Careers

About The Agency

NAMI Fox Valley is the Fox Valley based affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The agency works to support and empower everyone touched by mental illness, to eliminate stigma, and to nurture recovery through a wide variety of support, education, and outreach programs. We envision a community free of stigma that supports and promotes mental health and recovery.

About NAMI Fox Valley’s Partnership with the Menasha Joint School District

NAMI Fox Valley has partnered with the Menasha Joint School District (MJSD, or the District) for several years to provide a part-time Parent Peer Advocate (PPA) to offer peer support to parents in the District whose children are experiencing mental health challenges. This partnership is contractual in nature. The PPA is an employee of NAMI Fox Valley, but also works closely with MJSD staff.

Primary Responsibility

The PPA is responsible for offering one-on-one peer support and resource referral to parents who have a child experiencing mental health challenges.

The PPA must have personal experience as the parent of a child with mental health needs. The PPA uses their experience to connect and engage with parents to provide information, support, and assistance in understanding mental health concerns, navigating systems of care, and connecting with appropriate resources. By sharing their experience and knowledge, the PPA helps parents to feel hopeful and less overwhelmed.

Schedule & Location

This is a part-time position with an expected workload of approximately 15 hours per week, late August through the end of May. Hours are typically worked on weekdays during business hours or early evening hours. There is significant flexibility as to the days and hours worked. A limited number of hours may also be possible during June through late August if the individual in the position wishes to work during those months.

Although the position is based out of NAMI Fox Valley’s office in downtown Appleton, most work is remote, including frequent meetings with parents that may take place at the parent’s home, the District, or elsewhere in the community. Time spent working from the office will be infrequent. Mileage is reimbursed.

Essential Position Duties

The essential position duties include the following, though other duties may be assigned:

• Support the efforts of parents in caring for and strengthening their child’s mental health
• Provide emotional support for parents to reduce isolation, feelings of stigma, blame, and hopelessness
• Empower parents to make informed decisions regarding appropriate resources and supports
• Encourage parents to express their fears, expectations, and anxieties to promote positive, effective communication
• Help parents navigate mental health systems of care
• Help parents navigate school-based systems of mental health support, such as individual education plans (IEPs)
• Assist parents to organize and prepare documents needed for specific services
• Strategically share your own story, as appropriate, for the benefit of the family served, providing hope and strengthening resiliency
• Assist parents in identifying their strengths, natural supports, goals, and community connections
• Discuss boundaries with parents on an ongoing basis
• Work closely with MJSD staff as necessary to implement the PPA program

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential position duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed here are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential position duties.

•  Understanding of and belief in the mission of NAMI Fox Valley
• Identification with lived experience parenting a child with mental health concerns and successfully navigating systems of care for that child
• Positive philosophy toward wellness and recovery
• Ability to approach and support families through intentional listening, compassion, and understanding/knowledge of the mental health system and community resources
• Ability to work effectively while handling multiple concurrent tasks and projects with minimal supervision.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of partners and diverse populations
• Ethical behavior, cultural awareness, and the ability to build trust and rapport in all activities involving individuals of diverse backgrounds
• A positive attitude and a high level of emotional maturity
• Excellent customer service skills, written and oral communication skills, and organizational skills
• Professional behavior and presentation of self in internal and external communication and activities
• Sound judgment and the ability to make reasonable decisions in the absence of direction
• Self-motivated with a high ability to work independently
• Basic computer skills, including but not limited to Microsoft Word, email, and Internet skills

Preferred Experience

• Familiarity with the individual education plan (IEP) process within the schools
• Work or volunteer experience providing support to parents who have a minor child with mental health needs

 Other Requirements

• Valid driver’s license, car, and adequate insurance required (mileage is reimbursed)

 

TO APPLY: Please email resume and cover letter to Maren Peterson, NAMI Fox Valley Executive Director, at maren@namifoxvalley.org. The cover letter should confirm that you have personal lived experience parenting a child with mental health concerns.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: July 16, 2025

NAMI Fox Valley is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions at NAMI Fox Valley are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, family or parental status. NAMI Fox Valley values diversity and encourages applications from all qualified individuals.