Peer Counselor – Parent Partner

YMCA Of Greater Seattle•Seattle, WA

4h•$22 - $27

About The Position

You will deliver culturally competent and strength-based peer support to caregivers of youth participating in the WISe (Wraparound with Intensive Services) program, aiming to reduce crises and enhance in-home stability. This will involve identifying necessary support and teaching skills to help caregivers effectively navigate community resources to fulfill their needs. Services will be provided in the homes of clients or other suitable community settings. You will work in collaboration with colleagues, supervisors, external professionals, and others involved in the youth's care to address safety plan requirements and achieve action plan objectives, serving as a vital link between caregivers, youth, and system representatives. This position serves as the parent peer support for the WISe wraparound intensive mental health services. A peer support specialist plays an intricate role in the team-based planning process for caregivers and youth who are experiencing complex needs. Peers are designed to help caregivers develop advocacy and empowerment skills to better achieve the identified goals of their youth and family, and so that young people may live in their homes and communities successfully. • This team member will work collaboratively with supervisors, clinicians, case managers, and all team providers to help implement an individualized plan of care, monitor the efficacy of the plan, and work towards success over time. • This plan of care is based on strengths and needs that respect the youth's and their family's culture, values, norms, and preferences 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

Personal experience as a parent or custodial guardian who has sought and received assistance from community mental health and/or school systems (juvenile justice, behavioral health, child welfare, special education) for their own child or youth who experienced emotional and/or behavioral problems.
Ability to work independently and as a part of a team
Ability to effectively communicate with others
Ability to effectively use virtual platforms, such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, to communicate with team and youth and families.
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.
The following physical and mental abilities are required: 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
WA State Peer Counselor Certification preferred and required within one year of employment.
Possession of a high school diploma or equivalence preferred
Possession of valid driver’s license and have access to a private vehicle for day-to-day job performance and Ability to transport self and youth in a safe and effective manner, and to meet youth and families at their home or in the community. (Proof of adequate vehicle insurance coverage is required.)
Current State-approved first aid certification, state-approved CPR certification, BBP (HIV/AIDS) training certification.
Washington State Agency Affiliated Counseling Credential.
Within 30 days of employment or first available training.
Training and certification can be completed after hire. Start process of training and certification within the first month of hire and full certification as a Peer within 6 months of hire.
This role transports clients as an “authorized driver” for the YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS) using your own vehicle (proof of current auto insurance and vehicle registration are required). Driving duties for this role are Required. Driving roles are safety-sensitive. To become an authorized driver, you must be 21+, have possessed a driver's license for at least 3 years, and pass a drug screen that will test for impairing substances (including marijuana) in addition to meeting the driving record standards below:

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of and previous experience with, diverse populations and ability to speak another language in addition to English strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide peer counseling and support to parents/caregivers, drawing on common experience to encourage hope and inspire a sense of agency.
Promote self-determination, empowerment, personal responsibility for recovery and wellness, and assist parents/caregivers in advocating for themselves and their children.
Engage youth and families in the Wraparound process by sharing personal experience and/or explaining Wraparound process in relation to family’s identified needs and concerns.
Act as a bridge between families and system representatives on the team.
Adhere closely to the National Wraparound Model.
Assist in creating Care Plans by identifying relevant community resources and developing strategies to utilize and build upon strengths of the caregiver and youth.
Collaborate with the treatment team to promote a culture within which each client’s point of view, experience, and preferences are recognized, understood, and respected, and client decision-making maximized.
Assist caregivers in gaining skills to advocate for themselves when treatment planning and in other system settings.
Assist families in identifying existing and building new community and natural supports.
Identify opportunities for natural supports to participate in the Wraparound team planning process.
Support caregivers during child and family team meetings.
Provide resource referrals and linkages to caregivers and system partners.
Assist families in navigating systems to have their needs met.
Partner with the care coordinator, clinician, family, and other members of the family-identified team in the development of the crisis stabilization plan to make sure the plans are individualized and based on youth and family voice and choice. As appropriate, assist caregiver by providing short-term intensive care coordination and facilitating family collaboration with crisis providers or treatment options.
Facilitate Wraparound team meetings as needed.
Develop working knowledge of CANS assessment tool; interpret assessment results for families and incorporate relevant action items into the care planning process.
Attend WISe community meetings with other partner agencies.
Partner with system of care representatives to promote family involvement on all levels of care, service delivery, and policy development.
Attend and participate in clinical consultation, staff meetings, and supervision appointments.
Maintain complete and timely clinical documentation, including gathering data in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
Participate in supervision with the WISe Program Director and regular collaboration with the care coordinators, clinicians, and fellow peers in the program.
Demonstrate a high degree of skill in communication and positive interaction with all Y employees, prospective employees, external agencies/companies, and the community at large.
Meet with assigned caregivers in person at least once a week, or more frequently, if necessary, within the community.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
All employees and volunteers are responsible for adhering to abuse prevention policies, maintaining appropriate boundaries, completing required training, reporting suspicious or inappropriate behavior, and complying with mandated reporting requirements.
Responsible for ensuring staff are properly screened, trained, supervised and held accountable to the organization’s abuse risk management standards.

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 - see Y Retirement for more information. Other Savings plans available upon hire.
Free access to mental health resources
Rapidly accruing paid time off (PTO)
Full-time employees qualify for a 50% discount, and part-time employees qualify for a 25% discount, on eligible Childcare Services.
Direct care staff in the Social Impact Center receive monthly personal Wellness days in addition to existing PTO and Paid Holiday benefits

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