Youth Peer Support Specialist

OBJECTIVE AND POSITION SUMMARY

A Youth Peer Support Specialist (YP-SS) has lived experience as a youth aged 24 years and younger that is in recovery or treatment for an emotional, social, behavioral, and/or substance use disability. A YP-SS works with youth participants individually and in a group setting to promote positive physical, social, and emotional health and safety. May help individuals deal with issues associated with addictions and substance abuse, communication, stress management, self-esteem, and aging via assigned curriculum. A PP-SS draws on his/her own experience or substance abuse/mental health services and will utilize those experiences to collaborate with, coach and challenge individuals to view their life situations as an opportunity for growth and change within each youth's prevention/recovery. The Youth Peer Support Specialist provide support via individually or in group-based settings to promote youth/young adults to move toward self -advocacy in the attainment of their own, culturally specific life goals, and healthy choices. Primary focus will be delivering curriculum-based education to enrolled youth and community outreach & recruitment for the prevention of youth opioid use and/or encouraging positive behavior in their community. This position requires outreach coordination within the aspects of networking/participation to assigned committees/alliances.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

Education /Background:

• High School Diploma or GED required and 4+ years of related experience, OR
  • Associate's Degree in appropriate field of study and 1 years of related experience, OR
  • Bachelor's Degree in appropriate field of study and 1 years of related experience
• Will consider peer support certification in replacement of above education criteria
• Bi-lingual English/Spanish language is required
• Active Driver's License, reliable transportation, and ability to show proof of registration/insurance
  • Must be 21 years of age to drive
• Level One Fingerprint clearance or ability to obtain fingerprint clearance within 60 days of employment
• Ability to work a flexible schedule as needed per program requirements
• Must pass background screening prior to start
• Ability to work in an active environment
• Carry out activities in annual work plan and agency's strategic plan
• Ability to travel as needed based on Program Needs

SPECIALIZATIONS

• Commitment to maintain a role that empowers clients and to intervene appropriately to meet service goals
• Sensitivity to socioeconomic and cultural characteristics of populations served
• Creative thinking, adaptive personality; a conviction about the capacity of people to grow and change
• Strong interpersonal communication skills, particularly in mediation, listening, and written communication; strong ability to work collaboratively with others
• Strong time management skills focusing on the organization of projects with the ability to effectively prioritize meetings and responsibilities

PRIMARY DUTIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Must have lived experience as a youth aged 24 years and younger that is in recovery or treatment with an emotional, social, behavioral, and/or substance use disability
• Experience providing direct services to individuals who have experienced trauma and in a crisis environment
• Knowledge of child development, parent-child attachment, possible behavioral health dynamics of caregivers, dynamics of substance abuse dynamics within the family unit, as well as the dynamics of child abuse & neglect
• Have a strong competency in planning, organizing, scheduling, record keeping, and effective programmatic communications
• Ability to demonstrate strong project coordination skills, including but not limited to, managing multiple simultaneous tasks/meetings, outreach and recruitment activities, and any requirement that meet the needs of the program and participants
• Provide community-based education via individually or in a group-based setting to youth
• Provide encouragement and support to youth, as needed, and identified by parent/caregiver, offering the opportunity to share their stories and modeling effective coping techniques
• To demonstrate respect, dignity, and diversity to any participant, potential participant, and/or child in a non-judgmental manner that will honor the participant's rights to privacy and confidentially
• To conduct data collection, intake and discharge assessments for all participants involved with the program
• To prepare and submit timely reports, accurate data collection, maintain family records in accordance with professional standards and funder requirements
• Actively recruit youth by method of outreach to community partners on a regular basis based on advisement from Program Manager/Supervisor/Executive Team
  • Collaboration effort including not limited to all Internal CPLC programs, Library, Food Pantry, Tribal Communities, OB/GYN Offices, Pediatricians, Schools, Health Clinics, Parks, Splash pads, Farmer's Market, Grocery Stores, Apartment Complexes, Setting up a booth at events/conferences, Community churches or other places of worship, Local Community Newspaper ads, Government/County/City/Tribal/Local Agencies, etc.
• Youth Peer Support Specialists are actively responsible for planning, advertising, and conducting data collection, of all Community Based Services, includes but not limited to:
  • Parenting Classes
  • Youth Classes
  • Individual Classes
  • Interactive Groups
  • Outreach/Networking Events
  • Workshops
  • Informative Community Services Sessions
• To connect youth and parents to resources and provide skills training in navigating supports that help participants to achieve their goals
• To determine the safety of a child with any caregiver and/or others whom they encounter, and to decide if a Child Abuse Report is mandated to be reported to the DCS hotline due to any suspected abuse, neglect, and/or safety concern, or reportable incident
• Provide appropriate support and assistance for participants through case management, service planning, safety planning, skills training and support for youth and parents
• Provide crisis intervention and empowerment based, trauma informed advocacy
• Collect and prepare programmatic reports and grant required data
• Oversee data tracking for all participants, monitor participant outputs and outcomes for case management services and peer support services
• Maintain all communication related to program, grant and contract reporting duties
• Ensures the provision of all covered services identified on the service plan
  • Referrals to community resources as appropriate and coordination of care activities related to continuity of care between levels of care and across multiple providers, services and supports
• Provides outreach and follow-up of services including, but not limited to, crisis and missed appointments to ensure adequate resources are available and in place
• Maintain client records for all services rendered
• Complete all training courses within the timeframe specified
• Collaborate with other staff and partners to promote a multi-disciplinary team concept of client care
• Participate as needed in community meetings to expand knowledge of available community resources
• Participate in program activities, staff and clinical meetings, and planning and problem solving
• Develop continuous concepts related to providing services to homeless youth
• May perform other duties as assigned

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS

Position requirements: This position is both a mobile and a sedentary position with periods of light physical activity and is performed mostly in office surroundings. Positions typical in nature require regular walking or standing; sitting, lifting, and carrying up to 20 pounds; climbing stairs, bending, reaching, holding, grasping, and turning objects; and using fingers to operate computer keyboards. This position will require the ability to speak normally and to use normal or aided vision and hearing.

Travel: Local, interstate, and intrastate travel to Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc., its affiliates and/or subsidiaries, will be necessary to successfully fulfill the duties of this position. Candidate must have and maintain a valid driver's license and auto insurance. Technology will be utilized to minimize travel whenever feasible. The travel requirements for this position are anticipated to be 25 to 35 percent assignment depending. Overnight travel must be approved in advance by the Department VP.