Erie County Department of Human Services

The PA Family Network has several workshops and support groups coming up in April! Register for upcoming events here: https://www.visionforequality.org/events/month/2026-04/

Good Life Group, Support Groups
• Caregiver Support Group: Wednesday, April 1 and Tuesday, April 21
• Sibling Good Life Group: Monday, April 27
Lifecourse Workshops
• Peace of Mind Long Term Planning: Thursday, April 30
• Using the LifeCourse to Plan and Problem Solve
o Part 1: Thursday, April 2
o Part 2: Thursday, April 9
Waiver Workshops
• Waiver Basics
o Part 1: Monday, April 6
o Part 2: Monday, April 13
• Waiver Basics
o Part 1: Friday, April 10
o Part 2: Saturday, April 11
• Advanced Waiver Basics
o Part 1: Tuesday, April 14
o Part 2: Tuesday, April 28
• Advanced Waiver Basics, Saturday’s
o Part 1: Saturday, April 18
o Part 2: Saturday, April 25

Events Archive - Vision For Equality 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Chair Dance Cardio – Bi-weekly Wellness Series February 23 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Chair Dance Cardio – Bi-weekly Wellness Series This weekly, virtual, Chair Dance Cardio class is meant to be a whole-body workout that's actually fun! It's good for your heart and it will get your bo...

Register here! https://umsystem.zoom.us/meeting/register/RKOiI9UVT0uw4-oVB289eg #/registration

Join the PA Family Network for workshops and support groups offered in February! Register for upcoming events at: https://www.visionforequality.org/events/month/2026-02/

Good Life Group, Support Groups
• Caregiver Support Group: Wednesday, February 4 and Tuesday, February 17
• Sibling Good Life Group: Monday, February 23
Lifecourse Workshops
• Peace of Mind Long Term Planning: Wednesday, February 18
• Using the LifeCourse to Plan and Problem Solve
o Part 1: Friday, February 6
o Part 2: Friday, February 13
Waiver Workshops
• Waiver Basics
o Part 1: Wednesday, February 4
o Part 2: Wednesday, February 11
• Advanced Waiver Basics
o Part 1: Tuesday, February 10
o Part 2: Tuesday, February 24

Events Archive - Vision For Equality 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Chair Dance Cardio – Bi-weekly Wellness Series December 29, 2025 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Chair Dance Cardio – Bi-weekly Wellness Series This weekly, virtual, Chair Dance Cardio class is meant to be a whole-body workout that's actually fun! It's good for your heart and it will get y...

The PA Family Network has several workshops coming up in January! Register for all upcoming events at: https://www.visionforequality.org/events/month/2026-01/
Good Life Group, Support Groups
• Caregiver Support Group: Wednesday, January 7 and Tuesday, January 20
• Sibling Good Life Group: Monday, January 26

Lifecourse Workshops
• Peace of Mind Long Term Planning: Friday, January 16
• Using the LifeCourse to Plan and Problem Solve
o Part 1: Tuesday, January 27
o Part 2: Wednesday, January 28
• Transitions Through the LifeSpan: Thursday, January 22

Waiver Workshops
• Waiver Basics
o Part 1: Tuesday, January 6
o Part 2: Tuesday, January 13

• Advanced Waiver Basics
o Part 1: Monday, January 5
o Part 2: Monday, January 12

Events Archive - Vision For Equality 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Chair Dance Cardio – Bi-weekly Wellness Series December 1 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm Chair Dance Cardio – Bi-weekly Wellness Series This weekly, virtual, Chair Dance Cardio class is meant to be a whole-body workout that's actually fun! It's good for your heart and it will get your bod...

Register here:
ee64929c-e7d7-4bbf-95dd-cd9dd95f7847@418e2841-0128-4dd5-9b6c-47fc5a9a1bde/registration" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/ee64929c-e7d7-4bbf-95dd-cd9dd95f7847@418e2841-0128-4dd5-9b6c-47fc5a9a1bde/registration

October 9, 2025, 12 PM – 1 PM
October 16, 2025, 12 PM – 1 PM

Join ASERT and the Policy Impact Project in hosting two panels of self-advocates, professionals, and providers discussing sexual health in the autism community.
If you or someone you know is interested in attending one or both of these panels, register here: https://paautism.org/event/community-conversation-autism-sexual-health/

