Offer: RTF Youth Peer Advocate

RTF Youth Peer Advocate

POSITION OVERVIEW

POSITION SUMMARY
The Youth Peer Advocate (YPA) is a new position that will provide support and advocacy for young people enrolled in the Residential Treatment Facility (RTF). The Youth Peer Advocate function will be designed to amplify youth voice and choice, parallel the function of the Family Peer Advocate, and support youth recovery so youth can return to their homes and/or communities.
The YPA will work with youth in a variety of settings including home, school, and community, with the goal of inspiring hope and motivation, supporting the youth to communicate effectively with others, advocate for their needs, build on youth's strengths to achieve their goals, provide function modeling, coach and support youth, and promote self-care. The YPA will work collaboratively with the youth, their family/caregivers, and internal and external treatment providers.

ESSENTIAL tasks AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other tasks may be assigned. Employees are expected to be awake and alert while working.
Assist youth in advocating for needed services and benefits and seek to effectively resolve unmet needs.
Advocate by being the voice for the youth in care and represent the youth in all meetings related to and/or about the youth.
Empower youth by sharing their own lived practice and expertise
Advocate, especially in the absence of the youth, for the youth and continuously keep the youth in mind when plans are discussed or made.
Engage youth through outreach and support.
Empower youth through education and training.
Promote wellness through modeling and health coaching.
Provide mutual support, hope, reassurance and advocacy, which includes sharing ones own "personal recovery story" as the YPA deems appropriate and beneficial to both the youth and them. YPA may also share their recovery with parents as a means to engage parents and help them envision youth possibilities for future in a new light.
Connect youth to community resources and services. The YPA may accompany youth to appointments and meetings if requested for the purpose of mentoring and support.
Support youth to develop their informal networks of support.
Help youth develop self-advocacy expertise (i.e. may attend a CSE meeting with the youth and parent, coaching the youth to articulate his/her educational goals).
Maintain all documentation and tracking as required in a timely and expedient manner.
Attend regular supervision, staff meetings, and other meetings as required.
Adhere to the team philosophy/approach in working with youth, families, and staff at the agency and within the community.
Follow agency Compliance Plan and Code of Conduct.



QUALIFICATIONS
to execute this job prosperously, an individual must be able to execute each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the expertise, skill, and/or capability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to execute the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or practice
Requires a HS diploma or GED.
No previous work practice is required.

CERTIFICATION / LICENSURE
Drivers license is required.

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