Peer Advocate I/II/III

Stanford Sierra Youth & Families•Sacramento, CA

47d

About The Position

The Peer Advocate role involves providing support, mentorship, and advocacy for youth and families impacted by systems of care, such as child welfare, juvenile justice, and mental health. The position requires individuals with lived experience to help clients navigate complex systems, develop life skills, and connect with community resources. Higher levels (II and III) require specific certifications, experience, and demonstrated leadership in peer support practices.

Requirements

High School Diploma (or GED)
Some college courses or degree preferred
Experience as a youth impacted by a system of care required (Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice, Mental Health)
Basic knowledge of Public Mental Health/Child Welfare/Education systems, and the ability to advocate on behalf of clients in navigating and negotiating those systems
Previous experience with advocacy, outreach, and community resources, preferred
Meets minimum qualification listed above (for Peer Advocate I)
Active and current Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification (for Peer Advocate II)
Has a minimum of 1 year experience as a Peer Advocate (for Peer Advocate II)
Meets all qualifications for Peer Advocate II (for Peer Advocate III)
Demonstrates advanced proficiency and leadership in the Peer Advocate role (for Peer Advocate III)
Has a minimum of two (2) years of experience providing peer support, advocacy, or related family engagement services (for Peer Advocate III)
Demonstrates experience leading, training, or mentoring others in peer support practices and the ability to model effective engagement and advocacy aligned with agency values (for Peer Advocate III)

Nice To Haves

Spanish speaking preferred

Responsibilities

Facilitate peer and youth activities such as group outings, workshops, and community service projects.
Lead support groups tailored to the needs of youth and adoptive parents.
Provide one-on-one mentorship for adoptive families or youth to share experiences and guidance.
Participate in delivering training sessions on topics like trauma-informed care, cultural competency, and behavioral interventions.
Assist in preparing materials for training sessions and family support activities.
Help youth and families navigate services by advocating for their needs with service providers, schools, and legal entities.
Speak on behalf of youth and families in team settings to ensure their voices are included in decision-making.
Support short-term case management activities, including developing case plans and linking families to services programs.
Facilitate life skills workshops for youth, focusing on areas such as financial literacy, job readiness, and self-care strategies.
Support youth in setting and achieving personal and academic goals.
Maintain accurate records of interactions and progress for youth and families.
Contribute to quarterly and outcome reports for tracking program effectiveness and meeting contract requirements.
Assist in planning and executing events and family respite activities.
Organize community-building activities to strengthen family networks.
Provide immediate assistance and referrals for families experiencing urgent needs.
Operate and manage warm line calls for adoptive families seeking support.
Work with social workers, program coordinators, and other team members to align service delivery.
Attend staff meetings to share updates and remove barriers.
Help identify and strengthen connections with extended family or supportive adults.
Document children’s histories using tools such as Lifebook’s and connectedness mapping.
Assist in finding family connections.
Provide guidance, mentoring and informal coaching to other Peer Advocates to build skills and consistency in service delivery (Peer Advocate III).
Model effective engagement and communication aligned with agency standards and values (Peer Advocate III).
Participate in leadership or planning meetings, as requested (Peer Advocate III).
Contribute to the development, implementation, evaluation and monitoring of program initiatives, team engagement strategies and professional culture (Peer Advocate III).
Co-facilitate or lead trainings and/or workshops for staff, youth, and caregivers, as directed by leadership (Peer Advocate III).
Perform all duties in a manner consistent with the principles and values of agency, while adhering to applicable professional codes of ethics, the agency’s policies and procedures, contractor requirements, and regulatory requirements.
Model and communicate appropriate positive attitudes toward the agency’s Mission, Vision, and Values.
Work collaboratively with all agency programs and staff to provide support as needed.
Utilize and maintain calendar with all work-related details to manage time effectively and share calendar information with coworkers.
Participate in on-going training to expand and develop professional skills.
Perform other duties as necessary for the agency, as assigned.