
Meet with individual parents/caregivers/LARs, as needed, to establish a safe, healthy relationship for learning, problem-solving, and participating in community activities.
Assist parents/caregivers/LARs in building a network of support including making referrals and coordinating additional services, as appropriate.
Facilitate support groups in community locations to include experiential activities, presentations and discussions, field trips and/or skill-based activities.
Plan, develop, and provide recovery-related presentations and outreach on a variety of topics, such as substance use and disease prevention/intervention, health/mental health promotion, trauma and recovery, community resources, relationship-building, and coping strategies.
Advocate within the community, and internally, to ensure that parent/caregiver/LAR needs are being recognized, represented, and addressed.
Develop and maintain positive working relationships with agency staff and community contacts such as referral sources, recovery community organizations, peer-run programs in non-recovery organizations, and other service providers.
Maintain timely, complete, and accurate case records and documentation, including (but not limited to) progress notes, intake reports and incident reports.
Comply with all requirements outlined by funding sources, licensure and accrediting bodies, the program, and the agency. These requirements may pertain to data, paperwork, philosophies, processes, and procedures, among other things.
May be required to transport individuals as needed, utilizing personal vehicle for resource navigation and support.
Maintain approved supervision and continuing education.
Use crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques to assist individuals in mental or emotional crisis.
Collaborate with Peer Specialist(s) in alignment with the family partner role as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

Requires a GED or HS Diploma and 2 years of related individual and group support experience.
Requires obtaining state certification as a Certified Family Partner within 9 months of hire.
Requires being a parent/caregiver/LAR who has lived experience with 1) raising a youth with mental, emotional, or behavioral health challenges and 2) has at least one year of successfully navigating a child-serving system.
Experience with databases; proficient level experience with Microsoft Office including, Word, Excel, and Outlook.

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Holds current Certified Family Partner (CFP) Texas Certification.
1+ years work experience as a Certified Family Partner.

ABOUT LIFEWORKS
With more than 50 years of experience working with youth experiencing homelessness, youth aging out of foster care, young adults, and young parents, LifeWorks is committed to solving youth homelessness through housing, mental health, education, and workforce services. Our vision is a Central Texas where every young person has a place to call home, a sense of belonging, and the support to pursue a life they love.

We provide a full range of support services for vulnerable youth, ensuring that every young person has access to a safe home, the chance to heal, and opportunities to learn and work. Through innovative problem-solving, shared accountability, and evidence-based solutions, we are relentless in achieving real, sustainable, and measurable results for the clients we serve.

A career at LifeWorks offers opportunities to grow professionally while making an immediate, lasting impact on the lives of youth and families in our community. Join us in building a future where every young person has the stability and support to thrive.