Parent Partner

At Wayfinder Family Services, we understand the unique challenges facing some of our state’s most vulnerable children, youth and adults. Those with disabilities, those without a home of their own, those who have been abused and many, many more. We answer the call for them. We believe in the amazing potential in, and for, each and every one of them. And, together, we find a way to turn that potential into reality.  

Program and Role Summary

Wayfinder’s Parent Partner provides kinship navigation service for grandparents, extended family members or close family friends who step up to raise children so they avoid the trauma of separation from their birth family. The program also assists kinship families that form voluntarily, without the assistance of a child welfare agency. Our program offers counseling, assistance with basic needs, support groups and workshops, respite resources and more. Kinship families are more stable, and children maintain their family connections, which produces better long-term outcomes.

The primary focus on the Parent Partner is to act as a link by providing peer to peer mentoring and support to permanency families.

The hourly wage range for this role is $21.00 - $24.00. 

This position is part-time and budgeted for 16 hours/week, with a varied schedule.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Assist in the recruitment of prospective families with recognition of potential concerns and/or needs within the family and conduct assessment during intakes.
• Promote and assist in the connection of families to available resources for permanency families and children including legal resources, mental health education, respite care and counseling. Referring families to resources during initial intake, ongoing communication, and bi-annual check-ins. Attend Community partnership meeting and resource committee to stay updated on available resources. Keeps up clothes closet as a viable resource.
• Evaluate the need for services within a family and advocate for those resources or services. Referring families to resources during initial intake, ongoing communication, and bi-annual check-ins.
• Act as a resource for families regarding referrals and agency policies and procedures. Referring families to resources during initial intake, ongoing communication, and bi-annual check-ins.
• Other duties as outlined in the position description.

Education and Experience:

• A high school diploma or its equivalent is required.
• At least two years of experience as a kin or adoptive caregiver, five years are preferred.
• Two years of experience working with families and the community is preferred.

Benefits: Wayfinder is committed to providing our employees with a benefits program that is both comprehensive and competitive which includes:

• Paid Time Off: Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, 11 paid holidays, plus five winter holidays
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match up to 4% 
• Employee referral program: Encourage your colleagues to join us
• Education tuition assistance program: Invest in your career development 
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible
• Flexible spending account (FSA) plans 
• Eligibility and other benefits are outlined in plan documents

Wayfinder Family Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We support a drug-free workplace and conduct pre-employment background and drug screenings.