Morrison Child and Family Services Careers

Description

Department/Program: Parent Mentor Program

Reports to: Program Supervisor

Work location: Portland

FLSA status: non-exempt/hourly

• Nonviolence - being safe and doing the right thing  
• Emotional Intelligence - managing our feelings so we don’t hurt ourselves or others 
• Social Learning - respecting and sharing ideas of our teams 
• Democracy - shared decision making whenever possible 
• Open Communication - saying what we mean and not being mean when we say it 
• Social Responsibility - everyone makes a contribution to the organizational culture 
• Growth and Change - creating hope for our clients and ourselves 
• Equity - Assuring all can survive and thrive

Position/Job Summary 

Parent Mentors are role models demonstrating the possibility of change and a healthy life as a parent in recovery.  Parent Mentors provide system navigation based on a combination of their personal experience and professional training.

Duties and Responsibilities 

• Develop a trusting relationship with Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Self Sufficiency and/or Child Welfare-involved parents by providing regular contact and support, including attending court and/or meetings with ODHS
• Support parents in developing skills to parent in recovery and build social supports
• Link parents with culturally responsive treatment services and community resources as needed
• Encourage parents to advocate for their needs by coaching parents in understanding the boundaries and expectations of ODHS
• Provides community-based mentoring services including transporting parents and families
• Consult with ODHS staff regarding effective culturally specific practices to engage families
• Build relationships with ODHS, treatment services and dependency court systems and represent the Parent Mentor Program positively with community partners
• Communicate positively and professionally with ODHS staff and work collaboratively with caseworkers to support parents in achieving their goals
• Assist teammates and ODHS staff in recognizing culturally specific issues of addiction and recovery
• Attend weekly supervision and team meetings, and offer support to mentors on the team
• Document contacts and visits with parents and maintain parent records
• Attend all trainings as necessary and participate in panels and advisory groups as requested
• Attainment of team and professional development goals on a yearly basis
• Models and encourages direct, professional communication among all staff involved and contributes to the development of good employee morale
• Participate in the practice and continuing implementation of the Sanctuary Model
• Other duties as assigned to ensure successful operation of program/department

Competencies

• Ability to engage peers in collaborative and caring relationships
• Ability to provide hope and support to peers
• Ability to share and model lived experiences of recovery
• Ability to provide linkages to resources, services, and supports
• Ability to work from a strengths-based perspective in motivating parents to make a change
• Ability to provide information about skills related to health, wellness, and recovery
• Ability to support peers in managing crises
• Ability to model respectful, person-centered, recovery-oriented language
• Ability to model collaboration and teamwork
• Ability to maintain confidential information
• Ability to attend regular scheduled work hours between 7:00am-7:30pm, be punctual for scheduled work hours and meetings
• Flexibility, ability, and willingness to take on new responsibilities as needed
• Ability to promote and practice growth & change, and social learning
• Able to provide culturally responsive service, hold self and each other accountable to Morrison’s commitment to equity, and honor the diversity and uniqueness of all individuals within Morrison, our clients and community stakeholders.

Required Position Qualifications: (Minimum qualifications required by the contract/program to be considered for hire into this position)

• Personal experience and knowledge of substance use disorder
• Minimum 2 years in active recovery from using alcohol and other drugs
• Personal experience of a ODHS Child Welfare case, closed for a minimum 1 year required
• High School Diploma or GED or high school level writing and reading skills

Preferred Position Qualifications (preference may be given to those who hold these qualifications; however, candidates who meet the required position qualifications are encouraged to apply)

1. Experience/knowledge of multiple pathways to recovery
2. Mentored by Recovery Mentor/peer support
3. Volunteer and service in community
4. Shared lived experience with Spanish speaking families and families of color
5. Bilingual in English and another language
6. Knowledge of treatment and community resources preferred
7. Certified Recovery Mentor certificate through MHACBO
8. Basic computer skills, including word processing, databases, spreadsheets & email
9. Basic clerical experience

For positions that require driving

• Hold a valid drivers’ license. Must be licensed in Oregon or Washington within 30 days of hire
• If driving personal vehicle, must maintain minimum auto insurance policy

Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently is required to sit, use hands and fingers, reach with arms; talk and hear. Visual abilities include close and distance vision. Occasionally this position requires walking, stooping, bending and lifting, up to 10 pounds, without assistance.  (Update these as appropriate for the specific position)

Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to a noise level of large groups of people, position works in an office cubicle environment. Outside weather conditions during travel time.  (Update these as appropriate for the specific position)