Peer Advocate (CSEC Advocacy)

OPTIMIST BOYS HOME & RANCH•Los Angeles, CA

1d•$23 - $23•Hybrid

About The Position

The Peer Advocate provides trauma-informed, relationship-based peer advocacy and support to youth impacted by Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC), sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and other complex trauma experiences. This position primarily focuses on community-based engagement, mentorship, advocacy, crisis response, and supportive services designed to help youth increase safety, stability, self-determination, and connection to healthy supports. Using lived experience, motivational approaches, and trauma-informed practices, the Peer Advocate builds trusting relationships with youth in community settings, homes, schools, hospitals, placement settings, and other service environments. The Peer Advocate supports youth in accessing resources, participating in treatment and case planning, developing life skills, and navigating systems of care. The Peer Advocate may also provide flexible support and coverage within Optimist Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) as needed to ensure continuity of care, youth engagement, and program stability. STRTP support responsibilities are secondary to the primary community advocacy role and are provided in alignment with agency policies, trauma-informed practices, and licensing standards. This position is trained, supervised, and evaluated to support youth safety, individualized care, and implementation of trauma-informed, harm-reduction, and youth-centered services.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED required
Lived experience relevant to peer advocacy strongly preferred.
Experience working with high-risk youth, CSEC youth, or system-involved youth preferred.
Knowledge of trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices.
Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams and community systems.
CPR/First Aid certification (or ability to obtain).
Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
Valid California driver’s license
reliable transportation
current automobile insurance
have and maintain a clean driving record acceptable to the organization’s insurance company.
Must be able to pass a fingerprint background investigation.
Must be able to pass a TB test, physical exam, and drug screening.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.
Lived experience relevant to peer advocacy strongly preferred.
Experience working with high-risk youth, CSEC youth, or system-involved youth preferred.
Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

Providing community-based peer advocacy, mentorship, and engagement services
Supporting youth impacted by exploitation, trauma, placement instability, and system involvement
Utilizing harm-reduction, motivational, and survivor-centered approaches
Assisting youth with resource linkage, stabilization, and goal attainment
Supporting youth voice, empowerment, and self-advocacy
Providing flexible support within STRTP programs as needed
Participating in ongoing supervision, training, and professional development
Promoting a safe, respectful, and healing-centered environment for youth
Utilizes lived experience (preferred) to provide peer-based mentoring, encouragement, and support to youth.
Builds trusting relationships with youth using trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and nonjudgmental approaches.
Meets youth in community settings, placement settings, schools, hospitals, court appointments, and other approved locations.
Supports youth in identifying strengths, goals, needs, and safety concerns.
Assists youth in accessing community resources, supportive services, and basic needs.
Encourages youth participation in treatment planning, CFT meetings, education, employment, and supportive programming.
Provides emotional support, role modeling, advocacy, and encouragement to promote resilience and empowerment.
Provides crisis intervention, de-escalation, and stabilization support to youth in community and residential settings.
Participates in First Responder Protocol (FRP) response as assigned.
Supports safety planning and harm-reduction interventions for high-risk youth.
Responds appropriately to critical incidents and follows all reporting requirements and agency protocols.
Maintains flexibility to support evenings, weekends, or urgent youth needs when required.
Adheres to mandated reporting laws and agency policies at all times.
Maintains accurate, timely, and compliant documentation, including: Advocacy Progress Notes, Advocacy Plans, Safety Plans, Surveys and required program documentation, Daily logs and incident documentation when applicable.
Communicates effectively with supervisors, multidisciplinary team members, DCFS, DMH, schools, probation, and community providers.
Reports significant incidents, concerns, or safety issues in a timely manner.
Participates in required supervision, staff meetings, and multidisciplinary team collaboration.
Completes all mandatory trainings and in-service education requirements.
Demonstrates openness to feedback, coaching, and continued professional growth.
Supports agency efforts to maintain trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and youth-centered services.
Provides supportive coverage within the STRTP program as assigned to maintain continuity of care and youth engagement.
Assists STRTP staff in maintaining a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment.
Supports youth through relationship-building, mentorship, coaching, and emotional support.
Assists with recreation, community activities, transportation, appointments, and life skills activities.
Reinforces trauma-informed program expectations and positive behavioral supports.
Collaborates with STRTP staff and treatment team members to support individualized treatment goals.
Maintains confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA, CCL, and agency policies.
Demonstrates appropriate boundaries, professionalism, and emotional regulation at all times.
Serves as a positive role model for youth and staff.
Adheres to all organizational policies, procedures, and licensing requirements.
Supports a harm-reduction, survivor-centered, and healing-centered model of care.