Note: Employees in this position will work not more than 32 hours per week.

The Parent Outreach Specialist, under direction of System of Care (SOC) leadership, will work alongside the Pathways to Potential Site teams and other Parent Outreach Specialists to create opportunities for parent/caregiver engagement, equipping and advocacy to inform the policy, practice, and services provided to youth with emotional and behavioral challenges and their families. They will coordinate meetings with caregivers/parents at their sites in identifying the unique needs of their community and inform the SOC of these needs. They assist in integrating care for children with mental health challenges and their families, who are also involved in the Child Protective Services (CPS), juvenile justice system, and/or special education systems, and draw on the strengths of families to reduce long-term system dependency and improve outcomes. The Parent Outreach Specialist will use their personal life experience as a caregiver of a youth with mental health challenges to inspire hope to the parent/caregiver and provide additional perspective to system partners.

A. Required Experience and Training

1. Be a high school graduate or have successfully completed the General Educational Development test (GED); AND

2. Must be a parent and/or primary day-to-day caregiver of a child attending or living in local school districts with behavioral and/or mental health challenges, who is currently or has in the past received mental health and/or special education services.

3. Bilingual candidates highly desired.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

An employee in this class performs activities that require the ability to occasionally bend, stoop and kneel; the ability to sit for extended periods of time; and the ability to traverse a multi-level facility.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

An employee in this class works within the public school system, community at large and local agency offices, with considerable travel required throughout the County by use of personal resources. Work hours will be 32 hours per week and may include hours outside of an 8-5 schedule.

EVALUATION CONTENT
Applicants for County employment may be subject to a post-offer criminal background check, depending on the nature and assignment of the position. When such check is conducted, an offer of employment is contingent upon the results of the criminal background check. Appointees must satisfactorily complete a probationary period before the appointment will be considered permanent.

APPLICANT REVIEW PROCEDURE
Any applicant is entitled to a review of any determination or action taken by the County regarding the applicant’s employment application. Inquiries should be directed to the County Human Resources Department.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this recruitment is to establish an eligible list from which to fill present and future vacancies in this classification in the County system. For each opening, the Department Head has her/his choice of the candidates who meet the required minimum entrance qualifications. This list remains in effect for three months unless exhausted or extended.