Peer Support Facilitator

Position Type: Part-Time Independent Contractor

Summary

Fathers, Families & Healthy Communities (FFHC) seeks a compassionate, dependable, and engaging facilitator whose lived experience, personal healing journey, and commitment to fatherhood equip them to create meaningful spaces where fathers can connect, learn, heal, and grow together.

The Peer Support Facilitator serves as a trusted guide and co-facilitator for FFHC’s Fathers United peer support group sessions. Using a trauma-informed, strengths-based, and relationship-centered approach, this position helps fathers build healthy relationships, strengthen their parenting and leadership skills, process life challenges, and support one another through shared experiences.

The ideal candidate demonstrates empathy, professionalism, active listening, reliability, and the ability to foster authentic conversations while maintaining a safe, respectful, and accountable group environment.

Statement of Work

• Co-facilitate peer support group sessions in alignment with the FFHC program curriculum, fostering meaningful engagement, mutual support, and participant growth.
• Accurately track participant attendance and engagement using the FFHC Workshop Follow-Up Report, ensuring timely and complete documentation.
• Participate in trainings and actively pursue ongoing professional development to strengthen facilitation skills, enhance program delivery, and remain current with best practices.
• Collaborate with co-facilitators to establish and maintain a safe, respectful, trauma-informed, and supportive environment that encourages trust, open communication, and positive peer connections among FFHC participants.
• Support participant retention by building positive relationships, encouraging consistent attendance, and connecting fathers with appropriate program and community resources as needed.
• Maintain confidentiality and uphold ethical standards while interacting with participants, staff, and community partners.
• Communicate effectively with program staff regarding participant progress, group dynamics, and any concerns that may impact program outcomes.
• Participate in biweekly team meetings conducted via Zoom, contributing actively to team discussions, program planning, case coordination, and organizational updates.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Lived experience relevant to fatherhood, family strengthening, personal healing, justice-system involvement, community violence, recovery, or overcoming significant life challenges.
• Demonstrated ability to connect with, mentor, and support fathers, families, justice-impacted individuals, or historically underserved communities.
• Strong verbal, interpersonal, and active listening skills.
• Ability to facilitate respectful group discussions and engage participants with diverse personalities, perspectives, and life experiences.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, professionalism, reliability, and appropriate professional boundaries.
• Basic computer proficiency, including email, Microsoft Office, Zoom, electronic forms, and documentation systems.
• Reliable transportation and the ability to travel throughout the Chicagoland area to support program activities, meetings, trainings, and participant engagement.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and occasional weekends, based on program schedules.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience facilitating peer support groups, mentoring, coaching, outreach, or community-based programming.
• Experience working with fathers, families, justice-impacted individuals, or communities affected by violence and trauma.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care, restorative practices, motivational interviewing, and strengths-based engagement.
• Familiarity with employment, housing, behavioral health, substance-use recovery, parenting, legal, and other community-based resources.
• Training or certification in peer support, Mental Health First Aid, crisis intervention, conflict resolution, restorative justice, or a related area.

Pay: Up to $500.00 per month

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person