Peer Advocate

Job Summary Working as part of an interdisciplinary legal team, the peer advocate plays a vital role in building trust with families vulnerable to child welfare system involvement. This position is designed for a parent or caregiver with lived experience navigating complex systems and challenges such as DFCS involvement, substance use, housing instability, or other family stressors.

The peer advocate provides one-on-one peer support, encouragement, and advocacy to families. Drawing on their own lived experience and working in conjunction with the Family Advocacy Project legal team, the peer advocate helps parents feel less alone, less judged, and better prepared to face difficult situations.

This role centers on listening without judgment, validating families’ experiences, and helping parents understand how systems work. The peer advocate supports families in preparing for meetings, asking questions, understanding their options, and speaking up for themselves. They also help families identify and connect with community resources that align with their goals for their children and their future.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain trusting, supportive relationships with program clients
• Provide emotional support, encouragement, and crisis navigation
• Assist clients in accessing and navigating services through entities such as DFCS, schools, courts, and housing agencies
• Attend and support families in meetings and appointments with service providers
• Support clients through recovery and safety planning
• Contribute to program development and quality improvement efforts
• Participate in cross-system collaboration to help Family Advocacy Project strengthen community partnerships

Qualifications Qualifications

• Personal lived experience with the child welfare system, homelessness, or substance use recovery
• Willingness to reflect on and appropriately share personal experience to support others
• Commitment to equity, empathy, and support for families
• Commitment to maintaining client confidentiality
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and advocacy skills
• Bilingual in Spanish and English strongly preferred

Work environment This position is located at the Wellroot office in Gainesville, Georgia, and the work is conducted in an office setting and across the community in Hall County.

• Fast-paced, working with vulnerable clients.
• Flexible scheduling may include afternoon or evening hours to meet family needs
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required for local travel