Youth Peer Advocate

Access: Supports for Living•New Paltz, NY

13d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Youth Peer Advocate for the Youth Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team who is between the ages of 18-29, has lived experience as person with a mental health challenge, and is willing and able to share their experience with others. The ideal candidate will be passionate about working closely with youth ages 10-21 and have acute mental health needs. The Youth ACT Team is a program designed to address the significant needs of children/youth who are at risk of entering, or returning home from high intensity services, such as inpatient or residential services. Youth ACT services are delivered in the home or other community based settings using a multidisciplinary approach to better achieve success and maintain the child/youth in the home, school, and community.

Requirements

Aged between 18-29
Lived experience as a person with a mental health challenge
Willingness and ability to share lived experience with others
Passion for working closely with youth ages 10-21 with acute mental health needs
High School Diploma or GED
Ability to become a NYS Certified Youth Peer Advocate
Good organization, writing, and telephone skills
Must be organized, flexible, and able to prioritize tasks
Demonstrated direct experience with their own mental health challenges
Ability to work as a team player with colleagues and other providers
Willingness to participate in ongoing training
Must have a drivers license, reliable transportation, and be willing to transport clients in own vehicle.

Responsibilities

Working with their Youth ACT team colleagues to follow the mission of providing the young person and their family with the level of support and access to services required to sustain gains made in crisis response or other out-of-home high-intensity services.
Share lived experiences to support the youth in the program
Work together with the youth, their families, and colleagues.
Provide services in the form of direct support, information sharing, and skill building.
Provide youth perspective to professionals and community stakeholders.
Coach, educate, support, and encourage youth to use their voice and make informed choices.
Increase youth self-empowerment and advocacy skills.
Ensure youth point of view is heard by the team and educate others on significance of youth voice and choice.
Assist youth to identify natural and informal supports, collaborate with the team, understand assessment results and ensure the plan of care is customized and individualized based on their strengths, effectively resolve conflicts, integrate into community, school, and family, and navigate the public human services system.
Participate in team meetings, trainings, and care coordination discussions.
Serve as a bridge between youth and professionals, supporting mutual understanding.
Engage in community outreach and represent the youth voice with stakeholders when appropriate.
Support ongoing quality improvement efforts through youth feedback and insight.
Attend required trainings to maintain certification and enhance skills.