Youth Peer Advocate

Masa partners with Mexican and Latino children, youth, and families in the South Bronx to develop strong learners and leaders who fully contribute to the larger community. We envision a community that is civically engaged, empowered, and educated. Masa’s community‑led, integrated model engages the entire family, grounded in a deep commitment to strengthening literacy, leadership, and power for Mexican, Central American, and Indigenous People.

Masa fosters a culturally responsive learning community in which families engage with direct service and advocacy programs to dismantle barriers to success.

The Family and Youth Peer Support (FYPS) Program supports and empowers parents/caregivers of children and youth (birth – age 24) who are experiencing social, emotional, developmental, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges, and the children and youth themselves. This program is part of an alliance of FYPS programs throughout New York City that provide the following core services:
Engagement, Bridging and Transition Support;
Self‑Advocacy, Self‑Efficacy and Empowerment;
Skill Development; and Community Connection and Natural Supports.

Masa is seeking a Youth Peer Advocate (YPA) to collaborate with youth and their families to assess their needs and link them to appropriate resources in their community. The YPA will be an individual between the ages of 18 to 30 years old who has self‑identified as a person with first‑hand lived experience with social, emotional, medical, developmental, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges, and has experience receiving mental health services and/or navigating other child‑serving systems.

The right person for this role will be energetic and excited about supporting immigrant and undocumented youth and families, be able to build trust and maintain relationships with youth ages 0-24 years old, be knowledgeable in navigating child‑serving systems as a result of their own lived experience, be highly organized, and maintain professionalism.

• Support youth with navigating child‑serving systems to obtain the necessary support, services and resources for their child(ren) to be successful in their mental and emotional well‑being
• Create a service plan with youth and support them in achieving the goals outlined in the service plan through group services, individual one-to-one services that include building self‑advocacy skills and meeting preparation for upcoming appointments, filling out applications and paperwork and making referrals
• Facilitate workshops and support groups for youth enrolled in the program
• Organize social and recreational activities organized for youth and families
• Conduct outreach to recruit youth and families to the FYPS program through street outreach, tabling, panels, and attending community events
• Raise awareness of community needs and issues that become evident as you conduct outreach, meet with families and youth, and attend meetings
• Work in collaboration with the Family Peer Advocate (FPA) to provide a holistic approach to supporting children, youth and families
• Research services available for undocumented families and youth that will support their individual and family goals
• Work with socially, economically, culturally, and ethnically diverse groups in a mutually respectful manner using a strengths‑based approach

• Conduct outreach, including presentations, email blasts, social media blasts, fairs and events, neighborhood canvasing
• Participate in agency and alliance community awareness events
• Attend meetings, councils, committees, and other convening bodies as identified by supervisor
• Participate in trainings, workshops, symposiums, conferences, and other events for professional development and to advance knowledge and skills around peer support, mental health, advocacy, or other areas of work related to job responsibilities
• Complete YPA credentialing within a year
• Attend 26 hours of trainings annually, as required

• Maintain, organize and file confidential family and youth records
• Receive…