Lead Family Peer Advocate

AccessCNY is a well-established agency with a rich history spanning over 70 years, dedicated to empowering individuals of all ages and abilities to reach their fullest potential within their communities. As a leader in providing person-centered services, AccessCNY focuses on residential housing, mental health and clinical care, and extensive community engagement. The organization operates 27 housing locations and 3 administrative buildings, working closely with the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and the Office of Mental Health to ensure comprehensive support and quality care for those they serve.

The role of Lead Family Peer Advocate at AccessCNY offers a unique and impactful opportunity to directly influence the quality and effectiveness of family advocacy services offered to children, youth, and families involved in behavioral health, developmental disability, education, child welfare, and related systems. Reporting to the Project Director and based at 1603 Court Street, Syracuse, NY, this position is a full-time, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. schedule with a competitive pay rate between $26.00 and $27.00 per hour.

In this pivotal leadership role, the successful candidate will provide direct supervision, guidance, and support to Family Peer Advocate (FPA) staff. This includes performance management, coaching, and ongoing professional development while fostering an environment that upholds trauma-informed, family-driven, culturally responsive, and person-centered practices. The Lead Family Peer Advocate will be instrumental in onboarding new staff, assisting with orientation, scheduling, and continuous staff development, ensuring the team is equipped to meet client needs effectively.

This role requires proactive engagement with FPA staff to overcome challenges related to family engagement, advocacy, crisis intervention, and community coordination. The Lead Family Peer Advocate will meet regularly with staff to review the implementation of services, evaluate progress, address barriers, and facilitate service coordination to ensure optimal outcomes for families. Additionally, they will provide direct family support and advocacy services as needed and participate in an on-call rotation for urgent family needs or crises.

The Lead Family Peer Advocate is also responsible for supporting System of Care initiatives and community collaboration efforts, maintaining compliance with all relevant agency, state, federal, and program regulations, and ensuring the agency’s policies and employment laws are followed. A critical part of this role is to maintain high standards of service quality and person-centered care while completing incident reports thoroughly and within designated timeframes.

AccessCNY values a diverse workforce that reflects the communities served and believes that diversity strengthens the agency. The organization offers robust benefits including health, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with matching contributions, paid time off, and 11 paid holidays. They seek a candidate dedicated to making a tangible difference in the lives of families and eager to grow within a supportive, mission-driven environment.