ACT Youth Peer Advocate (24344)

As a Youth Peer Advocate, you will be an ally, mentor, and advocate for clients and families as they contend with the difficulties and uncertainties of mental illness. You will use lived experience to contribute to treatment planning for each participant, and facilitating the team’s development and maintenance of a culture of respect. The Youth Assertive Community Treatment team (ACT) Program is an innovative treatment program. The program serves children with mental illness or serious emotional disturbance and their families. You will report to the Director of Youth Act and work onsite with community-based travel required.

Responsibilities:

• Engage individuals and establish trusting, collaborative relationships directed toward the goals clients identify on their treatment plans
• Contribute to client treatment plans, advocating for clients' needs
• Participate in daily treatment team meetings and work directly with other team members to provide support and assistance to program participants.
• Provide individual face-to-face support to youth and families receiving services
• Spend 70% or more of scheduled work hours in community settings
• Meet with family, youth, and collateral contacts to provide psychoeducation about serious mental illness
• Be a role model, educate recipients about self-help techniques and self-help group processes, teach effective coping strategies based on personal experience, teach symptom management skills, assist in clarifying rehabilitation and recovery goals, and assist in the development of community support systems and networks.

Requirements and Education:

• High School Diploma or GED, Associates Degree preferred
• A valid New York State driver’s license with reliable transportation.
• Complete and obtain the NYCPS-Provisional certification for review by the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board (NYPSCB) within the agreed-upon time of start date.

Benefits

• Health care package: medical, dental, and vision 
• Tuition reimbursement 
• Paid time off 
• Holiday Pay 
• 401 (K) plan 
• Life Insurance  
• Loan repayment assistance 
• Free training/CEU opportunities

About Northern Rivers

At Northern Rivers Family of Services, we work together to make a difference in our client's lives. Northern Rivers empowers children, adults, and families to change their lives and build stronger communities.

Northern Rivers Family of Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We hire great people from a variety of backgrounds, not because it is the right thing to do, but because it makes us stronger!  All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. We cherish the unique contributions of our diverse staff and are building a culture where everyone has the opportunity to do the meaningful work.