Board of Directors: Parent Advocate Officer

About the Role The FACTS Initiative is seeking a compassionate, experienced advocate to join our Board of Directors as the Parent Advocate Officer.

Please note: While we operate with a working board due to our organization’s size, this is strictly an advisory and governance role, not an operational staff position. You will not be expected to execute daily operational tasks. Instead, you will offer high-level guidance, review policies, and provide strategic recommendations to ensure professional oversight and informed decision-making.

In many systems, services are designed strictly based on data and professional opinions, while the real desires and needs of the clients can be overlooked. As the Parent Advocate Officer, you will serve as the crucial voice for the parents and caregivers of children receiving services from The FACTS Initiative. You will ensure that organizational policies and services are viewed through the lens of someone who has firsthand experience raising a child in need of mental health services.

What You Will Do (Governance & Oversight)

• Strategic Advocacy: Serve as a voice for parents and caregivers at the board level, ensuring their perspectives, needs, and lived experiences are heard and reflected in all organizational policies and decisions.
• Program & Policy Oversight: Provide high-level guidance on programs and services designed for parent clients, ensuring they are responsive to real-world challenges and respect the dignity and autonomy of the families we serve.
• Board-Level Liaison: Serve as a bridge between the board and parent clients, advocating for resources or policy changes that better support families.
• Collaborative Advisement: Collaborate with leadership and staff to guide the development of parent-focused initiatives and trainings that empower parents to be active participants in their child’s mental health care.

Who We Are Looking For

• Individuals who work closely with, or are the parent of, a child who has a significant mental health diagnosis or has experienced significant trauma. (Must have a High School diploma or GED).
• Advocates with firsthand experience navigating the mental health system and successfully obtaining treatment for a child.
• Preferred: Professionals serving in a capacity within the mental health or social services field.
• Strategic thinkers with an exceptional understanding of the challenges faced by families requiring mental health services.
• Excellent communicators capable of articulating the needs of parents and working collaboratively with board members, staff, and external stakeholders.

Time Commitment

• Approximately 2 hours per week.
• Attendance and active participation in quarterly board meetings.
• Occasional additional time to review policies, collaborate on parent-focused initiatives, or engage with community stakeholders.

Why Join Us? The Parent Advocate Officer plays an absolutely critical role in keeping The FACTS Initiative grounded. By advocating for the voices of parents and ensuring their perspectives are reflected at the highest level of leadership, you will guarantee that our organization continues to provide meaningful, truly family-centered mental health care.