Company Overview

Youth Villages has been a national leader in the adoption and implementation of research-based treatment philosophies in the field of children's mental and behavioral health. Our commitment to helping troubled children and their families find success spans 30 years and includes a comprehensive array of programs and services.

If you are looking for a positive career move where you are meeting the challenges of life and striving to make a positive difference, then Youth Villages is the place for you. We are looking for people with a strong sense of purpose and focus to continually build confidence in yourself and our organization.

Position Summary

Provide specialized support to youth enrolled the Intensive In-Home Behavioral Health Treatment (IIBHT) program. This will include meeting with youth to build personal relationships, support healthy social involvement with others, assist with planning and problem-solving, and to model a healthy lifestyle. The Peer Support Partner will utilize the direct experience they have with receiving behavioral health services along with appropriate and intentional use of self-disclosure to support the youth and reduce the impact of a behavioral health disorder on the youth’s life.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Work as part of a collaborative team that includes family support partner and clinical staff to support families who are enrolled in the IIBHT program.
• Meet with family within one week of intake into the program to introduce peer support role and identify ways this role can provide support for the youth’s needs through treatment.
• Provide phone and email support along with in-person meetings for youth. In person meetings should occur once weekly while in the program and additional support provided as needed throughout the week.
• Schedule sessions and meet with youth at a location convenient for the youth and family member(s) in the community.
• Structure sessions based on youth’s needs and identified goals. Sessions should include leveraging strengths, normalizing help-seeking behavior, de-stigmatizing mental health challenges, increasing the youth’s capacity for self-advocacy and self-efficacy, and increasing supports across all life domains.
• Maintain a flexible schedule that is convenient for youth and families, which often results in working non- traditional hours. Be available to teammates and youth at all times during scheduled work hours.
• Coordinate with the assigned clinical specialist on needs, barriers, and progress. Maintain high communication with the clinical team when there are clinical needs and to assist in providing unified support to the family.
• Consult with the specialist when any clinical needs or high risk safety needs are identified. The peer support partner will not provide any form of therapy when meeting with youth for sessions.
• Discharge youth from Peer Support once program outcomes have been achieved.
• Complete documentation as required within the Youth Villages Electronic Health Record.
• Attend weekly team meetings and ongoing training as assigned.

Requirements

Must have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED).

Must possess Peer Support Specialist certification or complete an AMH approved Peer Support Specialist training program and become certified within six (6) months. Training may require travel and overnight stay for up to one week.
Must have a vehicle for personal transportation to/from sessions in the community and a valid driver’s license in the state where assigned with required auto insurance in the coverage amounts of 100/300/100.

Experience Requirements

Has experience as a current or former behavioral health services consumer.

Additional Information

This position is part time for 10-29 hours per week. 

Youth Villages is an equal opportunity employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Youth Villages is committed to not only advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace but also in our work with children and young adults. We know that children, families and young people of color can face inequity in child welfare and justice systems, and we train our employees to build the skills they need to work with the communities that we serve, as well as, other employees from different cultures and backgrounds. Youth Villages is opposed to racism in any of its forms and is committed to inclusion, equity, and diversity. We believe that respect for each other is crucial in the work that we do each day.