Family/Peer Support Legal Advocate-Child Advocacy Center

The Family/Peer Support Legal Advocate provides trauma-informed, compassionate, and culturally responsive support to caregivers and families engaged with the Child Advocacy Center (CAC). This position uses lived experience, relational support, and established peer-support practices to help caregivers navigate the CAC process, understand available services, reduce stress, and build resilience. The Family/Peer Support Legal Advocate will provide support during forensic interviews, SANE medical examinations, advocacy meetings with other agencies, crisis support during court preparations, grand jury, trial dates and follow-up with clients, families and other providers as needed.

Position Type: Full Time 40 Hours/non-exempt 

Pay Rate: $25-$28 per hour 

Work Location: 946 Columbia St., Hudson, NY 12534

Shift Schedule: 8:30am-5:00pm (flexible)

Job Duties:

• Provide support during forensic interviews, multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, court appearances and additional services as needed.

• Offer peer-based guidance using shared experience appropriately while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Help families identify strengths, coping strategies, and support systems.
• Explain rights and appropriate services to caregivers and families with community resources such as victim services, housing support, financial assistance, and crisis intervention programs.
• Explain rights and available services for victims and families.
• Provide follow-up support calls or check-ins as needed.

• Attend continuous training, and supervision meetings (virtually or in-person as needed).

• Developing training for the community and law enforcement, court and jail entities on relevant topics to working with victims.

• Providing supportive services to clients including crisis counseling, individual and group supportive counseling, and community response in person and via telephone and correspondence. 
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation of all contacts, support provided, and referrals using AWARDS.

• Lived experience as a caregiver, survivor, or family member who has interacted with child victim services systems and is stable in personal recovery.
• Must obtain Family Peer Advocate credentials within 6 months.
• Will complete and maintain all continuing education at a minimum of 20 hours within 2 years of recertification.
• Associates degree or equivalent.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and in case of emergency weekends, on an as-needed basis.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and crisis support skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to professional boundaries.
• Ability to attend in-person sessions at the CAC, community agencies, or community locations.
• Prior experience in peer support, advocacy, child welfare, victim services, or related fields preferred.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills preferred.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and geographic backgrounds. 

• Demonstrate a commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.  

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.  

• Regular and steady attendance is a requirement for all positions. 

Candidates from historically underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. 

All offers are contingent upon successful Statewide Central Registry (SCR), fingerprint clearance and possession of a valid NYS driver’s license with a MVR eligible for agency insurance coverage.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we do not discriminate in our employment practices due to an applicant's sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, creed, disability, veteran status, marital status, familial status, military status, domestic violence victim status, sexual orientation or gender identity/expression (including transgender status), predisposing genetic characteristics/genetic information or carrier status, ancestry, ethnic group identification, ethnic background, traits historically associated with race, reproductive health decision making, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. At the Mental Health Association, we believe a diverse and inclusive workforce makes the best workforce. 

Full Time Benefits include Medical, Dental, Life and AD&D plan. Profit Sharing Account (employer contribution) plus Voluntary Vision, Life, AFLAC, Telemedicine (Concierge Medical), Voluntary 401K plans, EAP, generous sick, vacation, personal time, paid holidays, mileage reimbursement at the federal rate per mile driven for business use, tuition reimbursement and much more. Plus, you get to be part of a dynamic, diverse, and supportive behavioral health organization whose mission is to "Provide education and advocacy, and to enhance the wellbeing of individuals, families and communities."