Job Title: Youth Peer Advocate

Department: Children and Family Treatment and Support Services (CFTSS)

Position Summary

Youth Peer Support (YPS) services are formal and informal services and supports provided to youth with mental health needs in their home, school, placement, and/or community centered services. These services provide the support necessary to ensure engagement and active participation of the youth in the treatment planning process and with the ongoing implementation and reinforcement of skills. Services are delivered in a trauma informed, culturally and linguistically competent manner. Youth Peer Support should possess leadership skills and knowledge of advocacy. Youth Peer Support activities must be intended to develop and achieve the identified goals and/or objectives as set forth in the youth's individualized treatment plan. The structured, scheduled activities provided by this service emphasize the opportunity for the youth to expand the skills and strategies necessary to move forward in meeting their personal, individualized life goals, develop self-advocacy skills, and to support their transition into adulthood.

Department

New Directions empowers caregivers through advocacy, education, support, and connection to community resources. Services help families navigate child-serving systems, build skills, strengthen natural supports, and improve outcomes for children and youth.

Agency

New Directions is an equal opportunity employer committed to championing the principles of anti-racism, justice, and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse cultures and backgrounds, for all positions, who will uphold our values and contribute to our mission. We aim to have a leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Pay and Benefits

• Starting Pay: $19.50 – $21.30 per hour during your first year
• Paid Time Off: 3 weeks PTO in the first year
• Holidays: 14 paid agency holidays
• Insurance: Access to medical, dental, and life insurance
• Retirement: 401K with up to 3% agency match

Hours/Schedule

Full-Time Flexible Monday – Friday schedule, with some day and evening availability required

Location

Lockport, NY

Professional Development Opportunities

New Directions supports professional growth through credentialing opportunities, continuing education, supervision, training, and advancement pathways within the organization.

Position Specific Duties/Responsibilities

Individual Youth Peer Support

• Help develop skills for independent living in home, school/employment and community
• Provide Engagement, Bridging, and Transition Support: Based on the strengths and needs of the youth and connect them with appropriate services and supports. Accompany the youth when visiting programs. Assist the youth to gather, organize and prepare documents needed for specific services. Address any concrete or subjective barriers that may prevent full participation in services. Serve as a bridge between youth and service providers, supporting a productive and respectful partnership by assisting the youth to express their strengths, needs and goals. Support and assist youth during stages of transition which may be unfamiliar (e.g. placements, in crisis, and between service systems etc.).
• Self-Advocacy, Self-Efficacy, and Empowerment: Empower youth to make informed decisions regarding the nature of supports for themselves
• Provide leadership opportunities for youth who are receiving Youth Peer Support Services
• Connect youth to community resources and natural supports
• Prepare youth to transition out of Youth Peer support services as they make progress towards identified goals
• Help serve as an advocate, mentor or facilitator for resolution of issues
• Enhance resiliency/recovery-oriented attitudese
• Assisting youth in understanding their treatment plan and help to ensure the plan is person/family centered

Group Support

• Facilitate or help arrange youth peer resiliency/recovery support groups
• Help youth develop a network for information and support from others who have been through similar experiences, including locating similar interest programs, peer-run programs, and support groups

Collaboration with Community Partners

• Collaborate with formal systems
• Conduct outreach with collaboration with community agencies
• Create and distribute promotional materials to support the Youth Peer Support program

Documentation

• Utilize New Directions electronic case recording system for assessment, service planning, progress notes, purchase of services, and outcome monitoring purposes
• Maintain accurate and timely case records, including progress notes and tracking mechanisms, electronically and in each client’s file
• Keep all client and family information, verbal and written, confidential
• Adhere to all Medicaid requirements for billing and documentation
• Maintain documentation for all group meetings (group participant roster, dates, locations, topics), units of service and related expenditures, and submits required information to Supervisor
• Conduct client satisfaction surveys at regular intervals and discharges

Training and Agency Standards

• Complete Level One (online component) and Level Two (online and in-person) training of State approved training for YPAs.
• Submit three letters of reference attesting to proficiency in and suitability for the role of an YPA including one from YPAs supervisor
• Document 600 hours of experience providing Youth Peer Support services
• Complete 20 hours of continuing education and renew their credential every 2 years
• Must be approved with provisional credential within 6 weeks for full time and 8 weeks for part time
• Participate in regular supervision (per New Directions policy and procedure)
• Maintain a flexible schedule based around client availability, including evenings
• Adhere to agency and department policies and procedures
• Utilize normative culture
• Agree to practice according to the Youth Peer Advocate Code of Ethics
• Perform all other duties as assigned by immediate supervisor

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Special – Personal Skills, Qualities, Aptitudes and Physical Requirements New Directions Youth & Family Services, Inc is an equal opportunity employer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable persons with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Ability to work effectively with clients, families, staff and community contacts from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
• Ability to deal effectively with children/youth with behavioral, emotional and/or mental health challenges and their families
• Ability to accept supervision and perform as part of a team.
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to change.
• Must have a valid driver’s license, and meet the criteria for driving set forth in the New Directions Driver’s License policy and Auto Insurance policy.
• Must comply with Agency safety standards and be responsible for own actions and conduct concerning safety and healthy working conditions.

Qualifications

Experience

• Be an individual 18 to 30 years old who has self-identified as a person who has first-hand experience with, emotional (mental health), behavioral challenges, and/or co-occurring disorders
• Be able to use lived experience with a disability, mental illness, and involvement with juvenile justice, special education, substance use disorder, and/or foster care to assist in supporting youth in their resiliency/recovery and wellness
• Demonstrate qualities of leadership, including: o Knowledge of advocacy o Group development and/or facilitation of peer-to-peer groups or activities

Education

• A high school diploma, high school equivalency preferred or a State Education Commencement Credential (e.g. SACC or CDOS).
• This educational requirement can be waived by the State if the person has demonstrated competencies and has relevant life experience sufficient for the peer certification.

Preferred

• Youth Peer Advocate (YPA) Credential.

We want to emphasize that the preferred qualifications are not required and that we are committed to helping our future colleagues develop these preferred skills. We strongly encourage those who are passionate about fostering a diverse, inclusive and equitable human service organization to apply.