This position is eligible for a $2,000 retention bonus.

Job Summary:

The Providence Center Child and Family Services CCBHC Family & Youth Partner/Peer Specialist plays a key role in supporting and empowering children, youth, and families receiving mental health and/or substance use services. They provide structured, one-to-one mentoring, peer support, and family support services designed to promote recovery, strengthen family engagement, support caregiver empowerment, and assist youth and families in achieving individualized goals identified in the behavioral health treatment plan. They serve as a client and family advocate and work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary treatment team to identify, support, assess, and address barriers that may impact a child/youth’s or family’s ability to achieve treatment goals. Services are delivered in the locations most conducive to skill acquisition and recovery, including homes, schools, Center locations, and a wide variety of community settings. The Family Partner component of this role specifically focuses on supporting parents and caregivers through shared lived experience, providing guidance in navigating systems of care, strengthening caregiver capacity, and promoting family voice and choice within the treatment process.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Youth Mentoring & Skill Development

• Provide structured, one-to-one mentoring sessions with children and youth to support specific goals identified in the behavioral health treatment plan.

• Deliver services in community-based settings that best support the youth’s development, including home and community environments.

• Support youth in building coping skills, self-advocacy, social skills, and independent living skills.

• Assist youth in navigating educational, social, and community systems. Family Partner Support & Caregiver Empowerment

• Provide peer-based support, guidance, and mentorship to parents and caregivers using lived experience navigating child-serving systems.

• Support families in understanding behavioral health services, treatment options, and recovery processes.

• Assist caregivers in strengthening parenting strategies, communication skills, and family problem-solving skills related to behavioral health needs.

• Help caregivers navigate systems including schools, behavioral health providers, child welfare, juvenile justice, and community resources.

• Advocate for family voice and choice within treatment planning and service delivery.

• Support caregivers in preparing for meetings such as school conferences, treatment team meetings, and service planning discussions.

• Facilitate connections to parent support groups, community resources, and family support networks.

• Promote caregiver resilience, self-care, and confidence in supporting their child’s recovery and development.

Peer Support & Recovery Services

• Assess client and family needs using a holistic approach that includes medical/physical, vocational, educational, spiritual, social, recreational, financial, and community integration and recovery-focused needs and supports.

• Provide services to assigned caseload of clients and families, ensuring service intensity meets program standards, including required in-person contacts provided in both office- and community-based settings. Also provides services to other clients in need at Center programs.

• Provide peer-based support and interventions regarding symptoms of physical or psychiatric illness, coping skills, medications/side effects, employment supports, and relapse prevention.

• Collaborate with clients, families, and care teams to assist in the development and implementation of client-centered care plans.

• Coordinate and/or deliver services to promote recovery, modeling effective coping strategies, self-advocacy, and personal wellness practices grounded in lived experience.

• Facilitate development of and access to personal, agency, and community-based supports, services and resources that sustain ongoing rehabilitation and recovery; accompany clients as needed to acquire resources.

• Lead or co-lead client or caregiver-focused groups addressing life skills, benefits/resources, social skills, parenting support, and self-directed advocacy and recovery.

• Assist clients and families in effectively communicating with providers and navigating community service systems.

• Serve as a role model by demonstrating recovery-oriented values, resilience, and effective coping strategies.

Team Collaboration & Documentation

• Communicate progress and actively contribute to daily team operations.

• Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant documentation in accordance with Center, regulatory, and accreditation standards, including those for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC), RI Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals (BHDDH), and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

• Complete required reports and evaluations as necessary.

• Uphold client rights by treating individuals with dignity, respecting diverse values and lifestyles, and maintaining confidentiality.

• Participate in required trainings, conferences, in-service education, and continuing education in order to maintain certification (CPRS). Share knowledge with staff and clients. This includes training in professional boundaries and ethics.

• Maintain cooperative, professional relationships with staff, clients, community partners, and the public.

• Accept supervision and feedback constructively and contribute to a positive, collaborative work environment.

• Attend team meetings and case reviews to share updates and collaboratively address client and family needs. Community-Based Service Delivery

• Conduct home visits, school meetings, and community outreach to support clients and families in their natural environments.

• Transport clients safely when required, adhering to traffic laws, safety protocols, and vehicle use policies.

• Maintain accurate, detailed, and timely records of all client interactions and services provided, including clinical documentation as required.

• Ensure compliance with agency policies, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements.

• Attend trainings and case presentations.

• Serve on committees and participate in agency initiatives as assigned.

• Perform other duties as assigned to support client and family goals and program needs.

Requirements:

• High School or GED Required

• Must be at least 21 years of age.

• Minimum 2 years of experience working with children/youth (1 year with a relevant Associate’s degree; not required with a relevant Bachelor’s degree).

• Must also have at least 2 years of lived experience with substance use and/or mental health disorders for self, family member, or loved one, and the ability to appropriately share experience with clients. Someone who views clients’ needs with a high priority and who would be a strong advocate for them with other treatment providers. Someone who espouses a strong desire to help others.

• Experience in accessing community resources such as housing, medical, financial, etc.

• Experience in behavioral and/or medical health preferred.

• Computer experience preferred.

• Valid driver’s license, current registration, inspection, and insured automobile required.

• Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) certification required or must obtain CPRS within one year of hire.

• Manual dexterity and mobility required. While performing the major responsibilities of this position, the incumbent must be able to regularly sit, stand or walk, and occasionally reach for prolonged periods of time. Must be able to lift, push, move and/or carry supplies or equipment up to 25 pounds, and occasionally be able to bend, stoop, crouch or kneel.
• This position may be based at various Center locations, community or client home settings.

Care New England Health System (CNE) and its member institutions; Butler Hospital, Women & Infants Hospital, Kent Hospital, VNA of Care New England, Integra, The Providence Center, and Care New England Medical Group, and our Wellness Center, are trusted organizations fueling the latest advances in medical research, attracting top specialty-trained doctors, and honing renowned services and innovative programs to engage in the important discussions people need to have about their health.

Americans with Disability Act Statement: External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled must be able to perform the essential job-specific functions either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation, to be determined by the organization on a case-by-case basis.

EEOC Statement: Care New England is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Ethics Statement: Employee conducts himself/herself consistent with the ethical standards of the organization including, but not limited to hospital policy, mission, vision, and values.