Have you traveled or are you traveling the mental health journey with your child or young adult? Do you feel passionate about helping similar families and advocating for better systems and services? Do you lead with compassion? If so, then this job may be for you!

Parent/Professional Advocacy League, Inc. (PPAL) is a vibrant, impactful nonprofit organization working to improve life for families of children and young adults with mental health needs. PPAL works throughout Massachusetts helping families navigate services in mental health, juvenile justice, and school, at no cost. We closely partner with other community and state agencies to support families, nurture parent leaders, and improve systems.

More information about PPAL can be found here.

Job Description: Family Support Specialist

Job Type: Part Time/Full Time (20-30 hours week)

Location: Central MA area

As a Family Support Specialist (FSS), you would be responsible for (i) providing information, support, and education to parents/caregivers in obtaining services for their children and family with mental health needs and becoming the best advocate they can be for their child(ren); (ii) doing outreach in the community to reduce mental health stigma and make PPAL’s services known; and (iii) participating in policy/systems meetings and events to influence improvement in mental health access and services in MA. PPAL will provide training.

The Family Support Specialist candidate must be bilingual. In addition:

● have experience raising a child, youth, or young adult with emotional, behavioral or mental health challenges

● have a steadfast commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging

● embrace and celebrate all cultures, ethnicities, languages, gender identities, sexual preferences, ages, lifestyles, and abilities - all families are important and treated with respect

● have a strong desire to support PPAL’s mission of improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and families

● be able to work some evenings and weekends

● have a valid MA driver’s license, and access to reliable transportation

This position is currently hybrid – office (Westborough, MA), home, and community-based - generally during Monday – Friday business hours. You must be flexible in your ability to be in the office, in the community, and at required meetings. Bilingual fluency is preferred.

Interested? Here are some of the things you would be doing:

● Working with families one-on-one to provide emotional support, referral resources, and education around the mental health system, appropriate services for their family, their child’s rights, school-related issues, skill-building, effective communication, and advocacy at the local and state levels.

● Facilitating support groups and workshops for families as needed.

● Outreach in the community to schools, organizations, and professionals to inform them of PPAL’s services and reduce mental health stigma.

● Representing PPAL and family voice always in a positive and professional manner; consistently communicating PPAL’s mission and vision as a representative of family voice in mental health.

● Promoting diversity in culture, religion, race, education, socioeconomics, and gender identity and expression, among others, and regularly demonstrating cultural humility, a desire to learn, and a desire to effectively address disproportionality and barriers to equality. If this describes you, then let’s talk!

Submit your resume and a cover letter (including your personal experience raising a child with children's mental health) to apply@ppal.net. This is a 20-30 hour a week position with a salary range of $20 to $22 per hour. Salary is non-negotiable. Benefits include generous PTO and holidays. Contributory health/dental insurance at 30 hours/week.