CONTRACTED
Family Advocate & Peer Support Specialist
Edmund L. Thomas Adolescent Center
Part-Time, Weekend Work (No Benefits)
Up to $17/hour, 20 hours per week
OVERVIEW
This is a contracted professional position for the Erie County Office of Children and Youth primarily located at the Edmund L. Thomas Adolescent Center (ELTAC) Shelter. The Family Advocate/ Peer Support Specialist provides supportive consultation and coordination of services to families, caseworkers, and other pertinent support persons for each youth residing at Erie County’s ELTAC Shelter.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS
60 relevant college credits with 12 credits related to the social sciences OR an acceptable, relevant combination of education, experience and training
RESPONSIBILITIES MAY INCLUDE:
• Continually assesses the needs of the youth, the birth family, legal guardian and/or foster family to promote healthy development and growth in all life domains.
• Works in conjunction with birth families, legal guardians and/or foster families to attain permanency for the youth and/or to advocate for client’s needs.
• Works in conjunction with OCY Congregate Care Worker to locate after-care placements for clients.
• Gathers information and conducts needs assessments to assess legal guardians, birth families’ and /or Foster Resource family’s strengths and weaknesses, and to develop appropriate goals and time frames for service plans.
• Communicates and involves legal guardians, birth parents and/ or foster parents as much as possible regarding their youth’s progress, concerns, major decisions, changes in services and placement.
• Enhanced emphasis with birth families, legal guardians and/or foster families to instill change in attitudes, beliefs and behaviors in clients to improve level of functioning and coping skills.
• Supports birth parents, legal guardians and/or foster parent’s strengths and addresses areas of weakness through role modeling, direct communication, teaching, and advocacy.
• Provides guidance to legal guardians, birth families (if applicable), and foster parents in implementing the treatment plan and service plan for the youth.
• Obtains and increases professional and technical knowledge (and skills) by attending trainings, reviewing professional publications, and establishing personal networks related to workplace competence (approved by ELTAC Administration).
• Displays functional interpersonal skills with co-workers, caseworkers, ELTAC staff, contractors, volunteers, foster parents, and others, by communicating in a clear and direct manner when relaying information. Must be able to assist in resolving misunderstandings and/or conflicts, which may occur.
• Coordinates and participates in monthly Shelter Discharge/Planning meetings, conducts Individual Service Plan (ISP) monthly reviews for each resident, with caseworkers.
• Provides thorough and ongoing case-documentation, turning in weekly to ELTAC Shelter Administrator.
• Performs other duties and special projects as assigned, based on the needs of the youth or program.
• Ensure that extended visit forms for overnight stays are completed.
• Participate/coordinate child interviews w/placement resources.
• Ensure residents participate in discharge survey.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING
The selected candidate will be required to maintain, at their own expense, PA State Police Criminal History Record Check; PA Child Abuse History and FBI Background History Check (including fingerprinting).

TO APPLY: E-mail resume and cover letter to
[email protected]

Registration:

c78516c5-c70e-457b-88f3-1470a1305ab8@418e2841-0128-4dd5-9b6c-47fc5a9a1bde" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.gcc.teams.microsoft.com/event/c78516c5-c70e-457b-88f3-1470a1305ab8@418e2841-0128-4dd5-9b6c-47fc5a9a1bde

CONTRACTED
Family Advocate & Peer Support ​Specialist
Edmund L. Thomas Adolescent Center
Part-Time (No Benefits)
Up to $17/hour, 20 hours per week
OVERVIEW
This is a contracted professional position for the Erie County Office of Children and Youth primarily located at the Edmund L. Thomas Adolescent Center (ELTAC) Shelter. The Family Advocate/ Peer Support Specialist provides supportive consultation and coordination of services to families, caseworkers, and other pertinent support persons for each youth residing at Erie County’s ELTAC Shelter.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS
60 relevant college credits with 12 credits related to the social ​sciences OR an acceptable, relevant combination of education, ​experience and training
RESPONSIBILITIES MAY INCLUDE:
Works in conjunction with birth families, adoptive families, legal guardians and/or foster families to attain permanency for the youth and/or to advocate for client’s needs.
Works in conjunction with OCY Congregate Care Worker to locate after-care placements for clients.
Gathers information and conducts needs assessments to assess legal guardians, birth families, adoptive families and/or foster resource family’s strengths and weaknesses, and to develop appropriate goals and time frames for service plans.
Communicates and involves legal guardians, birth parents, adoptive parents and/or foster parents as much as possible regarding their youth’s progress, concerns, major decisions, changes in services and placement.
Supports birth parents, adoptive parents, legal guardians and/or foster parent’s strengths and addresses areas of weakness through role modeling, direct communication, teaching and advocacy.
Provides guidance to legal guardians, birth families (if applicable), adoptive families and foster parents in implementing the treatment plan and service plan for the youth.
Obtains and increases professional and technical knowledge (and skills) by attending trainings, reviewing professional publications, and establishing personal networks related to workplace competence (approved by ELTAC Administration).
Displays functional interpersonal skills with co-workers, caseworkers, ELTAC staff, contractors, volunteers, parents, and others, by communicating in a clear and direct manner when relaying information. Must be able to assist in resolving misunderstandings and/or conflicts, which may occur.
Coordinates and participates in monthly Shelter Discharge/Planning meetings, conducts Individual Service Plan (ISP) monthly reviews for each resident, with caseworkers.
Provides thorough and ongoing case-documentation, turning in weekly to ELTAC Shelter Administrator.
Performs other duties and special projects as assigned, based on the needs of the youth or program.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING
The selected candidate will be required to maintain, at their own expense, PA State Police Criminal History Record Check; PA Child Abuse History and FBI Background History Check (including fingerprinting).
TO APPLY: E-mail resume and cover letter to
DHS-HumanResources@eriecountypa.