Youth Peer Support Partner

Description

Summary

Per the tenets of the SAMHSA NC Healthy Transitions grant, the Youth Peer Support Partner will adhere to the principles of System of Care (SOC), person-centered care, and trauma-informed approaches to provide direct support to youth and young adults ages 16-25 who are struggling with serious mental illness and/or co-occurring disabilities. Drawing from their own lived experience, the Youth Peer Support Partner will build authentic, supportive relationships with program participants, helping them to cope with adversity, advocate for their needs, and to navigate the transition into adult-serving systems. This role emphasizes promoting youth voice and choice, recovery, and empowerment, to reduce stigma and make services in the community increasingly youth-led and accessible.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Comply with grant-required activities as defined in the Scope of Work.
• Provide input into the development, implementation, and evaluation activities of the Healthy Transitions Project.
• Support efforts to meet or exceed Healthy Transition Project grant goals and objectives.
• Model the tenants of recovery and resiliency to program recipients, team members, and internal and external stakeholders.
• Models hope and self-efficacy to navigate informal and formal systems.
• Ensure program services are provided in accordance with System of Care principles, trauma-informed approaches, person-centered / self-directed care, and honor youth voice and choice.
• Assist with program activities and events for internal and external audiences that leverage youth and family peers, youth leadership, and youth self-advocacy.
• Provide services and participate in team processes in accordance with CHA global and program-specific policies and procedures.
• Utilize lived experience to provide individualized direct peer support services to youth and young adults including outreach and engagement, input into care and support planning, and case support.
• Assist youth and young adults in understanding the components of recovery and resiliency.
• Participate in routine care team meetings with the youth or young adult and their formal and informal supports.
• Participate in the building of a supportive, positive, and performance-driven team culture.
• Engage in individual supervision and performance coaching for professional development.
• Assist with interviews and training of other Healthy Transitions Team members to establish understanding of youth & young adult-driven programming.
• Assist in the development of a Youth Advisory Council and facilitation of their meetings.
• Assist in the planning and facilitation of low-barrier engagement events for youth and young adults, serving as a supportive and approachable presence to foster connections and promote participation.
• Build relationships, communication and referral pathways with internal and external stakeholders that serve youth and young adults.
• Assist with the design and provision of training and presentations to community stakeholders and the mental health workforce about the NC Healthy Transitions project.
• Assist and or facilitate training activities that involve youth and family peers, youth leadership, and youth self-advocacy.
• Participate in local collaboratives that leverage the voice of youth and young adults including the County System of Care Collaborative.
• Assist in the development of campaigns and events to increase community awareness and anti-stigma efforts focused on youth and young adults.
• Provide input into policy change efforts to solidify and sustain the role of Youth & Young Adult Peer Support in NC.
• Provide input into System of Care Guidelines for transition age youth.
• Partner and network with other Youth Peers and Family Peers on joint projects, policy efforts, and other activities likely to support the ongoing influence of the NC Healthy Transitions Project statewide.
• Remain abreast of current and emerging industry trends and best practices for transition age youth.
• Complete all documentation within agency deadlines, according to regulatory guidelines.
• Prepare reports and reviews in a timely, clear, and concise manner as requested or assigned.
• Complete assigned training within required time frames.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

All Employees Have The Following Expectations

Mission: Contribute to and enhance company mission

Organization: Prioritize and plan work responsibilities appropriately

Professional Development: Attend and/or successfully complete all required trainings and meetings

Timeliness and Accuracy: Perform quality work within given deadlines and expectations with or without direct supervision

Professionalism: Comply with all applicable policies, practices, and procedures; report all out-of-compliance and unsafe activities to supervisor; interact professionally with other employees, volunteers, families, children, and the community

Teamwork: Serve effectively as a team contributor on all assignments

Communication: Utilize effective communication skills both verbally and in writing; provide effective feedback and is receptive to feedback

Leadership: Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with other appropriate individuals

Cultural Competence: Is sensitive to the cultural, ethnic and religious views of the children and families served, and in community and public contact.

Requirements

Education and Experience Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required, bachelor's degree preferred.
• North Carolina Peer Support Specialist Certification is preferred. If not certified, must obtain certification within 12 months of hire date.
• Lived experience as a recipient of child mental health services is required.
• Two years of previous work experience in the mental health field preferred.
• Qualified Professional (QP) designation is preferred.
  
  

Physical Requirements

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands and fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, talk, and hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands or arms, stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
• Specifics vision abilities required by this position include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Physical functions which are considered essential to the satisfactory performance of the job include the following: reading, typing, writing, speaking, and using the telephone and prolonged sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Employee must be able to operate a vehicle for job duties, and keep a valid NC drivers license with insurance.
• The work environment will contain slight to moderate office-related noises. The employee is not exposed to extreme weather conditions, toxic fumes, or airborne particles.
• The employee must occasionally travel to different locations in the course of work.
• Physical functions which are considered essential to the satisfactory performance of the job include the following: public speaking, reading, typing, writing, using the telephone, and driving.
  
  

Salary Description

$38,000 to $42,000