Job Offer: Youth Peer Advocate, ACT

Youth Peer Advocate, ACT

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Summary
The Youth Assertive Community Treatment team (ACT) Program is an innovative treatment program. The program serves children with mental illness or serious emotional disturbance and their families. The Youth Peer Advocate serves a unique function on the Youth ACT team as an individual between the ages of 18 to 30 years old, who self-identifies as a person who has first-hand practice with mental health and/or co-occurring behavioral health challenges By drawing on their own lived practice of overcoming challenges with mental illness, the Youth Peer Advocate can instill hope in clients and their families. Walking alongside clients on their recovery journeys, the Youth Peer Advocate is an ally, mentor, and advocate for clients and families as they contend with the difficulties and uncertainties of mental illness. The Youth Peer Advocate uses their lived practice to contribute to treatment planning for each participant, and facilitating the team's development and maintenance of a culture of respect.

Essential tasks and Responsibilities:

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Engage individuals and establish trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goals clients identify on their treatment plans

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Contribute to client treatment plans, advocating for clients' needs

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Participate in everyday treatment team meetings and work directly with other team members to provide support and assistance to program participants.

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Provide individual face-to-face support to youth and families receiving services

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Spend 70% or more of scheduled work hours in community settings

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Meet with family, youth, and collateral contacts to provide psychoeducation about serious mental illness

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Serve as function models, educate recipients about self-help techniques and self-help group processes, teach effective coping strategies located on personal practice, teach symptom management expertise, assist in clarifying rehabilitation and recovery goals, and assist in the development of community support systems and networks.

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Complete and obtain the NYCPS-Provisional certification for review by the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board (NYPSCB) within the agreed upon time of start date

Education and/or practice
High School Diploma or GED, Associates Degree preferred
Must have a valid New York State driver's license.

Certification/Licensure
Complete and obtain the NYCPS-Provisional certification for review by the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board (NYPSCB) within the agreed-upon time of start date.
The certification must be under license and certification and must be at the time of hire.

Benefits You Will Love

»Health care package: medical, dental, and vision

»Tuition reimbursement

»Paid time off

»Holiday Pay

» 401 (K) plan

»Life Insurance

»Loan repayment assistance

»Free training/CEU opportunities

»Leaving an indisputable imprint within the community and much more!

Qualifications

As this is a Youth Peer position, grant funding requires that employees hired in this capacity are within 18-30 years of age and have lived practicewith mental illness or serious emotional disturbance.