Peer Support Specialist Supporting Spanish-Speaking Parents (Skagit County)

Peer Support Specialist Supporting Spanish-Speaking Parents

About the Organization

Perinatal Support Washington (PS-WA) supports the emotional wellbeing of people preconception through postpartum (up to 2 years) who are at risk or currently experiencing mental health needs. As a statewide nonprofit dedicated to perinatal mental health, we believe all parents should receive appropriate, timely, and culturally relevant care.

Our direct service programs are designed to provide specialized perinatal mental health services so that no parent goes without the mental health support they deserve. We offer short term and long term peer support, clinical therapy, support groups, and more. PS-WA is committed to making our care system stronger; we have a robust training and consultation program for professionals to fill the gaps in care for parents and help re-envision what the perinatal mental health field could be. (Learn more about our organizational priorities by viewing our 2025 Strategic Plan and Theory of Change.)

About the Position

The Parent Resilience Program provides culturally-matched peer support to the Latinx/Spanish-speaking community in King County and Skagit County and Black families in King County. We are looking to add a member of our team by adding one half-time position in Skagit County to provide culturally-matched services to Latinx/Spanish-speaking families.

The half-time Peer Support Specialist (PSS) is a .75 FTE at 30 hours a week at $31.80 an hour, reports directly to the Program Manager, and supports PS-WA’s mission by supporting parents in their community. This is a full-time position with occasional evening and weekend work required with advance notice. The Peer Support Specialist will work with pregnant and parenting families who are at-risk for or are experiencing a PMAD (Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder).

Peer Support Specialists are not mental health providers, and will be trained in culturally respectful screening, evidenced based behavioral health support, wellness planning, and resource and referral navigation. The PSS will support families to create culturally specific emotional wellness plans, introduce and discuss mental health care, listen and support families with barriers/reservations about mental health therapy, and walk with families as they navigate formal mental health care or other services as needed.

An ideal candidate will be a parent who is a member of the community they are serving, Latinx/Spanish-speaking, and has personal experience with perinatal mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, birth trauma, perinatal loss, etc. Additionally, they are warm, enthusiastic, collaborative, and professional, enjoying handling many tasks at one time and are adaptive to change, with a strong orientation to detail and the ability to work independently with direction. This is a unique opportunity to join a team providing culturally matched services. This position will support the Spanish-speaking parents across Skagit County in person.

PS-WA does not currently have an administrative office. Work is done remotely, and the schedule is flexible. This position was intended to provide support in the community (library, coffee shops, parks, clinics) and in the parents' homes.

The PSS is required to attend weekly staff meetings via video conference. This position serves families in Skagit County; candidates outside of Skagit County should carefully assess whether this position will be within their capacity. As our organization grows, this role could be established at one of our partner organizations.

Core Functions

Direct Service (75%)

• Manage a caseload of 8-16 caregivers. This work is conducted in person; some sessions are done remotely, including phone, email, and text support.
• Provide strength-based culturally-specific support about perinatal mental health, create culturally attuned wellness plans that align with parents’ beliefs and values, address barriers, and support taking small wellness steps.
• Identify higher-risk families and engage in prevention strategies. ● Effectively introduce and complete culturally-respectful perinatal mental health screenings that feel meaningful and supportive, empowering parents to take their next step to addressing their mental health.
• Provide parents with information about perinatal mental health and the full range of treatment options, including formal and informal mental health supports.
• Support parents to navigate the formal mental health system by providing information and support about how to access care, what to expect, and supporting parents as they engage with treatment providers.
• Support parents engaged in mental health therapy by advocating for and with parents, supporting a parent’s treatment plan through the week, and when indicated, coordinating with treatment providers.

Administrative Tasks (25%):

• Maintain administrative tasks of caseload of 5-8 families, including managing your schedule to meet families' needs, locating and making appropriate referrals, and more
• Track screening measures to ensure they are completed and up to date
• Document case notes and progress in the client database
• Help families create short and long-term

Wellness Plans

that are strength-based, led by the family, and culturally attuned

• Telecommute and be comfortable learning and adapting to new telehealth platforms
• Assist program team in developing components of the Parent Resilience Program to best support all parents experiencing mental health complications

Requirements

• 20+ years of lived personal or professional experience working with Latinx/Spanish-speaking families
• Lived experience with perinatal mental health challenges
• Ability to telecommute (laptop and hotspot provided)
• Access to reliable transportation
• Willingness to attend provided trainings on perinatal mental health
• In applying to serve Spanish-speaking families must be bilingual in Spanish/English; native Spanish speakers are preferred

Qualifications

• Two years or more of direct service in a peer mentorship, volunteer, or similar capacity with people during the reproductive period
• Ability to work independently with little supervision
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Strong communication and written skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Passion for and commitment to the mission of Perinatal Support Washington and supporting parents
• Aptitude for solving problems with creativity and resourcefulness
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Apps
• Willingness to receive additional perinatal mental health training
• Comfortable with phone and text-based support
• Comfortable with discussing mental health and knowledgeable about the perinatal period
• Parent who has experienced and recovered from a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD)

Compensation and Benefits

Perinatal Support Washington provides ample opportunity for professional growth and training in perinatal mental health. This position is an hourly, non-exempt position paid $31.80 per hour. This is a flexible position at 30 hours per week.

Part-time roles include pro-rated benefits for Paid Time Off, Sick Leave and Holiday Pay. PS-WA offers employees a combined paid time off package based on prorated hours; a person working 40 hours per week receives 200 hours (5 weeks) annually and 7 sick days. PS-WA offers up to 16 paid holidays per year, including 2 floating holidays; employees receive holiday pay on any holidays they are regularly scheduled to work.

This position is grant-dependent and continued employment is contingent on renewed grants from the renewal of the North Sound Behavioral Health Organization.

Application Instructions

To apply, please send a resume to Addelle Diedesch@perinatalsupport.org with “PSS” in the subject line, and in place of a cover letter, please share how you relate to the identity of the population we serve: Latinx parents struggling with perinatal mental health challenges.

and select one of the following questions to address in your cover letter:

• Tell us why supporting a parent’s mental health during the childbearing period is important
• Tell us why you’re a good fit to support parents during the childbearing period
• Tell us about your understanding of barriers to care in the mental health systems
• v
• How do you talk about mental health in your community?

Interviews with PSS staff and the program manager will follow the application.

Position start date: Jul 8, 2025

Perinatal Support Washington is an Equal Opportunity Employer. People of color, of any sexual orientation or gender identity, from under-represented communities, and people with diverse life experiences are encouraged to apply. Some heavy lifting and physical labor is required during special events. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.