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CTTP-Youth Advocate

Job Details

Job Location

Champlin Ave - Utica, NY

Position Type

Full Time

Salary Range

$25.47 - $25.47 Hourly

Travel Percentage

Up to 25%

Job Shift

Day

Description

Basic Function/Overall Responsibilities: The Youth Peer Advocate empowers youth experiencing social, medical, emotional, developmental, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges, in navigating multiple child serving systems to increase engagement and supporting them in becoming an active participant in their own treatment. This position supports youth as they develop new skills and learn positive approaches and methods for addressing their needs while learning self-advocacy skills. This position will also participate in meetings (e.g. the county's System of Care); providing the youth perspective and sharing their expertise in family-driven, youth-guided care. In addition, this position will lead projects, mentor level I staff, and facilitate Youth Advisory Board. This role requires "Lived Experience" and flexibility with working hours, including evenings, as determined by family needs that arise outside of regular service hours.

Principal Assigned Responsibilities:

+ Assist youth in developing skills to advocate for needed services and benefits to effectively resolve unmet needs, learn how to effectively communicate their individual perspective to providers and families and have a voice and choice in matters related to their lives.

+ Assist youth in developing skills for coping with and managing psychiatric symptoms, trauma, and substance use disorders.

+ Connect youth to community resources, services and natural support by assisting in the development of a network for information and support.

+ Facilitate youth training and youth advisory groups to increase knowledge and skills by providing opportunities for advocacy, learning effective communication skills, and practicing social skills with other youth.

+ Form and maintain relationships using effective communication and collaboration acting as a bridge between youth, family, and providers.

+ Administer assessments and help youth and family to identify gaps in services needed and assist in planning to eliminate gaps.

+ Develop treatment and safety plans in collaboration with the youth and family.

+ Promote effective family-driven, youth-guided practice.

+ Attend and/or facilitate meetings to promote youth voice and infuse the youth perspective at all levels: individual provider, agency, local planning, state and national policy making.

+ Maintain all necessary records, forms, notifications, authorizations, reports and summaries in client files to ensure compliance with all Federal, State, Funder, Medicaid Managed Care and Hillside standards.

+ Participate in agency and team meetings, in-service training, supervisory and team building activities.

+ While this job description covers many aspects of the role, employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

+ Lead/conduct Youth Peer Advocate staff training and manage projects

Qualifications

Education and Experience Requirements:

+ Bachelor's degree, preferably in human services or a related field required.

+ Minimum of one-year of personal lived experience with social, emotional, developmental, medical, behavioral challenges or received services in juvenile justice, foster care, special education or other related service field.

+ Youth Peer Advocate (YPA) Credential required within 6 months of hire.

Required Knowledge, Skill, Abilities and Competencies:

+ Commitment to the following and embracing the Seven Commitments of our Sanctuary.

+ Ability to engage in collaborative working relationships with agency staff and service providers in children's home communities.

+ Ability to work independently and confidently in various communities.

+ Understanding of basic needs and developmental issues of children in a way that respects individuality.

+ Demonstrate knowledge of behavioral treatment, social skills and age-appropriate developmental milestones of youth.

+ Demonstrate the ability to form effective relationships with youth and families.

+ Strong written, verbal, and organizational skills.

+ Practices infection control, including appropriate hand washing procedures.

+ Valid New York State driver’s license.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The House of the Good Shepherd is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. HGS encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities, including people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and those with disabilities. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access throughout the hiring process.