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Alternative Family Services

Peer Partner

Alternative Family Services, San Mateo, California, United States, 94409


Peer Partner - San Mateo, CA

Your opportunity to truly make a difference in the lives of vulnerable and under-served children and their families is here! Peer partners are assigned to work with the caregivers of children and youth who receive Foster Care, Juvenile Probation or Mental Health services. Regardless of the system, peer partners build upon their personal experience to achieve better outcomes for all children and families they serve. Peer partners provide information on how systems and programs can support the family centered and family driven philosophy and principles into practice both internally and collaboratively with community partners.

About Alternative Family Services

Alternative Family Services is a Foster Family, Adoption and Mental Health Agency that has been serving abused and neglected children in our community since 1973. Our mission is to support vulnerable children and families in need of stability, safety, and well-being in communities. We provide a wide range of foster, adoption, mental health and transition-aged youth services in English and Spanish. We have eight locations throughout the Bay Area and over 200 employees. We celebrate diversity, equal opportunity, and excellence.

QualificationsMust have lived experience as a former youth, parent or primary caregiver who has navigated the Child Welfare, Juvenile Probation or Mental Health system.Possess a high school diploma or GED.Be able to professionally interact with parents and primary caregivers, team members, county representatives, and other treatment team members as part of a cooperative team.Possess excellent interpersonal communication skills, a positive attitude and a willingness to help others.Have the ability to maintain confidential information.Be able to obtain and maintain fingerprint and government and agency required background clearances.Be willing to obtain CPR/First Aid certification. (CPR/First Aid certification is available through agency.)Possess a valid California driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.Maintain valid automobile insurance with his/her name on the verification card as an insured driver on the policy at all times.Possess and agree to continue to work on cultural competency as it relates to the diverse client population served.Be able to work with minimal direct supervision and manage time and prioritize workload.

Essential Functions And ResponsibilitiesActively participates as a parent mentor to families currently navigating the Child Welfare, Juvenile Probation or Mental Health system.Drawing from personal experience, provide coaching and peer support consultation to parents and caregivers involved in the treatment process.Taking into account cultural contexts and economic settings, seeks to improve the effectiveness of parent/professional partnerships to meet the needs of families.Provides active support as an informal counselor through listening to and identifying with parent and caregiver experiences.Maximizes the parent voice, choice and involvement in community meetings throughout the service delivery process.Assists parents in their efforts to articulate and communicate their needs to service providers.Meets with assigned parent/caregivers as agreed upon in supervision.Adapts to changes in treatment or goal plan as determined by members of the care team and the client.Exhibits qualities of dependability, empathy, genuineness and respect.Ensures compliance with HIPAA privacy practices.Complete documentation in a timely manner.Adheres to our attendance and punctuality policy.Visits a variety of community settings using personal vehicle that is maintained in safe working order.Provides emergency response; evenings and weekends may be required.Assume other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Driving Requirements

This position requires the employee to work out in the community and within foster homes throughout the Bay Area. Thus, position requires employee to possess a valid CA driver’s license and valid automobile insurance with his/her name on the verification card as an insured driver on the policy at all times. Position requires daily access to a car in safe working order.

We OfferA professional, supportive and culturally diverse work environment.A full-time position with a flexible schedule.Pay range of $22-$26/hour.IRS standard mileage reimbursement.Benefits package which includes:Medical.Dental.Vision.Chiropractic & Acupuncture.Flex-spending options.Life and disability insurance.403(b) option.Over 8 weeks time off annually! (11 vacation days the first year – accruals starting on your 1st day and progress up to 20 days a year! 12 paid holidays including your birthday off & 12 sick days annually!)AFS makes substantial monthly contributions on your behalf to keep out of pocket premiums at an all time low!

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of Ancestry, Age, Color, Disability, Genetic Information, Gender, Gender Identity, Gender expression, Marital status, Medical condition, Military or veteran status, National origin, Race, Religion, Sex and Sexual orientation.#J-18808-Ljbffr