MUSINGS from Susan's Desk

 A Time for Debunking Myths, Exposing Stigmas, Making Progress

                In the twelve days since President Obama signed a proclamation making May, 2013 National Mental Health Awareness Month, I’ve been encouraged by news of progress being made in our state and in our country.  Washington state lawmakers passed a bipartisan package of wide-scope mental health bills that will ease crisis-level access to inpatient psychiatric care, reduce delays for mentally ill patients awaiting trial and give school staff better training to spot suicidal students.  In Washington, D.C., lawmakers have been quietly working across party lines on legislation that advocates say could help keep youth struggling with emotional, mental and behavioral challenges like Adam Lanza from slipping through the cracks.

                The tragedy of Newtown, Conn brought home the fact that, though very few violent crimes are committed by mentally ill people, the current time is the best opportunity for needed, real and lasting change to prevent such tragedies from happening again.

                We all have a greater part to play at this time. This year’s theme for National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week (May 5^th- 11^th) is Out of the Shadows: Exposing Stigmas. Join us in highlighting that theme throughout the month of May by wearing a green ribbon!  Shine a light to increase public awareness and visibility of substance abuse with us, during National Prevention Week (May 12^th – 18^th). This year’s theme is Your voice. Your choice. Make a difference. Come out to enjoy dinner and participate in the discussion on preventing underage drinking with GPS Tuesday night, May 14^th, at the Renton Community Center, from 6pm to 7:30pm. It isn’t too late to reserve a table for you and your family. Register at http://goo.gl/F3vKp.  Or, simply give us a call today at (253) 236- 8264!

You can pick up your green ribbon at our May 14^th event or come by our office any weekday this month between 8:30am and 5:30pm.  Share your inspirations and ideas for real change with us in person or here on our blog and tell us how you’d like to partner with us to support King County youth and families this month and throughout 2013. Let’s keep making progress together now and into the future!

Parent Partner Job Posting

Two positions open until filled

Job Location: Kent, WA

Hours/Week: 40 hrs/week

Other information:

Must have reliable transportation: required to travel to attend meetings, activities and programs.
Must have an approved criminal background check.
Must be able and willing to accommodate flexibility in work schedule, occasional evenings and weekends.

Salary Range:  $12.00 to $15.00/hour DOE
Benefits:  Health, Holidays, Sick and Vacation
 
How to apply - please email:

• Letter of Interest - tell us a little about yourself, explain what interests you about this position, and describe how your experience and skills are a good fit for the position
• Resume
• GPS Employment Application - link to application
• Supplemental Questions - link to questions

to info@guidedpathways.org   Applications that do not include all four items will not be considered. For more information contact Pam Romine at (253) 236-8264.
 
About GPS for Youth & Families

Guided Pathways-Support for Youth and Families (GPS) is a new family support organization serving the communities of King County. GPS was founded with sponsorship of the King County Mental Health and Chemical Abuse and Dependency Services Division (MHCADSD).
 

Our mission is: We are families helping families.  We empower and support families and youth struggling with behavioral, emotional or substance abuse challenges in navigating resources to achieve wellness and resilience.

 
GPS will offer parent peer-support, education, training and advocacy for families and youth in King County.
 
Job Description

A Parent Partner empowers families caring for children with behavioral, mental health, substance abuse and other challenges by providing individualized, strength-based support, education, coaching, information, and resource referrals in the context of a child and family team.  The incumbent will provide one-to-one peer counseling, support and referrals drawing on their own experience having a child or youth who has been served by service systems. He/she will possess the ability to articulate and model lessons learned from lived experiences. The Parent Partner provides support and advocacy to parents and caregivers to ensure that family voice is heard throughout the County system of care; acts as a role model for parents and caregivers in interacting with community providers and agencies. He/she will help parent find time and space for their own journey of personal recovery and acceptance for the grief they may experience as a result of their child’s special needs. The incumbent will focus on linking children and families to services and sharing tools with parents to more effectively advocate for their children.

Responsibilities

1. Provides guidance, coaching, training, support, education, and advocacy to Parent/Caregiver with regard to interacting with their child/youth and networking with community resources and treatment providers to meet youth’s needs.
2. Assists Parent/Caregiver in articulating child/youth’s and family’s strength’s, needs and goals to the Care Coordinator and Care Planning Team.
3. Engages the Parent/Caregiver in activities in the home and community that are designed to address one or more goals for the child/youth’s care.
4. Assists Parent/Caregiver in recognizing the importance of self-care as a vital component of their parenting and helping them connect with support in the area of self-care as well as support in the form of individual, peer/parent support and self-help groups.
5. Identifies needs for and attends meetings with families as needed for Individualized Educational Plan (IEP)/school, hospital discharge, treatment team and other meetings and assists families and team members with discharge/transition planning.
6. Conducts a minimum of weekly face-to-face home visits with Parent/Caregiver, organizes and co-facilitates peer-to-peer support groups and provides telephone support to Parent/Caregiver.
7. Provides transportation to families as needed.
8. Maintains professional boundaries at all times.
9. Attends and participates in weekly triage to review families’ progress and action plan.
10. Completes weekly progress notes, treatment goals and other required documentation in a timely manner, adhering to the highest professional standards.
11. Regularly attends community meetings around the county to build relationships, identify resources, and discover and document unmet needs and gaps in services.

 Minimum Requirements

Education – High school diploma or GED required.  Parent- peer/Family partner training preferred.
 

Experience and Qualifications – Lived experience parenting a child or youth with emotional, behavioral (including substance use) or mental health challenges and/or experience with children’s mental health system is essential. Must have one or more years of paid or volunteer experience as a parent partner, including experience working with providers and experience building strong home and school partnerships to meet children’s needs within the school system in King County.

• Experience advocating for self and other parents
• Basic computer proficiency
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Familiarity with schools, special education, children’s administration, juvenile justice and mental health System of Care in King County
• Understanding of state-based child and family laws and policy
• Willingness to attain Washington State peer counselor certification 
• Familiarity with 10 principles of the national Wraparound Initiative
• WA State driver’s license and proof of automobile insurance
• Willingness to drive and travel extensively in King County using personal vehicle
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a high functioning team
• Ability to pass background check

Preferred skills – Ability to show empathy and day-to-day practical examples of how a parent will learn to use same skills. Strong listening, engagement and collaboration skills. Boundary-setting, priority-setting, and group management skills.  Multi-lingual preferred.

Does Your Child Drink?

Please Join Us for Dinner and a Panel Discussion on Underage Drinking and Alcohol Abuse

 
REGISTER HERE

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013
6:00-7:30 PM
Renton Community Center
Banquet Room
1713 Maple Valley Hwy
Renton, 98057

FREE EVENT

Includes a Family Dinner

Parents, Grandparents, and Teens will be on the panel telling us their stories, what they found helps and what doesn't along the road to recovery, resilience and wellness. Panel Discussion is appropriate for youth ages 12-18 and their guardians. Seating is limited. MUST REGISTER TO ATTEND.

 
This project is supported by the King County Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Program, with funds from the Washington State DSHS Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services.


Call 253-236-8264 for more information.

Fun Won the Day at GPS Family Fitness Jam

Thank you families and volunteers for joining us at our first family social event! Special thanks to the Austin Foundation and Willie James Austin.

Willie, who passes away suddenly April 24^th, was a true champion and role model for the physical and emotional fitness and health of youth across King County.”

Link to the Austin Foundation website.

Cute to the core

Beat the clock

Crunch time

Handling the hoop

Flex

Stretch