Family Peer Mentor

The Ohio START Family Peer Mentor helps families navigate the child welfare and other systems by providing peer support and promoting healing to keep children safe and families together. The Ohio START Family Peer Mentor serves families referred to the public children services agency (PCSA) due to child maltreatment with substance abuse being the primary risk factor. The Ohio START Family Peer Mentor serves as a member of the local START team along with the child welfare caseworker, child welfare supervisor, and behavioral health service provider. The goal of the entire team is to keep children safe and families together. The Ohio START Family Peer Mentor will have a caseload of no more than 10-12 families. Demonstrate long term recovery (at least 2 years is required, three years is preferred) from a substance use disorder. Have earned a minimum education level of GED. Demonstrate no ongoing criminal activity. Have lived experience with the child welfare system as a parent, with the case closed at least one year, or indirect lived experience with the child welfare system. Indirect lived experience means the candidate navigated a system (mental health, SUD recovery, public benefits, court, etc.) coupled with 1) intervention by a relative who took informal/formal custody of their child(ren), 2) an understanding of how their substance use/recovery affected their own children, or 3) raising a child of a relative/friend with a substance use disorder. Maintain a current driver's license; and Be certified by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services as an Ohio Peer Recovery Supporter or agree and have the ability to become certified upon hiring. The START Family Peer Mentor should have knowledge or be able to attain knowledge of: Alcohol and drugs (pharmacology) Behaviors associated with addiction Court processes Diversity Ethics Family dynamics Family Team Meetings Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Human behavior Local resources and services The START Family Peer Mentor should have skills in: Advocacy Maintaining confidentiality Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) Navigating systems Pathology of addiction Process of recovery Ohio START Program Self-help programs Signs of child abuse and neglect Trauma Informed Care Behavioral health and/or substance use treatment options Multi-tasking Negotiation Networking Coaching Communication (listening, verbal, nonverbal, written) Computers and technology Coping Crisis intervention Cultural competency De-escalation Driving Motivational interviewing The ideal candidate will possess the