09/08/2025
CONTRACTED
Family Advocate & Peer Support Specialist
Edmund L. Thomas Adolescent Center
Part-Time, Weekend Work (No Benefits)
Up to $17/hour, 20 hours per week
OVERVIEW
This is a contracted professional position for the Erie County Office of Children and Youth primarily located at the Edmund L. Thomas Adolescent Center (ELTAC) Shelter. The Family Advocate/ Peer Support Specialist provides supportive consultation and coordination of services to families, caseworkers, and other pertinent support persons for each youth residing at Erie County’s ELTAC Shelter.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS
60 relevant college credits with 12 credits related to the social sciences OR an acceptable, relevant combination of education, experience and training
RESPONSIBILITIES MAY INCLUDE:
• Continually assesses the needs of the youth, the birth family, legal guardian and/or foster family to promote healthy development and growth in all life domains.
• Works in conjunction with birth families, legal guardians and/or foster families to attain permanency for the youth and/or to advocate for client’s needs.
• Works in conjunction with OCY Congregate Care Worker to locate after-care placements for clients.
• Gathers information and conducts needs assessments to assess legal guardians, birth families’ and /or Foster Resource family’s strengths and weaknesses, and to develop appropriate goals and time frames for service plans.
• Communicates and involves legal guardians, birth parents and/ or foster parents as much as possible regarding their youth’s progress, concerns, major decisions, changes in services and placement.
• Enhanced emphasis with birth families, legal guardians and/or foster families to instill change in attitudes, beliefs and behaviors in clients to improve level of functioning and coping skills.
• Supports birth parents, legal guardians and/or foster parent’s strengths and addresses areas of weakness through role modeling, direct communication, teaching, and advocacy.
• Provides guidance to legal guardians, birth families (if applicable), and foster parents in implementing the treatment plan and service plan for the youth.
• Obtains and increases professional and technical knowledge (and skills) by attending trainings, reviewing professional publications, and establishing personal networks related to workplace competence (approved by ELTAC Administration).
• Displays functional interpersonal skills with co-workers, caseworkers, ELTAC staff, contractors, volunteers, foster parents, and others, by communicating in a clear and direct manner when relaying information. Must be able to assist in resolving misunderstandings and/or conflicts, which may occur.
• Coordinates and participates in monthly Shelter Discharge/Planning meetings, conducts Individual Service Plan (ISP) monthly reviews for each resident, with caseworkers.
• Provides thorough and ongoing case-documentation, turning in weekly to ELTAC Shelter Administrator.
• Performs other duties and special projects as assigned, based on the needs of the youth or program.
• Ensure that extended visit forms for overnight stays are completed.
• Participate/coordinate child interviews w/placement resources.
• Ensure residents participate in discharge survey.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING
The selected candidate will be required to maintain, at their own expense, PA State Police Criminal History Record Check; PA Child Abuse History and FBI Background History Check (including fingerprinting).
TO APPLY: E-mail resume and cover letter to
[email protected]
