CCBHC - Peer Advocate (Youth Peer)

Summary

The Child Center of NY is operating a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), a federally recognized model designed to provide comprehensive, person-centered, trauma-informed, and evidence-based behavioral health care. CCBHCs offer a full continuum of integrated services, including mental health and substance use treatment, crisis intervention, care coordination, and peer support, ensuring accessible and holistic care for individuals and families. The primary role of a Youth Advocate is to identify and address the needs and concerns of young people, and to empower them to become active and engaged members of their communities.

Essential Functions:

Skill Building:

· Developing skills for coping with and managing psychiatric symptoms, trauma, and substance use disorders.

· Developing skills for wellness, resiliency, and recovery support.

· Developing skills to independently navigate the service system.

· Developing goal-setting skills.

· Building community living skills.

Coaching:

· Enhancing resiliency/recovery-oriented attitudes, i.e., hope, confidence, and self-efficacy.

· Promoting wellness through modeling.

· Providing mutual support, hope, reassurance, and advocacy that include sharing one's own "personal recovery/resiliency story" as the Youth Peer Advocate (YPA) deems appropriate as beneficial to both the youth and themselves. YPAs may also share their recovery with parents/caregivers to engage parents/caregivers and help them “see” youth possibilities for future in a new light.

Engagement, Bridging, and Transition Support:

· Acting as a peer partner in transitioning to different levels of care and into adulthood; helping youth understand what to expect and how and why they should be active in developing their treatment plan and natural supports.

Self-Advocacy, Self-Efficacy, & Empowerment:

· Developing, linking, and facilitating the use of formal and informal services, including connection to peer support groups in the community.

· Serving as an advocate, mentor, or facilitator for resolution of issues

· Assisting in navigating the service system including assisting with engagement and bridging during transitions in care.

· Helping youth develop self-advocacy skills (e.g., may attend a Committee on Preschool Special Education or Committee on Special Education meeting with the youth and parent, coaching the youth to articulate his educational goals).

· Assisting youth with gaining and regaining the ability to make independent choices and assist youth in playing a proactive role in their own treatment (assisting/mentoring them in discussing questions or concerns about medications, diagnoses, or treatment (assisting/mentoring them in discussing questions or concerns about medications, diagnoses, or treatment

· approaches with their treating clinician). The YPA guides the youth to effectively communicate their individual perspective to providers and families.

· Assisting youth in developing skills to advocate for needed services and benefits and seeking to effectively resolve unmet needs.

· Assisting youth in understanding their treatment plan and help to ensure the plan is person/family centered.

Community Connections and Natural Supports:

· Connecting youth to community resources and services. The YPA may accompany youth to appointments and meetings for the purpose of mentoring and support but not for the sole purpose of providing transportation for the youth.

· Helping youth develop a network for information and support from others who have been through similar experiences, including locating similar interest programs, peer-run programs, and support groups.

· Facilitating or arranging youth peer resiliency/recovery support groups

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None.

Minimum Qualifications:

· High school diploma or equivalent.

· Lived experience with mental health and/or substance use challenges and demonstrated recovery.

· Completion of a recognized Peer Specialist training and certification program (or ability to obtain within six months of hire).

· Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish rapport and build trust.

· Ability to work effectively with diverse populations and uphold principles of cultural humility.

· Basic computer skills, including documentation in electronic health records (EHR).

Preferred Qualifications:

· New York State Peer Specialist Certification (NYCPS or NYCPS-P).

· Experience working in a behavioral health or social services setting.

· Knowledge of trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and person-centered recovery models.

· Bilingual in English and Spanish or another language commonly spoken by the community

Job Behavioral Expectations:

· Maintain regular consistent and professional attendance, punctuality, personal appearance, and adherence to relevant health & safety procedures.

· Safe and successful performance, including meeting productivity standards.

· Maintain an understanding of the principles, methods and processes needed to perform the job. Attends staff meetings, seminars and in-service training as assigned.

· Demonstrates the ability to complete work in an acceptable manner by the time and/or date established with accuracy and minimal errors.