Youth Advocate

Position Overview

The Youth Peer Support (YPS) provides an array of both formal and informal services and supports to youth who are experiencing social, medical, emotional, developmental, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges in their home, school, placement, and/or community. The Youth Advocate is responsible for developing and facilitating in the social and personal development of adolescents and teenagers. A Youth Advocate is a guide to youth and gives direction in their academic, vocational, and personal lives.

• Generous Paid Time Off
• 401k Pension and Employer Contribution
• Flexible Spending and Commuter Benefits Accounts
• Employer paid short-term & long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance
• Employee Assistance Program

• Helps youth with developing the skills needed in order to independently navigate the various service systems.
• Aids youth with goal setting and building community living skills.
• Provides youth with the skills needed in order to cope with and manage their psychiatric symptoms, traumatic experiences, issues related to their substance use disorders, and any other life experiences that they may be enduring.
• Provide mutual support, hope, reassurance, and advocacy that includes the sharing of one’s own “personal recovery/resiliency story” as the Youth Peer Advocating (YPA) deems appropriate as beneficial to both the youth and themselves.
• Help youth to engage, bridge, and transition support from youth to adulthood, understanding why they should be active participant in the development of their care and treatment.
• Develop, link, and facilitate the use of formal and informal services, including connection to peer support groups within the community.
• Serve as an advocate, mentor, and/or facilitator for the resolution of concerns and/or issues.
• Assists youth with developing the skills needed in order to advocate for services and benefits.
• Connect youth to community resources and services.
• Ensure that youth understand their treatment plan, as well as help to ensure that plan is person and family-centered.
• Documents all services provided both timely and accurately.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• A high school diploma, high school equivalency preferred or a State Education Commencement Credential.
• Demonstrate ‘lived experience’ with a disability, mental illness, juvenile justice, special education, substance use disorder, and/or foster care to assist in supporting youth in their resiliency/recovery and wellness.
• Ability to work among diverse social, cultural, and economic groups.
• Complete Level One (online component) and Level Two (online and in-person) training of the Youth Peer Support Advisory Council recommended and State approved training for YPA’s followed by a minimum of three consultation calls.
• Excellent written, verbal, and listening skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and have some knowledge and using Electronic Health Records (EHR).
• Bilingual (highly preferred) in one or more of the following:
  Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Bengali and others, as depending upon the needs of the client and their family.