Peer Advocate (Family and/or Youth)

Youth Peer Advocate Job Description 1

Families First In Essex County

Youth Peer Advocate
Job Description

Overview
The Youth Peer Advocate (YPA) will provide an array of services and supports to youth who are experiencing social, emotional, developmental, medical, substance use and/or behavioral health challenges in their homes and communities. Services will be provided within the context of a structured, strengths based relationship between the YPA and the youth. Activities provided under this scope are designed to foster and promote the health/wellness of youth. As such, these services are guided by core principles inherent in the children’s behavioral health system.

The Direct Service Provider must meet the following qualifications:

• Must have training, and experience to provide direct services related to the treatment of mental illness.
• Must be reliable and able to work independently, have excellent time management skills, and understand the importance of maintaining confidentiality/communication with the therapeutic team.
• Work effectively and knowledgeably across a broad spectrum of cultural, ethnic, and racial communities
• Must be cleared by the following: a. NYS Justice Center through fingerprinting for a Criminal History Records search. b. NYS Office of Children and Family Services Central Register for instances of child abuse and/or neglect c. Staff Exclusion List with Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG)
• Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age with a High School Diploma/GED or equivalent; BA degree preferred; good verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrate ‘lived experience’ with a disability, mental illness, juvenile justice, special education, substance use disorder, and/or foster care to assist in supporting youth in their resiliency/recovery and wellness
• Ability to work amongst diverse social, cultural, and economic groups
• Complete Level One (online component) and Level Two (online and in-person) training of the Youth Peer Support

Advisory Council recommended and State approved training for YPA’s followed by a minimum of three consultation calls.

• As responsibilities may include transporting clients, you must have a reliable vehicle that is currently registered, inspected and insured, along with a valid NYS driver’s license

Responsible to
Designated Supervisor

Work Schedule
This is a full time, primarily field-based position with some office hours (40 hours per week); flexibility is a must (including evening and weekends) as the main focus is to meet the needs of participants and their families.

Job Responsibilities

• Helps youth with developing the skills needed in order to independently navigate the various service systems
• Aids youth with goal-setting and building community living skills
• Provides youth with the skills needed in order to cope with and manage their psychiatric symptoms, traumatic experiences, issues related to their substance use disorders, and any other life experiences that they may be enduring
• Provide mutual support, hope, reassurance, and advocacy that includes the sharing of one’s own “personal recovery/resiliency story” as the Youth Peer Advocating (YPA) deems appropriate as beneficial to both the youth and themselves
• Help youth to engage, bridge, and transition support from youth to adulthood, understanding why they should be active participant in the development of their care and treatment
• Develop, link, and facilitate the use of formal and informal services, including connection to peer support groups within the community
• Serve as an advocate, mentor, and/or facilitator for the resolution of concerns and/or issues

Created 2022 - RSN

Youth Peer Advocate Job Description 2

• Assists youth with developing the skills needed in order to advocate for services and benefits
• Connect youth to community resources and services
• Ensure that youth understand their treatment plan, as well as help to ensure that plan is person and family-centered
• Documents all services provided both timely and accurately
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Participation in agency sponsored activities and events
• This position requires flexibility to work on evenings/weekends

The Direct Service Provider will also participate in the following Meetings/Committees

• Attends and participates in all agency meetings
• Family Team Meetings, as necessary
• Various committees / provider meetings
• Collaboration with internal and external team members and stakeholders is a must

Supervision/Training

• Participates in necessary and mandatory trainings, and in regional and state conferences
• Participates in various modes of supervision

Documentation

• Maintains progress notes, treatment/service plans, authorizations, incident reports, and billing logs as required by programming within the Electronic Medical Record with full compliance regarding due dates
• Completion of expense vouchers, mileage logs, time sheets, reimbursement requests, and paid time off through designated Human Resources software
• Maintains and protects records in accordance with federal and state laws

General Agency Functions
All employees at Families First are to maintain a positive and professional image for themselves as well as the agency within the community as well as on social media. Employees will support agency development and fundraising by positively expressing the purpose and mission of the agency in every day interaction with the community at large. Employees are expected to treat participants and their families with the greatest of respect in all matters at all times. Confidentiality is expected from all employees and a signed confidentiality statement will be on file with human resources.

Employee Date

Supervisor Date

Chief Executive Officer Date

Created 2022 - RSN

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $35,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Bereavement leave
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Mileage reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Evening shift
• Weekends as needed

Experience:

• human service: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $35,000