Peer Advocate

About Acenda Integrated Health

Acenda Integrated Health provides 100+ behavioral health programs, including mental health services, crisis care, substance use recovery, family therapy, maternal and pediatric support, and residential programs across New Jersey. Our team enjoys competitive benefits, work-life balance, professional development, and team engaging events. Acenda is recognized as a multi-year Top Workplace by USA Today and The Inquirer, and a Top Workplace Culture award winner for Work-Life Balance as well as Joint Commission accredited and certified by MHCA and the New Jersey Alliance for Children, Youth, and Families.

Join #Team Acenda and make a lasting impact.

The Peer Advocate provides assertive outreach and engagement to young adults transitioning out of foster care in Burlington County, offering consistent support and connection to services. This role helps participants build essential life skills—such as maintaining housing, developing employment and social skills, managing benefits, and navigating conflict—while leveraging professional training and lived experience to guide and empower them. Acenda values the use of evidence-based practice (EBP).

Connect to Home is a supportive housing model working in collaboration with the Department of Children and Families Office of Housing (OOH) and the Department of Community Affairs to support youth and/or parenting youth who are currently involved with the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P) or have been in DCP&P custody for at least one day in their life in Burlington County.

These youth must be homeless or at risk of homelessness. These individuals are identified by the Burlington County DCP&P offices. This housing‑first program model supplements safe and stable housing for at‑risk young adults with voluntary supportive services.

• Provides assertive outreach and engagement to young adults transitioning out of foster care and residing in Burlington County.
• Assists program participants in developing life skills such as resolving interpersonal conflict, maintaining housing, developing work skills, safety skills, social skills, and managing/receiving benefits.
• Uses training and professional strategies, along with lived experience, to assist and support program participants and the provider agency.

• High‑School diploma and a minimum of one year of professional experience.
• Previous lived experience in the child welfare system or homelessness/severe risk of homelessness.
• Demonstrates a passion for working with young adults, especially those with complicated needs and histories.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license, use of an insured vehicle and an acceptable driving record.

• Starting Compensation: $19.30 per hour.
• Sign-on Bonus: $250.
• Schedule:
  
  Flexible Hours, Day/Night/Occasional Weekends.
• Bilingual‑Spanish differential:
  An additional $1.50 added to the base rate is Spanish proficient.

• An innovative culture that encourages growth and learning.
• Mission‑driven core and a focus on compassion and care for each other and the communities we serve.

Acenda Integrated Health is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.