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Position Overview:

Braveheart’s staff are comprised of young professionals who are often referred to as peer navigators, credible messengers and advocates. These individuals harness various levels of lived experience in the NYS child welfare and juvenile justice system of services for youth/young adults with high end needs. The Braveheart Peer Navigators utilize their unique skill set to authentically connect with youth participants in an effort to create plans for sustainable and realistic community connectedness for those youth who are the most at risk of arrest, homelessness and social disconnection. This is achieved by giving youth voice a meaningful platform and establishing the value of partnership with existing professional supports already identified by the client while uplifting the voices and causes of youth.

The Bravehearts Peer Justice Advocate will provide mentoring, advocacy, group facilitation and resource connection to young adults adversely impacted by youth serving justice systems. The Peer Justice Advocate will provide programming on Children’s Village campus to youth who exhibit runaway and high-risk behaviors requiring court activity through the Raise The Age initiative as well as provide programming in the county correctional facility and juvenile detention center. The Peer Justice Advocate will provide advocacy with and on behalf of the youth participant by working in partnership with professionals and systems that the youth is impacted by. Individual will assist in permanency planning for youth alongside support team. Individual will also assist in preparing youth for adulthood and aging out of care/systemic impact Individual will facilitate weekly motivational meetings. Individual may be required to sit in on administrative meetings regarding individual clients and broader systemic advocacy.

Position Qualifications:

High School Diploma or GED required. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to connect with adolescents. Knowledge, experience with system impacted youth preferred. Personal history of foster care as a youth, or experience with the juvenile justice system. Some public speaking is be required. Demonstrated initiative and creativity, particularly with adolescents. Demonstrate understanding of the issues facing Black and Latino adolescents. Ability to work as a team member, independently and bring creative and innovative ideas to program. Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with youth, family and staff. Excellent oral and written. communication skills

The Children’s Village does not discriminate against any employee, prospective employee or contractor because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, creed, age, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic predisposition, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction history or any other protected classification under federal, state or local law.