Hybrid Bilingual Family Peer Support Specialist bei Kitsap Mental Health Services

Bilingual Family Peer Specialist – Child & Family Services

Hiring Range: $21.42 – $25.93 Per Hour

Benefits: 

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness Coverage: Enjoy extensive health, dental, and vision benefits to support your well-being, with access to top-tier care and services.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Take advantage of up to 19 days of paid time off (PTO), plus 2 mental health days and 10 paid holidays in your first year, giving you the time you need to recharge and take care of yourself. (Pro-rated for part-time employees.)
• Company-Paid Life & Disability Insurance: We’ve got you covered with short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance, all provided at no cost to you, so you can feel secure in every situation.
• Student Loan Assistance & Professional Development: Benefit from student loan repayment assistance and a commitment to your growth with extensive training and development opportunities to advance your career.
• 403(b) Retirement Plan: Take control of your future with a wide range of investment options in our 403(b) plan. Depending on eligibility, you could also receive generous company contributions to help grow your retirement savings.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Access confidential support through our EAP, offering resources for personal and professional challenges, including counseling, financial advice, and more.
• Pets Best Pet Insurance: Keep your furry family members healthy with comprehensive pet insurance for your cats and dogs, covering a variety of treatments and services.
• 2MorrowHealth Behavioral Change App: Improve your mental and physical well-being with free access to 2MorrowHealth, a powerful app designed to support healthy behavior changes and wellness goals.
• Home Support Services: Whether you’re buying, selling, or refinancing, we offer valuable resources to assist with your home journey, helping you navigate the process with confidence.
• Dynamic, Collaborative Team Environment: Join an incredible team that thrives on collaboration, creativity, and support, where every voice is heard and every idea valued.

Kitsap Mental Health Services (KMHS) is hiring a Bilingual Family Peer Specialist (Spanish/English) to support parents and caregivers of children and youth with emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges. This role draws on lived experience as a parent/caregiver and understanding of Hispanic/Latino culture to provide culturally responsive peer support, advocacy, and system navigation. Working side-by-side with families, the Bilingual Family Peer Specialist helps build hope, resiliency, and community connections. Services are provided in homes, schools, community settings, and offices in a non-crisis context while remaining prepared for emotionally charged situations.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Use personal lived experience to validate, encourage, and promote empowerment, hope, and recovery for parents/caregivers.
• Provide bilingual (Spanish/English) support, including informal interpretation/translation, clarifying information, and bridging cultural gaps.
• Advocate for families in housing, employment, schools, healthcare, and community settings.
• Address stigma, connect families to peer support or advocacy groups, and educate clients on rights and grievance processes.
• Assist with housing support, including helping families secure safe, affordable housing, coordinating moves, and setting up homes.
• Support employment readiness through mentoring, job search assistance, and workplace communication support for Spanish-speaking clients.
• Teach and model daily living skills such as household management, budgeting, nutrition, and transportation.
• Provide bilingual assistance with healthcare access, including navigating appointments and medical communication.
• Organize or lead culturally relevant recreational and community activities that promote engagement and wellness.
• Support participation in social and community events, offering bilingual assistance to increase inclusion and accessibility.
• Provide assistance during challenges or crises, including safety planning and treatment access, with bilingual support as needed.
• Partner with clients and team members to create wellness and recovery plans that respect cultural perspectives.
• Attend and provide support in IEPs, court hearings, and family meetings, offering translation/interpretation when needed.
• Research, identify, and connect families to culturally relevant community resources and supports.
• Provide or coordinate transportation to appointments, meetings, and community activities, offering bilingual support during travel.
• Maintain documentation of services, participate in supervision, follow agency policies, and maintain professional boundaries.

Minimum Qualifications:

EDUCATION: High School Diploma or GED.

EXPERIENCE/SKILLS: Experienced (minimum two years of job-related experience).

This position requires driving clients in a personal vehicle on behalf of the agency; therefore, the incumbent must meet agency driving requirements, including meeting the minimum age requirement of 21 years old, successfully completing a motor vehicle history check, possessing and maintaining a current, valid driver's license in the state of Washington, and having reliable, insured transportation. Language: Speech and writing fluency in both English and Spanish

LICENSES/CREDENTIALS: Agency Affiliated Counselor Registration. Completion of the Washington State Mental Health Division’s Peer Counselor Training and the subsequent certification as a Peer Counselor within six months of employment.

Preferred Qualifications:

EDUCATION: Associate’s degree (Social Work, Psychology, or Behavioral Health field)

EXPERIENCE/SKILLS: Relevant experience working with clients with severe and persistent mental illness. Capacity to work well with children and families.

Performance Requirements:

KNOWLEDGE:

1. Maintain a working knowledge of current trends in community mental health, including health care reform and automation of job tasks using computer technology.
2. Maintain certification as a Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths Assessor and administer this screening in person and over the phone as necessary to clients, caregivers, clinicians, social workers, and other community members
3. Maintain a working knowledge of mental health rehabilitation standards.
4. Working knowledge of the system of care and community resources.

SKILLS:

1. Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other employees, clients, organizations, and the public.
2. Communication   : Communicates clearly and concisely.
3. Computer skills - The ability to operate a personal computer, fax machine, printer, and copier proficiently.

ABILITIES:

1. Ability to maintain complete and timely documentation of clinical files and gather and maintain data information in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
2. Demonstrated ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and communications while working with all services, supports, team members, youth, and families.
3. Demonstrated ability to meet or exceed productivity standards.
4. Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively as a team member.
5. Consistently be able to drive to appointments, meetings, and community events to support side-by-side support, provide encouragement, and positively model skills, communications, and areas focused on in the treatment plan.

Worksite-Specific Requirements: check applicable worksite(s)

 WORKSITE #1: North Kitsap Campus

REQUIREMENT: Active Driver’s license. This position requires driving clients in a personal vehicle on behalf of the agency; therefore, the incumbent must meet agency driving requirements, including meeting the minimum age requirement of 21 years old, successfully completing a motor vehicle history check, possessing and maintaining a current, valid driver's license in the state of Washington, and having reliable, insured transportation

Equipment Operated: Standard office equipment including computers, fax machines, copiers, printers, telephones, vehicle, etc.

Work Environment: : While performing the job duties, the employee is required to walk, sit, drive, use hands and fingers, reach with arms, talk, or listen.  Peripheral vision is also required for this position.

Mental/Physical Requirements:  While performing the job duties, the employee is required to walk, sit, drive, use hands and fingers, reach with arms, talk, or listen.  Peripheral vision is also required for this position.

Our recruitment processes are designed to prevent discrimination against our people regardless of gender identity or orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, citizenship, or any aspect which makes someone unique.