Family Peer Advocate, Youth ACT (26749)

Family Peer Advocate, Youth ACT

As the Family Peer Advocate you will serve a unique role on the Youth ACT team by drawing on your own lived experience overcoming challenges with mental illness to instill hope in clients and families. You will walk alongside clients on their recovery journeys as an ally, mentor, and advocate for clients and families as they contend with the difficulties and uncertainties of mental illness. You will use your lived experience parenting a youth with mental health, to contribute to treatment planning for each participant, and facilitating the team's development of a culture of respect. You will provide an essential framework for highlighting the potential that each client has for achieving a successful recovery trajectory. Because of your experiences as a service recipient, you will be in a unique position to serve as a role model, educate recipients about self-help techniques and self-help group processes, teach coping strategies based on personal experience, teach symptom management skills, help clarify rehabilitation and recovery goals, and help develop community support systems and networks. In addition to attending team meetings, you will often work directly with other team members to provide support and assistance to program participants. You will provide in person support to clients and their families. You will report to the Director of Youth ACT and you will work onsite and in the community.

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 client's and family's 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

- 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 coping strategies based on personal experience, teach symptom management skills, help clarify rehabilitation and recovery goals, and help develop community support systems and networks.

- 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.

Requirements and Education:

- A valid NYS license required.

- 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

Northern Rivers Family of Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 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.

Northern Rivers Family Services is committed to keeping a safe and healthy working environment for all employees and the clients we serve. As an employee of Northern Rivers Family Services, you will be expected to perform your job in the safest possible manner and to acknowledge that safety is an important part of everyday performance. As an employee of Northern Rivers Family Services, you will adhere to all safety procedures and take part in safety program activities.