Bilingual Peer Specialist (English/Spanish)

Side by Side•San Rafael, CA

11h•Hybrid

About The Position

Side by Side is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving vulnerable youth and families in the Bay Area. With a history dating back to 1895, the organization has evolved to provide comprehensive services in behavioral and mental health, early intervention, LGBTQIA+ support, transitional housing, and special education. Side by Side values individuals passionate about helping underserved populations and fosters a collaborative, inclusive, and trauma-informed work culture that upholds diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging principles.

Requirements

Associate degree preferred; high school diploma or equivalent required.
Must have personal experience with the foster care, mental health, substance use/abuse and/or juvenile justice system.
Fingerprint clearance, which includes California Department of Justice, FBI and CA Child Abuse Index required.
Experience working with transitional age youth preferred.
Bilingual – Fluent in Spanish/English required.
A valid California driver’s license, personal automobile for the job, insurable by SBS’ insurance policy based on DMV record and personal vehicle insurance.
Available afternoons, early evenings and some weekend hours.
Has relevant knowledge and skill to perform job duties. Includes awareness and possession or mastery of job facts, practices, manual skills and techniques and decision-making methods.
Must be able to drive.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree preferred
Experience working with transitional age youth preferred

Responsibilities

Coordinates and co-facilitates calendar of activities and/or groups at the TAY drop-in center, including life skill building, budgeting, employment seeking, healthy living/exercise, cooking skills, recreational, art, and socialization activities.
Provides active support as an informal counselor through listening to and identifying with the participants’ experiences, particularly around immediate needs/concerns, communication, life goals, and personal goals.
Provides guidance to TAY clients on mental health and substance use/abuse issues, through casual engagement and sharing knowledge about these issues.
Assists case managers in engaging youth in goal setting, particularly around education/ school enrollment and employment pursuits.
Empowers participants to build relationships, make positive choices and explore available supportive community resources.
Assists participants in their efforts to articulate and communicate their needs, with contacts in the community and in families.
Partners with case managers in assisting clients find appropriate housing, health, vocational and/or educational resources.
Assists/guides TAY residential clients with making positive choices in managing their living space and neighbor relationships.
Collaborates with treatment and/or service teams, and attends and actively participates in team meetings as assigned.
Must be able to drive TAY Space Program’s 8 passenger van on client appointments, outings and other errands associated with the day-to-day operational activities of the program.
Meets with participants in the community or in the home to facilitate engagement and provide support in achieving goals.
Completes all appropriate documentation and outcome data in a timely manner.
Within 6 months of employment must complete 80-hour training to certify as a CALMHSA Peer Specialist.
Within 6 months of employment complete Medi-Cal and SmartCare training.

Benefits

3 weeks of paid vacation for F/T employees increasing to 4 weeks of vacation after 2 years of service
2 weeks of sick leave for F/T employees with 2 additional sick days for direct service staff and 4 additional for school staff
10 paid holidays per year and 1 Self-Care Anniversary Day each year
99% employer-paid Medical for F/T employees including platinum level Kaiser Permanente insurance, Sutter Health or Anthem options
Dental and Vision Insurance
Long Term Disability insurance up to $9,000 per month, plus $50,000 Life and AD&D insurance.
Employees also have the option to purchase additional life insurance at their own cost.
403b Retirement Plan with agency match after one year of employment
Professional development and other learning opportunities including unlimited access to over 1,000 behavioral health courses online.
Side by Side is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer
FREE Employee Assistance Program including up to 10 complimentary personal counseling sessions per problem, per year for staff and dependents
Employee recognition program with $500 bonus awards
Employee referral bonus of up to $1,000
Pet Insurance