Note: Youth Peer Advocates are individuals between 18-30 years of age who self-identify as a person with first-hand experience with a social, emotional, medical, developmental, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges as a young person or have received services in any one of the child-serving systems (juvenile justice, foster care, special education, or addiction recovery). YPAs use their lived experience to promote resiliency, recovery, wellness, and self-efficacy in young people and promote the practice of youth-guided and family-driven approaches.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Skill Building:

Developing skills for coping with and managing psychiatric symptoms, trauma, and substance use disorders

Developing skills for wellness, resiliency, and recovery support

Developing skills to independently navigate the service system

Developing goal-setting skills

Building community living skills

Coaching:

Enhancing resiliency/recovery oriented attitudes, i.e., hope, confidence, and self-efficacy

Promoting wellness through modeling.

Providing mutual support, hope, reassurance, and advocacy that include sharing one's own "personal recovery/resiliency story" as the Youth Peer Advocating (YPA) deems appropriate as beneficial to both the youth and themselves. YPA’s may also share their recovery with parents to engage parents and help them “see” youth possibilities for future in a new light.

Engagement, Bridging, and Transition Support:

Acting as a peer partner in transitioning to different levels of care and into adulthood; helping youth understand what to expect and how and why they should be active in developing their plan of care and natural supports.

Self-Advocacy, Self-Efficacy, and Empowerment:

Developing, linking, and facilitating the use of formal and informal services, including connection to peer support groups in the community.

Serving as an advocate, mentor, or facilitator for resolution of issues.

Assisting in navigating the service system including assisting with engagement and bridging during transitions in care.

Helping youth develop self-advocacy skills (e.g., may attend a Committee on Preschool or Special Education meeting with the youth and parent, coaching the youth to articulate his educational goals).

Assisting youth with gaining and regaining the ability to make independent choices and assist youth in playing a proactive role in their own treatment (assisting/mentoring them in discussing questions or concerns about medications, diagnoses or treatment approaches with their treating clinician). The YPA guides the youth to effectively communicate their individual perspective to providers and families.

Assisting youth in developing skills to advocate for needed services and benefits and seeking to effectively resolve unmet needs.Assisting youth in understanding their plan of care and help to ensure the plan is person/family centered

Community Connections and Natural Supports:

Connecting youth to community resources and services. The YPA may accompany youth to appointments and meetings for the purpose of mentoring and support but not for the sole purpose of providing transportation for the youth.

Helping 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.

Facilitating or arranging youth peer resiliency/recovery support groups.Development and updating of service plans, including obtaining medical consenter signatures.

Obtaining consents and enrollment documents for newly enrolled children/youth.

Attend monthly waiver service provider meetings to stay current on practices and protocols.

Submit progress notes, service plans, expense logs, and service provider logs within set forth-required timeframes. Progress notes are due within 3 days of service provision so that approval from supervisor is completed by the 5th business day following service provision.

Report incident(s) to supervisor upon discovery.

Maintain open communication with other service providers (e.g., Care Manager) to report on child/youth’s progress and identify any potential barriers and referrals.

Setting of Service Provision:

YPST can occur in a variety of settings including community locations where the youth lives, works, attends school, engages in services, and/or socializes.

Qualifications - External

•     Be at least eighteen (18) years of age with a High School Diploma/GED or equivalent; BA degree preferred; good verbal and written communication skills

•     Experience working with seriously emotional disturbed youth or children/ job related or volunteer

•     Valid New York State Driver’s License

•     Acceptable clearance checks for State Central Register, Driver license and fingerprinting as required by the program

•     Compliance with health regulations for physical/mantoux testing