Position Summary

The Youth Assertive Community Treatment team (ACT) Program is an innovative treatment program. The program serves children with mental illness or serious emotional disturbance and their families. The Youth Peer Advocate serves a unique role on the Youth ACT team as an individual between the ages of 18 to 30 years old, who self-identifies as a person who has first-hand experience with mental health and/or co-occurring behavioral health challenges  By drawing on their own lived experience of overcoming challenges with mental illness, the Youth Peer Advocate can instill hope in clients and their families. Walking alongside clients on their recovery journeys, the Youth Peer Advocate is an ally, mentor, and advocate for clients and families as they contend with the difficulties and uncertainties of mental illness. The Youth Peer Advocate uses their lived experience to contribute to treatment planning for each participant, and facilitating the team’s development and maintenance of a culture of respect.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Engage individuals and establish trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goals clients identify on their treatment plans

Contribute to client treatment plans, advocating for clients' needs

Participate in daily treatment team meetings and work directly with other team members to provide support and assistance to program participants.

Provide individual face-to-face support to youth and families receiving services

Spend 70% or more of scheduled work hours in community settings

Meet with family, youth, and collateral contacts to provide psychoeducation about serious mental illness

Serve as role models, educate recipients about self-help techniques and self-help group processes, teach effective coping strategies based on personal experience, teach symptom management skills, assist in clarifying rehabilitation and recovery goals, and assist in the development of community support systems and networks.

Complete and obtain the NYCPS-Provisional certification for review by the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board (NYPSCB) within the agreed upon time of start date

Education and/or Experience

High School Diploma or GED, Associates Degree preferred

Must have a valid New York State driver’s license.

Certification/Licensure

Complete and obtain the NYCPS-Provisional certification for review by the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board (NYPSCB) within the agreed-upon time of start date.

The certification must be under license and certification and must be at the time of hire.

Benefits You Will Love

Health care package: medical, dental, and vision Tuition reimbursement Paid time off Holiday Pay 401 (K) plan Life Insurance Loan repayment assistance Free training/CEU opportunities Leaving an indisputable imprint within the community and much more!