Youth Services Peer Navigator

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Summary

Streetwork Project is an innovative outreach-counseling program for homeless youth in Harlem, which utilizes a harm reduction approach providing comprehensive services to adolescents and young adults impacted by homelessness and involved in street activities (gangs, violence, drug use/sale and survival sex).

The Youth Services Peer Navigator are young adults (ages 18–30) with lived experience of unaccompanied homelessness during their youth. They provide mentorship, advocacy, and connection to resources for youth and young adults currently navigating the RHY continuum. Youth Services Peer Navigators help build trust, promote youth voice and choice, and walk alongside young people in their journeys. Youth Services Peer Navigators promote long-term stability and act as a connector between youth, staff, community, and service systems.

Responsibilities

• Learn and integrate a trauma-informed, client-centered approach, using an anti-oppressive lens, into your work with clients.
• Engagement of adolescents into program structure (harm reduction philosophy, rules, mutual respect)
• Milieu counseling;
  Mediation for internal conflicts
• Engage Youth and Young Adults (YYA) during Drop-In Center hours and through outreach activities support access to services and sustain youth participation in programs.
• Carry a case load of 10-20 clients
• Conduct one-on-one peer mentorship sessions that focus on goal setting, coping skills, housing readiness, and navigating services systems.
• Facilitate and co-create peer-led programming, groups, and wellness activities that reflect youth voice and needs.
• Support the facilitation and development of Advisory Boards to elevate youth leadership and decision-making
• Facilitate access to daily living needs (food, clothes, hygiene supplies, space to rest)
• Convene and Facilitate a Quarterly Client Peer Advisory Group
• Co-facilitate trainings /educational presentations to staff around emerging trends amongst target population
• Connect clients to supportive resources with both internal and external partners to increase client’s access to benefits and resources; provide accompaniment as necessary and requested by clients
• Coordinate services with other Streetwork staff and on-site legal, medical, sexual health and psychiatric service providers
• Participate in weekly case conferencing meetings and clinical group process
• Maintain routine administrative responsibilities to include the preparation of correspondence, maintaining files, mail, email, and telephone.
• Participation in staff trainings, staff meetings, and staff group process workshops
• Participate in weekly supervision

Secondary Job Functions

• Petty Cash reconciliation
• Identification of new resources appropriate for population
• Provide wellness and recreational (engagement) activities
• Provide support in organizing events in the Drop-In Center, monitor entrance to the program, oversee concrete support to clients.
• Supports our Outreach team, which may involve travel within the City.

Interacts With

• All Streetwork program sites and staff
• All internal Safe Horizon programs and departments that can comprehensively support the client and case plan
• All external agencies and organizations that can provide appropriate services to the client

Required Knowledge And Skills

• One (1) year experience working with homeless population, youth, or harm reduction, and lived experience similar to target population
• High school diploma or equivalency plus relevant training and experience in human services or related field, including some prior experience working with victims of crime
• Personal experience with street survival activities (homelessness, gangs, drug economy, substance use, sex industry) with at least three years separation from involvement in these activities as well as a deep understanding of the relationship between personal experiences and professional standards.
• Compassionate approach to others and openness to new ideas
• Dynamic energy, able to multi-task and negotiate multiple demands on attention
• Non-judgmental approach and ability to empathize with others
• Clear and concise verbal and written communication skill, excellent interpersonal and organization skills
• Genuine interest in working with disenfranchised youth and young adults
• Understanding of and ability to work from harm reduction perspective addressing substance use, mental health issues and HIV risk behaviors
• Demonstrated ability to work independently
• Must be committed to obtaining the Youth Peer Advocate (YPA) Credential within 6 months of hire.
• Must complete 600 hours of supervised peer support experience to maintain credential.

Desirable

• Basic understanding of computer and systems for managing case records

Physical Demands

This position has certain physical demand requirements, which include, but may not be limited to, remaining in a stationary position for long hours, lifting up to 25 lbs, and climbing up stairs.

Safe Horizon is committed to providing a reasonable…