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Overview

Our Commitment to Equity The Y actively promotes a culture free from bias and injustice. We are dedicated to removing institutional and systemic barriers that result in oppression and racism. We will be accountable to marginalized communities for creating equitable and sustainable environments where social justice is woven into every facet of our programs, and by caring for our communities in a culturally versatile and respectful manner.

Job Summary

Provides culturally competent, and strength-based peer support to youth and their families to decrease crisis and increase in-home stabilization. Identifies natural supports and teaches youth skills to effectively navigate community resources to meet priority needs. Provides services in client homes, schools or other convenient community locations. The goals of Youth Peer Support include supporting youth empowerment, assisting youth in developing skills to improve their overall functioning and quality of life. Collaborates effectively with co-workers, supervisors, outside professionals and others involved in delivering the youth’s care to meet safety plan needs and action plan goals. Supports the youth and acts as a bridge between the youth, family and system representatives. Willing to self-identify as a peer. Because of life experience, such persons have expertise that professional training cannot replicate.

This position is at the Social Impact Center Y, the social services branch of YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS). The mission of the Social Impact Center Y is to accelerate young people’s ability to build safe, successful, and happy lives. Every year, we serve 5,000 children, youth, young adults, and families across King County with programs that aim to strengthen young people’s ability to develop to their fullest potential through four strategies: reducing risk factors; navigating systems towards successful life transition; ensuring stability, safety and wellness in times of crisis; and building competencies and social capital. The Social Impact Center Y’s programs include housing, behavioral health, foster care licensing, violence prevention, education, and employment. Many of the young people we serve have had involvement in the foster care, criminal justice system, and/or homelessness systems.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position, and hours of work and days are Monday through Friday days. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

What you'll get from working at The Y

+ Membership to the YMCA of Greater Seattle for you and your household

+ Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life insurance

+ Retirement with generous employer contributions

+ Free access to mental health resources

+ Rapidly accruing paid time off (PTO)

+ Full-time employees qualify for a 50% discount, and part-time employees qualify for a 25% discount, on eligible Childcare Services.

* Some benefits only available to full-time staff

Hiring Range:

Peer Support Specialist I: Hiring Range: $22.00 – 25.00/hr

Peer Support Specialist II: Hiring Range: $24.00 – 27.00/hr

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

+ Provides both immediate and scheduled crisis outreach services to families in King County and additional coverage as needed

+ Flexes schedule to include evenings and possible weekends to meet the needs of families.

+ Assist youth in developing self-determination and empowerment skills through self-advocacy.

+ Identify youth stresses, instability and provide appropriate support.

+ Identifies community resources and natural supports and works with the youth to effectively navigate resources.

+ Collaborates effectively with co-workers, supervisors and outside professionals to meet action plan goals.

+ Transports youth to appointments, meetings, or other locations as needed to support the action plan and linkage to community resources.

+ Works with families to build their own “Child & Family Team”. Attends wrap around and other team meetings to support youth and ensure that their voice is heard. Acts as a role model for effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.

+ Maintains a working knowledge of current trends and developments in behavioral health.

+ Completes required documentation within program deadlines.

+ Reports all critical incidents and adheres to YMCA program rules and procedures.

POSITION DELIVERABLES

+ Assess and create safety plans to meet immediate safety and stabilization needs

+ Customize helping approaches to fit the family’s uniqueness, personality, culture and interest

+ Reassure and communicate hopefulness so clients know, “they are not in this alone.”

+ Willing and able to self-identify as a person who has lived experience i.e. has or is receiving mental health services and/or interactions with the juvenile court system

+ Articulates own Lived experience and resilience stories in ways that are relevant to the obstacles faced by the youth

* Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Code of Conduct for Applicants (https://seattleymca.icims.com/icims2/servlet/icims2?module=AppInert&action=download&id=191063&hashed=999166779)

Qualifications

+ Young Adults ages 21-30, with lived experience in receiving services as a youth in complex, child serving systems (juvenile justice, behavioral health, child welfare, special education preferred) and is prepared to use that experience in helping others

+ Ability to work independently and as a part of a team

+ Ability to effectively communicate with others

+ Ability to set priorities and manage time effectively

+ Ability to use a computer and work with Microsoft Windows Outlook and electronic health records data system.

+ Trained in and familiar with recovery model and able to assist families and youth to focus on their strengths, utilize their voice and partner with their team.

+ Demonstrated ability to engage youth and their families in a structured process to verbalize their needs, develop an individualized care plan, and transition to reliance on natural supports.

+ Knowledge of community services and resources including: support groups, mental health, substance abuse, child welfare, juvenile justice, developmental disabilities, special education programs, etc.

+ Experience with crisis de-escalation and crisis stabilization practices.

+ The following physical and mental abilities are required: frequent lifting or carrying up to 15 pounds, must be able to hear, frequent standing/walking going up and down stairs due to community outreach basis, ability to communicate effectively in person and/or phone, the ability to read, analyze and interpret information, ability to write reports, correspondence and procedures, ability to maintain notes/records, ability to define and solve practical problems, collect data

+ WA State Peer Counselor Certification preferred and required within one year of employment.

+ Possession of a high school diploma or equivalence preferred

Preferred Qualifications

+ Knowledge of and previous experience with, diverse populations and ability to speak another language in addition to English strongly preferred.

+ Current State-approved first aid certification, state-approved CPR certification, BBP (HIV/AIDS) training certification.*

+ Washington State Agency Affiliated Counseling Credential. **

*Within 30 days of employment or first available training.

**Training and certification can be completed after hire. Start process of training and certification within the first month of hire and full certification as a Peer within 6 months of hire.

Peer Support Specialist I:

• WA State Peer Counselor Certification preferred and required within one year of employment.

Peer Support Specialist II:

• 2 years of relevant experience in social services

• WA State Peer Counselor Certification preferred and required within 30 days of employment.

You'll be a great fit for the Seattle Y if you:

+ Thrive on working in a collaborative environment.

+ Are very adaptable.

+ Have high ownership and strong work ethic .

+ Are a great problem solver who can think on your feet.

+ Truly enjoy being of service to people.

+ Like being part of a team that cares about one another as people and enjoy working together.

+ Want to know that the work you do contributes to building a better, stronger community for all.

OUR MISSION

Building a community where all people, especially the young, are encouraged to develop their fullest potential in spirit, mind, and body.

OUR VALUES

+ Respect

+ Responsibility

+ Honesty

+ Caring

+ Passion for Excellence

YGS is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse and equitable work environment . Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by local, state, or federal law.

We are a drug & alcohol -free workplace. We participate in the Federal E-Verify system. All job offers are contingent on the results of a background check in accordance with Washington's Fair Chance Act. Please download and review the below resources for more information:

( i ) The updated 2025 requirements of 49.94.010:

https://seattleymca.icims.com/icims2/servlet/icims2?module=AppInert&action=download&id=251099&hashed=1503034877

(ii) The WA attorney general's Washington fair chance act guide for employers and job applicants:

https://seattleymca.icims.com/icims2/servlet/icims2?module=AppInert&action=download&id=251100&hashed=74689660

If you need assistance of any kind with the application process, reach out to [email protected].