Job Summary

Provides culturally competent, trauma-informed, evidenced-based, and client-centered peer support and parenting skills coaching to parents with children who have developmental disabilities. Decrease crisis and increase in-home stabilization. Identify parenting resources and supports and teaches parents the skills to effectively navigate resources in order to meet priority needs. Collaborates effectively with co-workers, supervisors and outside professionals to meet crisis prevention plan and action plan goals. Helps engage families in the Wraparound Team process. Supports the parents and acts as a bridge between the family and system representatives.

This position is at the Social Impact Center Y, the social services branch of YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS). The mission of the Social Impact Center Y is to accelerate young people’s ability to build safe, successful, and happy lives. Every year, we serve 5,000 children, youth, young adults, and families across King County with programs that aim to strengthen young people’s ability to develop to their fullest potential through four strategies: reducing risk factors; navigating systems towards successful life transition; ensuring stability, safety and wellness in times of crisis; and building competencies and social capital. The Social Impact Center Y’s programs include housing, behavioral health, foster care licensing, violence prevention, education, and employment. Many of the young people we serve have had involvement in the foster care, criminal justice system, and/or homelessness systems.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

Full time 40 hour/week. M-F, 8-6pm with hours varying to meet the needs of families.
Weekly 2 hour team meeting to review open cases, expectations, changes, challenges for the team and/or program.
Weekly 1 hour supervision meeting to review open cases, performance, develop any skills or understanding that supports improved performance as a Parent Partner.
Twice monthly 1.5 hour CCORS (Children's Crisis Outreach and Response System) staff meeting. These meetings are time to learn about outside providers or services, review expectations or changes that impact everyone’s role on the CCORS team, allow for collaborative discussions re the program and it’s needs and/or evolution. 1x/monthly 1 hour meeting with our DDA Liaison AND 1x/month 1 hour meeting with our DDA consultant to review cases.
Required training that provides continued education re Parent Partner role and Crisis work best practices. Training courses occur throughout the year and staff are provided advance notice to plan accordingly.

What you'll get from working at The Y

Membership to the YMCA of Greater Seattle for you and your household
Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life insurance
Retirement with generous employer contributions
Free access to mental health resources
Rapidly accruing paid time off (PTO)
Full-time employees qualify for a 50% discount, and part-time employees qualify for a 25% discount, on eligible Childcare Services.

* Some benefits only available to full-time staff

Peer Support Specialist I: Hiring Range: $22.00 – 25.00/hr

Peer Support Specialist II: Hiring Range: $24.00 – 27.00/hr

**Required qualifications listed below

Responsibilities

Commitment to Families: CORS-DD serves families in crisis throughout King county. It is a free program to youth 3-21yo. Families and youth participate voluntarily. Their participation is private and CORS-Developmental Disability adheres to HIPPA privacy & consent policies.

Parent Partners may carry cases of 5-10
Cases generally last 120 days.
Expectations to meet clients needs with frequency, urgency and intensity. Parent Partners should be meeting with parents/caregivers at least 1x/wk in person in addition to frequent communication with family, CORS-Developmental Disability team, and outside providers throughout enrollment. Family may require more frequent communication and support at beginning of services as the crisis stabilizes.
Participating in meetings with other providers such as schools, hospitals, therapists, juvenile detention facilities, WISe teams, etc.
Expectations that meetings are occurring in person unless the family indicates otherwise.
Maintain timely and accurate documentation, within the same day of service.
Participate in helping the team and family write safety plans and action plans.

Commitment to your team and the program:

Consistent communication, replying to communication by end of work day via email, text, phone call, or Teams chat.
Maintaining an accurate work calendar that identifies your meetings and availability. Allowing your team and supervisor access to this calendar to aid in communication, scheduling and transparency.
Collaboration and solutions focused when discussing cases with the team.
Growth mindset while discussing cases with both your team and your supervisor.
Maintaining accurate documentation to ensure the most current information is available to your team and our after-hours team who support our families during evening and weekend hours.

*Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Code of Conduct for Applicants

Qualifications

Personal experience as a parent or custodial guardian who has sought and received assistance from community mental health and/or school systems (juvenile justice, behavioral health, child welfare, special education) for their own child or youth who experienced emotional and/or behavioral problems.
Trained in and familiar with recovery model to assist families and youth focus on strengths, gain client voice and partner with their clinical teams.
Experience serving families of children and youth with emotional or behavioral problems, developmental delays, substance abuse history or other challenges.
Other applicable education, training, and experience, which provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position will be considered.
Demonstrated ability to engage families in a structured process to verbalize needs, develop individualized plans, facilitate recovery, and transition to reliance on natural supports.
Knowledge of community services and resources including: parent support groups, mental health, substance abuse, child welfare, juvenile justice, developmental disabilities, special education programs, etc.
Experience with crisis de-escalation and crisis stabilization practices.
WA State Peer Counselor Certification preferred and required within one year of employment.
Ability to work flexible hours as needed, including evenings and weekends.
Ability to transport self and youth in a safe and effective manner, and to meet youth and families at their home or in the community. (Proof of adequate vehicle insurance coverage is required.)
Prefer knowledge of, and previous experience with, diverse populations (language, culture, race, physical activity, sexual orientation, etc.). Ability to speak any language in addition to English may be helpful.
Current State-approved first aid certification, state-approved CPR certification, BBP (HIV/AIDS) training certification.*
TB test by the Mantoux method.*
Washington State Agency Affiliated Counseling Credential.**

Other combinations of applicable education, training, and experience which provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position may be considered.

Peer Support Specialist I:

• WA State Peer Counselor Certification preferred and required within one year of employment.

Peer Support Specialist II:

• 2 years of relevant experience in social services

• WA State Peer Counselor Certification preferred and required within 30 days of employment.

*Within 30 days of employment or first available training.

**Training and certification can be completed after hire. Start process of training and certification within the first month of hire and full certification as a Peer within 6 months of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

Knowledge of and previous experience with diverse populations (language, culture, race, physical ability, sexual orientation, etc.).
Ability to speak any language in addition to English may be helpful.
Clear and frequent communication – both written and verbal.
Familiarity with Word, teams, excel, outlook, and generally finding your way around programs (this is also part of training).

Reliable Transportation Requirement

This role requires the incumbent to have access to reliable transportation to meet clients/families in the community in a timely manner.

Authorized Driver Preference

This role has the potential to transport clients as an “authorized driver” for the YMCA using an employer-provided vehicle. To become an authorized driver, you must be 21+, have had a driver's license for at least 3 years and with a driving record that meets Y standards (no more than 2 moving violations within the last 3 years, no major incidents such as reckless driving, DUI/DWI, no tickets 20+ miles above the speed limit etc.). As driving roles are safety sensitive, you would also need pass a drug screen that will test for impairing substances including marijuana. *Due to state-specific reporting requirements in our fleet management system, we are not currently able to enroll California Driver's License holders as Authorized Drivers.

You'll be a great fit for the Seattle Y if you:

Thrive on working in a collaborative environment.
Are very adaptable.
Have high ownership and strong work ethic.
Are a great problem solver who can think on your feet.
Truly enjoy being of service to people.
Like being part of a team that cares about one another as people and enjoy working together.
Want to know that the work you do contributes to building a better, stronger community for all.

OUR MISSION

Building a community where all people, especially the young, are encouraged to develop their fullest potential in spirit, mind, and body.

OUR VALUES

Respect
Responsibility
Honesty
Caring
Passion for Excellence

YGS is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse and equitable work environment. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by local, state, or federal law.

We are a drug & alcohol-free workplace. We participate in the Federal E-Verify system. All job offers are contingent on the results of a background check in accordance with Washington's Fair Chance Act. Please download and review the below resources for more information:

(i) The updated 2025 requirements of 49.94.010:

https://seattleymca.icims.com/icims2/servlet/icims2?module=AppInert&action=download&id=251099&hashed=1503034877

(ii) The WA attorney general's Washington fair chance act guide for employers and job applicants:

https://seattleymca.icims.com/icims2/servlet/icims2?module=AppInert&action=download&id=251100&hashed=74689660

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