Peer Counselor, CCORS Youth Peer

YMCA Of Greater Seattle • Seattle, WA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Provides culturally competent, and strength-based peer support to youth and their families to decrease crisis and increase in-home stabilization. Identifies natural supports and teaches youth skills to effectively navigate community resources to meet priority needs. Provides services in client homes, schools or other convenient community locations. The goals of Youth Peer Support include supporting youth empowerment, assisting youth in developing skills to improve their overall functioning and quality of life. Collaborates effectively with co-workers, supervisors, outside professionals and others involved in delivering the youth’s care to meet safety plan needs and action plan goals. Supports the youth and acts as a bridge between the youth, family and system representatives. Willing to self-identify as a peer. Because of life experience, such persons have expertise that professional training cannot replicate.
This position is at the Social Impact Center Y, the social services branch of YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS). The mission of the Social Impact Center Y is to accelerate young people’s ability to build safe, successful, and happy lives. Every year, we serve 5,000 children, youth, young adults, and families across King County with programs that aim to strengthen young people’s ability to develop to their fullest potential through four strategies: reducing risk factors; navigating systems towards successful life transition; ensuring stability, safety and wellness in times of crisis; and building competencies and social capital. The Social Impact Center Y’s programs include housing, behavioral health, foster care licensing, violence prevention, education, and employment. Many of the young people we serve have had involvement in the foster care, criminal justice system, and/or homelessness systems.

Requirements

• Young Adults ages 21-30, with lived experience in receiving services as a youth in complex, child serving systems (juvenile justice, behavioral health, child welfare, special education preferred) and is prepared to use that experience in helping others
• Ability to work independently and as a part of a team
• Ability to effectively communicate with others
• Ability to set priorities and manage time effectively
• Ability to use a computer and work with Microsoft Windows Outlook and electronic health records data system.
• Trained in and familiar with recovery model and able to assist families and youth to focus on their strengths, utilize their voice and partner with their team.
• Demonstrated ability to engage youth and their families in a structured process to verbalize their needs, develop an individualized care plan, and transition to reliance on natural supports.
• Knowledge of community services and resources including: support groups, mental health, substance abuse, child welfare, juvenile justice, developmental disabilities, special education programs, etc.
• Experience with crisis de-escalation and crisis stabilization practices.
• Frequent lifting or carrying up to 15 pounds, must be able to hear, frequent standing/walking going up and down stairs due to community outreach basis, ability to communicate effectively in person and/or phone, the ability to read, analyze and interpret information, ability to write reports, correspondence and procedures, ability to maintain notes/records, ability to define and solve practical problems, collect data
• Possession of a high school diploma or equivalence preferred

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of and previous experience with, diverse populations and ability to speak another language in addition to English strongly preferred.
• Current State-approved first aid certification, state-approved CPR certification, BBP (HIV/AIDS) training certification.
• Washington State Agency Affiliated Counseling Credential.
• WA State Certified Peer Support Specialist Trainee or Certified Peer Support Specialist credential required within one year of employment.
• WA State Certified Peer Support Specialist Trainee or Certified Peer Support Specialist required within 30 days of employment.
• This role has the potential to transport clients as an “authorized driver” for the YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS) using an employer-provided vehicle. Driving duties for this role are optional, but preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides both immediate and scheduled crisis outreach services to families in Snoqualmie Valley and additional coverage as needed
• Assist youth in developing self-determination and empowerment skills through self-advocacy.
• Identify youth stresses, instability and provide appropriate support.
• Identifies community resources and natural supports and works with the youth to effectively navigate resources.
• Collaborates effectively with co-workers, supervisors and outside professionals to meet action plan goals.
• Transports youth to appointments, meetings, or other locations as needed to support the action plan and linkage to community resources.
• Works with families to build their own “Child & Family Team”. Attends wrap around and other team meetings to support youth and ensure that their voice is heard. Acts as a role model for effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.
• Maintains a working knowledge of current trends and developments in behavioral health.
• Completes required documentation within program deadlines.
• Reports all critical incidents and adheres to YMCA program rules and procedures.
• Assess and create safety plans to meet immediate safety and stabilization needs
• Customize helping approaches to fit the family’s uniqueness, personality, culture and interest
• Reassure and communicate hopefulness so clients know, “they are not in this alone.”
• Willing and able to self-identify as a person who has lived experience i.e. has or is receiving mental health services and/or interactions with the juvenile court system
• Articulates own Lived experience and resilience stories in ways that are relevant to the obstacles faced by the youth

Benefits

• Membership to the YMCA of Greater Seattle for you and your household
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life insurance
• Retirement with 12% employer contributions after 2 years of services
• Other Savings plans available upon hire
• Free access to mental health resources
• Rapidly accruing paid time off (PTO)
• Discounts on qualifying YMCA of Greater Seattle childcare, day camp, overnight camp and outdoor leadership programs.
• Direct care staff in the Social Impact Center receive monthly personal Wellness days in addition to existing PTO and Paid Holiday benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED