Family Peer Advocate, Community Engagement

Family Peer Advocate, Community Engagement

Help build a stronger, more connected support system for NYC's youth and families. As a Family Peer Advocate, Community Engagement with the Coordinated Children's Services Initiative (CCSI-NYC), you'll bring your lived experience and passion for community to a role that truly makes a difference. You'll help families feel heard, strengthen partnerships across the city, and contribute to improving how mental health services work for children who need them most.

In this engaging, community-focused position, you'll lead outreach efforts, connect with families across all five boroughs, and help facilitate welcoming borough-based council meetings that center youth mental health. You'll organize meaningful community events and awareness activities, collaborate with local partners, and make sure families' voices help shape the support they receive.

If you enjoy building relationships, uplifting families, and working alongside a team that values compassion and collaboration, this role offers a rewarding opportunity to create lasting impact.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Lead community-level outreach and engagement by recruiting participants through online channels, organizing and attending events, strengthening referral pathways with non-profit partners, and working collaboratively with Community Programs to expand Vibrant's presence.
• Collaborate with families to amplify community voices.
• Share personal knowledge and experiences about the youth serving systems
• Partner with all Vibrant community programs to enhance partnerships with community organizations and community members.
• Conduct outreach and presentations in communities, schools, early intervention programs, clinics, and other community-based providers with a special emphasis on connecting with communities that have been historically hard to reach.
• Facilitate /co-facilitate borough-based council meetings (BBCs/COC), centering youth mental health.
• Organize and support social/recreational activities for youth mental health and community awareness campaigns.
• Identify local partners and citywide resources.
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation of the work completed with CCSI borough-based councils, youth and families.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Required Skills/ Abilities:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Must exhibit a commitment to the well-being and competent care for all
• Show respect in all aspects of work.
• Trainings, workshops and group facilitation experience.
• Collaborative, team-oriented spirit.
• Possessing wisdom gained through lived experience.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with communities and partner.

Required Qualifications:

• The Family Peer Advocate (FPA) will be a parent/caregiver of a child who has experienced social, emotional, developmental, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges and has 'lived experience' navigating multiple NYC systems on behalf of their child(ren) with social, emotional, developmental, health and/or behavioral healthcare needs.
• Experience working with youth and caregivers/parents impacted by mental health.
• Opportunity to obtain the NYS Family Peer Advocate (FPA) certification if not already held, with Vibrant providing dedicated support and resources to ensure successful completion within 18 months of being hired.
• Work flexible hours, as required.
• Bilingual and bi-cultural candidates are encouraged to apply.
• Candidates possessing exceptional skills, but not all of the qualifications are also encouraged to apply.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to travel within the 5 boroughs.
• Mostly sedentary work; using standard office equipment including: a computer, keyboard, and telephone.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff, program participants, service providers and other stakeholders.
• Ability to walk and stand for long periods of time.
• Ability to remain calm and composed under stress.
• Ability to respond to telephones and other auditory stimulation.
• Ability to evaluate/interpret information and make independent judgment/decisions.

We determine base pay through a comprehensive review of skills, experience, education, certifications, geographic location, and other relevant factors. The range listed reflects the compensation parameters for the role and does not represent the full compensation package. A complete overview of compensation and benefits will be provided by the Talent Acquisition team during the hiring process.

Full time employees will be eligible for excellent comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, supplemental income insurance, employer paid disability insurance, employer paid life insurance, pre-tax FSA for medical and dependent care, and 401K available.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. Vibrant will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

Vibrant Emotional Health is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are considered for positions without regard to veteran status, uniformed service member status, race, creed, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national origin, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, caregiver status or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.