LGBTQIA+ Bilingual Peer Specialist

Description

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Since our founding in 1895 in Marin County as an orphanage – and through subsequent years as Sunny Hills Services – Side by Side has been at the forefront of best practices in child welfare, working with the most vulnerable youth in our community. Today, Side by Side operates in four counties – Marin, Alameda, Sonoma, and Napa – across the Bay Area, reaching nearly 2,000 children, young adults, and family members per year with much-needed services related to behavioral and mental health, early intervention in schools, LGBTQIA+ support, transitional housing for foster youth, and special education.

Side By Side places high value on individuals with a passion for helping underserved youth and families in a collaborative and inclusive work culture. We strive to work together to create a trauma-informed workplace where we walk the walk of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging principles.

This position has an hourly rate of pay between $23.00 to $26.78 based on experience.
Bilingual Spanish/English required.

• 3 weeks of paid vacation for F/T employees increasing to 4 weeks of vacation after 2 years of service
• 2 weeks of sick leave for F/T employees with 2 additional sick days for direct service staff
• 10 paid holidays per year and 1 Self-Care Anniversary Day each year
• 99% employer-paid Medical for F/T employees including platinum level Kaiser Permanente insurance, Sutter Health or Anthem options
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Long Term Disability insurance up to $9,000 per month, plus $50,000 Life and AD&D insurance. Employees also have the option to purchase additional life insurance at their own cost.
• 403b Retirement Plan with matching after one year of employment
• Professional development and other learning opportunities including unlimited access to over 1,000 behavioral health courses online. Side By Side is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer
• FREE Employee Assistance Program including up to 10 complimentary personal counseling sessions per problem, per year for staff and dependents
• Employee recognition program with $500 bonus awards
• Employee referral bonus of up to $1,000
• Pet Insurance

As the only LGBTQIA+ provider in South Alameda County, Our Space serves over 400 queer and trans East Bay youth each year, with a focus on disconnected LGBTQIA+ youth in the foster system that are at high risk of further isolation and possible homelessness because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression (SOGIE). Approximately 75% of Our Space members are youth of color.

• The role of the Peer Specialist is to provide support services, case management and facilitate support groups to LGBTQ students ages age 14 up to 21. The Peer Specialist may, at times, serve youth younger than 14, at the discretion of their supervisor.
• The Peer Specialist will hold a caseload of 5-10 youth at any given time.
• Responsible for documentation of meetings in Electronic Health Record.
• Support services will be focused on placement stabilization, case management and Family Services and may include: weekly, individual support meetings with youth; facilitation of a weekly support group for LGBTQ foster youth, students, and Spanish speaking youth; collaboration and case consultation with school system staff and community partners; assessment and support of clients’ mental health needs; and referral and linkage services.
• The Peer Specialist will work closely with staff at the school districts to provide crisis intervention and support groups; build rapport and trust with LGBTQ youth; and decrease barriers to LGBTQ youth receiving services, education and community resources.
• Provide support, trainings, and consultation to HUSD and SLZUSD staff as they grow their skills in LGBTQ competent and affirming service provision.
• This position requires a high level of independent decision making as 60 – 75% of the Peer Specialist time will be spent in the field providing community-based support services to youth.
• Critical to this position is the ability to create and maintain positive working relationships with community partners, towards successfully…