Peer Specialist-Youth Support… at Institute for… · New York

JOB SUMMARY

Under the general supervision of the Team Leader/Program Supervisor or designee, Youth Peer Specialists provide formal and informal services and support provided to youth with mental health needs in their home, school, placement, and/or community-centered services. These services provide the support necessary to ensure engagement and active participation of the youth in the treatment planning process and with the ongoing implementation and reinforcement of skills. Services are delivered in a trauma-informed, culturally and linguistically competent manner. The need for the YPS must be determined by a licensed practitioner of the health arts and included within the treatment plan. Youth Peer Support activities must be intended to develop and achieve the identified goals and/or objectives as set forth in the youth’s individualized treatment plan. The structured scheduled activities provided by this service emphasize the opportunity for the youth to expand the skills and strategies necessary to move forward in meeting their personal, individualized life goals, develop self-advocacy skills and to support their transition into adulthood.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: List all essential job duties. (To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty listed satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with a disability to perform the essential duties unless this causes undue hardship to the agency.)

• Travels to/visits youth residences to provide supportive services on a schedule established by the program. Counsel youth regarding plans for meeting service needs and aiding the youth in mobilizing inner capabilities and environmental resources to attain goals.
• Assist youth in developing skills for coping with and managing psychiatric symptoms, trauma and substance use disorders.
• Assist in developing skills for wellness, resiliency, and recovery support.
• Assist in developing skills to independently navigate the service system.
• Assist in developing goal-setting skills.
• Assist in building community living skills.
• Promoting wellness through modeling behaviors.
• Providing mutual support, hope, reassurance and advocacy that includes sharing one’s own ‘personal recovery/resiliency story’ as the Youth Peer Advocating (YPA) deems appropriately as beneficial to both the youth and them. YPA’s may also share their recovery with parents to engage parents and help them ‘see’ youth possibilities for the future in a new light.
• Acting as a peer partner in transitioning to different levels of care and into adulthood; helping youth understand what to expect and how and why they should be active in developing their treatment plan and natural support.
• Developing, linking, and facilitating the use of formal and informal services, including connection to peer support groups in the community.
• Serving as an advocate, mentor, or facilitator for the resolution of issues.
• Helping youth develop self-advocacy skills (e.g., may attend a Committee on Special Education meeting with the youth and parent, coaching the youth to articulate his educational goals).
• Assisting youth with gaining and regaining the ability to make independent choices and assist youth in playing a proactive role in their own treatment (assisting/mentoring them in discussing questions or concerns about medications, diagnosis or treatment approaches with their treating providers). to articulate
• Other job-related duties may be assigned.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Committed to the active promotion of ICL values and goals.
• Ability to work with youth, families, and staff in a caring and respectful manner, and with due understanding of and consideration for cultural differences.
• Ability to complete written forms and reports in an accurate and timely manner.
• Ability to communicate effectively with staff, youth, families, and the public.
• Ability to prepare accurate and timely documentation, reports, and other written material as assigned.
• Ability to secure cooperation and work effectively with others.
• Ability to work independently, and to conform to all applicable safety and accountability measures
• Knowledge of how disabilities can adversely affect functioning and ways to cope with or overcome such effects
• Ability to read and write at least at a 12th-grade level and to follow written and oral instructions.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Completion of an internship or comparable training in youth peer advocacy; experience in providing advocacy services to people who are mentally ill and/or homeless. Past or current recipient of mental health, substance, or homeless services preferred. Must obtain the Youth Peer Advocate (YPA) certification with either a provisional or a professional certification within a year of hire.