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Position Title: Youth Peer Advocate

Department: Family & Youth Peer Support Services

Reports to: Program Supervisor

Schedule: Part-time, Office hours are Monday-Friday 9am-5pm and alternating Saturdays as needed

Hourly Pay: $26.00 - $30.00*

*New hires are typically brought into the organization between the minimum to midpoint of the salary range posted depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role. Vibrant Emotional Health’s groundbreaking solutions have delivered high-quality services and support when, where and how people need it for over 50 years. Through our state-of-the-art technology-enabled services, community wellness programs, and advocacy and education work, we are building a society in which emotional wellness can be a reality for everyone.

Position Overview:

Vibrant’s Family & Youth Peer Support Services are staffed by family advocates who have shared similar life experiences to other parents – including finding success in navigating the complexities of the child-serving system. Youth Peer Advocates youth maintain a strong focus on building other young people’s leadership skills and assisting youth to make a successful transition to adulthood.

Duties/Responsibilities:

+ Work in collaboration with all Family Peer Advocates in engaging youth in planning their own care and having their voice heard

+ Share personal knowledge and experiences about the youth serving system and resources available to youth

+ Provide support to youth through one-to-one interactions as well as group interactions

+ Provide support to youth at community meetings and other meetings as needed

+ Provide public education about youth mental health issues

+ Assist in the organization of social, recreational and educational activities for youth

+ Assist in outreach activities

+ Represent the interests of youth with emotional and behavioral challenges in a variety of public forums and advisory groups

+ Create and maintain comprehensive documentation of the work completed with individuals and families

+ Additional duties as assigned

Required Skills/Abilities:

+ Excellent organizational, communication, and computer skills

+ Excellent time management

+ Ability to work collaboratively with staff, youth, families, service providers, employers, and others

+ Ability to remain calm and composed under stress

+ Ability to respond to telephones and other auditory stimulation

+ Ability to evaluate/interpret information and make independent judgment/decisions

Required Qualifications:

+ The Youth Peer Advocate will be an individual 18 to 30 years old who has self-identified as a person who has first-hand experience with social, emotional, medical, developmental, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges, and has experience receiving mental health services and/or navigating other child-serving systems

+ Demonstrates qualities of leadership, including knowledge of advocacy, and can positively reflect on and share experiences with others

+ Strong written and verbal communication skills

+ Bilingual and bicultural candidates are encouraged to apply

+ Candidates possessing exceptional skill but not all of the qualifications are also encouraged to apply

Physical Requirements:

+ Mostly sedentary work; using standard office equipment including: a computer, keyboard, and telephone

+ Ability to work collaboratively with staff, program participants, service providers and other stakeholders

+ Ability to remain calm and composed under stress

+ Ability to respond to telephones and other auditory stimulation

+ Ability to evaluate/interpret information and make independent judgment/decisions

Excellent comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, supplemental income insurance, pre-tax transit/parking, pre-tax FSA for medical and dependent care, and 401K available. 4 weeks’ vacation, plum benefits, etc. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. Vibrant will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role. Vibrant Emotional Health is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are considered for positions without regard to veteran status, uniformed service member status, race, creed, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national origin, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, caregiver status or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. Please be aware that fictitious job openings, consulting engagements, solicitations, or employment offers may be circulated on the Internet in an attempt to obtain privileged information, or to induce you to pay a fee for services related to recruitment or training. Vibrant does NOT charge any application, processing, or training fee at any stage of the recruitment or hiring process. All genuine job openings will be posted on our careers page and all communications from the Vibrant recruiting team and/or hiring managers will be from an @vibrant.org email address.