Youth Peer Specialist

Job Overview:

• Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Type: Full-time; Regular
• Pay: $50,000, non-exempt, annual salary + benefits package
• Location: Fully on-site in the Lower East Side

Organizational Overview:Henry Street Settlement opens doors of opportunity to enrich lives and expand human progress for Lower East Side residents and other New Yorkers through social services, arts, and health care programs. Building on its 130+year legacy of innovation and effective programming, Henry Street offers more than 50 programs and is one of New York City’s largest social service agencies.

Program Overview:

Education and Employment Services is a 15.4-million-dollar division serving nearly 9000 people each year through a continuum of services from Early Childhood Education through Adult Workforce programs designed to assist individuals in obtaining the skills necessary for lifetime self-sufficiency. Education Services include an Early Learn Program, After-School Programs (6 sites), 4 Day Camps, Youth Recreation, High School Initiatives including 2 Community Schools, and our Expanded Horizons College Success Program. Programming takes place within 3 community center sites and multiple school-based programs. Employment Services include walk-in employment services, employment services for a public housing population, ESOL job readiness training, and employment services for youth including SYEP and Young Adult Internship and Adult Literacy Programs.

Position Overview:

The Youth Peer Specialist (YPS) will increase the Workforce Development Center’s capacity to effectively engage, recruit, enroll, and support young adults. Central to their responsibilities, the YPS will bridge access for community youth and promote programs (both internally and externally), identify opportunities, facilitate enrollment, and make referrals for young adults ages 18—25 as means of preventive and intervention service. The YPS will work closely with the Youth Community Social Worker (YCSW) and provide one-on-one peer support services to youth and assist with facilitating non-clinical group activities. They will have first-hand experience with mental health challenges and serve as a credible messenger for the youth we serve. Upon hiring, we will work with the Youth Peer to be credentialed as an OMH Youth Peer Advocate.

Qualifications:

• Must be between the ages of 18-25 for this role
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred
• Bilingual a plus
• Demonstrated connection to the Lower East Side a major plus
• Ability to engage, recruit, build relationships, and foster genuine connections with youth and youth living in low income and NYCHA communities
• Strong organizational, multi-tasking, and follow through skills with the ability to coordinate multiple tasks and responsibilities
• Self-motivated with the ability to be resourceful, efficient, flexible, and to work effectively under pressure
• Capacity to work both independently and collaboratively with staff members across multiple programs and program sites
• Skillful usage of Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Must be able to support programs, meetings, and activities at multiple sites across the Lower East Side
• Ability to work a flexible schedule that may include nights and weekends, and as-needed in response to emerging events and crises

Responsibilities:

• Build authentic connections with 30–40 opportunity youth to support them in achieving their goals
• Serve as a liaison to connect young adults to education and employment opportunities within Henry Street Settlement and beyond
• Coordinate and promote regular info sessions (both on-site and online) regarding HSS programming with the goal of facilitating enrollment or referrals
• Take a lead role in guiding strategic and peer informed recruitment and outreach efforts to Lower East Side communities and populations who may be at increased risk for violence, mental health challenges, and/or other barriers
• Participate in case conference meetings with the Youth Community Social Worker with the goal of supporting youth to maintain their commitment to their stated goals
• Engage and maintain partnership relationships with key program stakeholders, internal and external.
• Assist in the coordination of events and program opportunities for youth
• Case manages participant records with confidentiality to remain compliant with funder and HIPAA/FERPA requirements
• Maintain accurate program records including contact logs, weekly schedules, correspondence, meeting minutes, and agendas
• Participate in various programs, division, and agency meetings and activities
• Other duties as assigned by Program Director

Essential Physical Job Functions:

• Ability to work onsite in the Lower East Side
• Ability to lift 10 lbs.
• Ability to stand and sit for long periods of time