Job Summary

The Youth Peer Advocate II empowers youth experiencing social, medical, emotional, developmental, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges, in navigating multiple child serving systems to increase engagement and support them in becoming an active participant in their own treatment. This position supports youth as they develop new skills and learn positive approaches and methods for addressing their needs while learning self-advocacy skills. This position will also participate in meetings (e.g. the county’s System of Care); providing the youth perspective and sharing their expertise in family-driven, youth-guided care. In addition, this position will lead projects, mentor level I staff, and facilitate Youth Advisory Board.

This role requires “Lived Experience” and flexibility with working hours, including evenings, as determined by family needs that arise outside of regular service hours.

Essential Job Functions

Assist youth in developing skills to advocate for needed services and benefits to effectively resolve unmet needs, learn how to effectively communicate their individual perspective to providers and families and have a voice and choice in matters related to their lives. Assist youth in developing skills for coping with and managing psychiatric symptoms, trauma, and substance use disorders. Connect youth to community resources, services and natural supports by assisting in
the development of a network for information and support. Facilitate youth trainings and youth advisory board to increase knowledge and skills by providing opportunities for advocacy, learning effective communication skills, and practicing social skills with other youth. Form and maintain relationships using effective communication and collaboration acting as a bridge between youth, family, and providers. Administer assessments and help youth and family to identify gaps in services needed and assist in planning to eliminate gaps. Develop treatment and safety plans in collaboration with the youth and family.  Promote effective family-driven, youth-guided practice. Attend and/or facilitate meetings to promote youth voice and infuse the youth perspective at all levels: individual provider, agency, local planning, state and national policy making. Maintain all necessary records, forms, notifications, authorizations, reports and summaries in client files to ensure compliance with all Federal, State, Funder, Medicaid Managed Care and Hillside standards. Participate in agency and team meetings, in-service trainings, supervisory and team building activities. Mentor Youth Peer Advocate I staff. Lead/conduct Youth Peer Advocate staff training and manage projects, as directed. Serve as a resource to guide team performance. While this job description covers many aspects of the role, employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

High school diploma or GED required. Minimum 1 year of personal “lived experience” required as a young person with social, emotional, developmental, medical, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges, or has received services in juvenile justice, foster care, special education or addiction recovery.  Minimum 18 months of related experience required.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Youth Peer Advocate (YPA) Credential required within 6 months of hire. Unrestricted, valid NYS driver’s license for minimum of 1 year with a clean driving record and minimum insurance coverage that meets agency standards.  Program requires age range of 18 to 30 years old.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

In addition to demonstrating the Hillside Professional Competencies of Communicates Effectively, Personal Excellence, Cultural Competence, Builds and Leverages Relationships, and Optimizes Decision Making, the following occupational competencies must be demonstrated:

Ability to act as an adult role model for children/youth/families in all behaviors including communication, hygiene, and appearance, management of self, response to stress / challenges and in the demonstration of positive relationships with others Ability to engage children/youth/families in trust-based, productive relationships in order to help children/youth and families prepare for transitions, interact in the community, and promote respect and independence Ability to recognize and address, often through referral, problems related to substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, and child abuse and neglect Ability to act as an advocate for children/youth/families in order to achieve the best possible children/youth/family’s outcomes; communicate reasonable expectations and facilitates the achievement of results Demonstrate an awareness and sensitivity to cultural and social variations and show respect for individual differences Knowledge of applicable laws and regulations, an ability to identify and access community programs and resources as needed, and an understanding of public assistance access and eligibility

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Must be able to work a variable scheduling including evenings and weekends The following daily physical demands are required: Sitting (up to 6 hours) Occasional standing (up to 2 hour) Occasional walking (up to 2.5 hours) Driving (several times a week up to 6 hours) Continuous balancing (up to 8 hours) Occasional balancing, bending, stooping, climbing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching forward or down, reaching overhead, running, and twisting (up to 2.5 hours) Weekly lifting up to 10-15 lbs. on a daily basis Manual dexterity is required, including the frequent ability to grasp in both hands and continuous use of fine manipulation skills in both hands (approximately 1-2.5 hrs.) Occasional exposure to dust, fumes, gases, chemicals, or smoke is apparent   Ability to change positions as needed

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

While Hillside is a restraint free environment, there may be times in a “life or limb” situation, that staff may be required to physically restrain clients weighing between 50 lbs. and 300 lbs. and guide them safely to the floor. In some circumstances, restraints can last up to 15 minutes and may require repetition as necessary. 

 

$19.46 Minimum pay rate, $27.75 Maximum pay rate, based on experience.