Certified Parent Partner

Koinonia Family Services is seeking an empathetic and motivated individual for the role of Parent Partner in our mental health program in Temecula, CA. This part-time position is ideal for individuals who have personal experience raising or caring for a child with behavioral, emotional, or mental health challenges. Drawing on their own caregiving experience, Parent Partners provide encouragement, guidance, and practical support to families navigating similar challenges.

In this role, you will work alongside families to help them access services, build confidence, and advocate for their children’s needs. Parent Partners play an important role in helping families feel supported and understood while contributing to Koinonia’s mission to bring hope and healing to children, youth and families.

Required Certification: Certification as a Parent Partner or Peer through the Riverside University Health System (RUHS) Peer Certification Training Program is preferred. Completion of the 80-hour Peer Certification Training through the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) is also preferred. However, candidates who are not yet certified but are willing and able to complete the required training and certification within a reasonable period after hire will be considered

Opportunity Highlights:

• A great chance to support youth who have experienced trauma
• Hourly pay rate:
  • $18.00 to $19.00 per hour, entry level / not yet certified.
  • $20.00 to $22.00 per hour, already certified as RUHS/CalMHSA Parent/Peer Partner and depending upon experience.
• Benefits include paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and participation in our 401k plan
• Mileage reimbursement is included for business miles driven
• Enhance your knowledge and skills by working alongside a committed team of professionals to learn cutting-edge, evidence-based treatment modalities
• Work with a great team of people who care about each other and care about our mission to help youth and families find hope and healing

Key Responsibilities:

• Mentor families currently fostering and adopting, as a part of a multidimensional team providing services to the family.
• Provide peer counseling to foster and adoptive parents to improve outcomes for children.
• Aid families on navigating the child welfare system and referrals to services.
• Complete Medi-Cal billing documentation according to Medi-Cal standards and timelines.
• Complete required initial training, including Parent Partner training through Riverside University Health System (RUHS) and 80 hours of Peer Certification Training through CalMHSA, as required for peer support staff.

Parents who have encountered the barriers and challenges of navigating through community services, such as Behavioral Health, Special Education, and Juvenile justice systems, know the energy, perseverance, and commitment that is needed to receive help for their child and family. They have learned to work within the system to establish success for our children. Parent Partners provide support to other parents so they can help their families.

This is a part-time position. The schedule is about 5-10 hours per week, with some occasional evening and weekend hours. The scheduled hours may increase up to 20 hours per week as families are referred for services.

Qualifications:

• A strong desire to help families achieve successful outcomes.
• Experience as a foster parent, adoptive parent, or caregiver supporting youth with behavioral or emotional challenges.
• Ability to appropriately share personal caregiving or lived experience while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Good working knowledge of the child welfare system, behavioral health services, and community resources.
• Ability to support, encourage, and empower parents as they navigate behavioral health, school, and child welfare systems.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong active listening skills and the ability to understand client needs.
• Strong writing skills.
• Ability to document services accurately and in a timely manner in accordance with program requirements.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team supporting youth and families.
• A high degree of integrity and respect for confidentiality.
• A flexible schedule to meet program needs.
• Ability to travel and drive up to one hour from the primary job site as needed.

Join Our Team:

At Koinonia Family Services, we are committed to creating a supportive, mission-driven workplace where employees feel valued and connected to the work they do. In our recent employee climate survey, 98% of staff reported strong teamwork with their coworkers, and 97% said their supervisors treat them with respect. Employees also reported a strong connection to our mission and a clear understanding of how their work contributes to helping children and families.

Our staff consistently report that they are treated with dignity and respect and feel supported by their teams and supervisors. As a trauma-informed organization, we emphasize collaboration, professional support, and a person-centered approach to care. If you are looking for meaningful work with a team that cares deeply about each other and the youth and families we serve, we invite you to join us in bringing hope and healing to children, youth and families.

Important Note:

Qualified candidates must complete a criminal background clearance through the California Department of Justice and FBI to ensure eligibility for employment, as well as a pre-employment physical and TB test. This position requires a valid driver’s license, auto insurance and reliable transportation as driving is an essential job function.

This position requires a valid driver’s license, auto insurance and reliable transportation as driving is an essential job function. Parent Partners are responsible for tasks such as visiting client homes, transporting youth, engaging with community partners, often in locations not easily accessible by alternative transportation methods. The nature of these responsibilities necessitates the ability to drive to ensure timely, reliable, confidential and effective support for the youth and families we serve. Koinonia Family Services is an equal-opportunity employer.