SCO
YOUTH PEER ADVOCATE (SERVICE PROVIDER) - CFTSS
Job Category: Direct Service Worker
Requisition Number: YOUTH004164
Apply Now
Posted: August 6, 2025
Part-Time
Rate: $22 USD per hour
Locations Madonna Heights Campus 151 Burrs Ln Dix Hills, NY 11746, USA
Note: Youth Peer Advocates are individuals between 18-30 years of age who self-identify as a person with first‑hand experience with a social, emotional, medical, developmental, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges as a young person or have received services in any one of the child‑serving systems (juvenile justice, foster care, special education, or addiction recovery). YPAs use their lived experience to promote resiliency, recovery, wellness, and self‑efficacy in young people and promote the practice of youth‑guided and family‑driven approaches.
Specific Responsibilities Skill Building
Developing skills for coping with and managing psychiatric symptoms, trauma, and substance use disorders
Developing skills for wellness, resiliency, and recovery support
Developing skills to independently navigate the service system
Building community living skills
Coaching
Enhancing resiliency/recovery oriented attitudes, i.e., hope, confidence, and self‑efficacy
Promoting wellness through modeling
Providing mutual support, hope, reassurance, and advocacy that include sharing one's own "personal recovery/resiliency story" as the Youth Peer Advocating (YPA) deems appropriate as beneficial to both the youth and themselves
YPAs may also share their recovery with parents to engage parents and help them "see" youth possibilities for future in a new light
Engagement, Bridging, and Transition Support
Acting as a peer partner in transitioning to different levels of care and into adulthood; helping youth understand what to expect and how and why they should be active in developing their plan of care and natural supports
Self‑Advocacy, Self‑Efficacy, and Empowerment
Developing, linking, and facilitating the use of formal and informal services, including connection to peer support groups in the community
Serving as an advocate, mentor, or facilitator for resolution of issues
Assisting in navigating the service system including assisting with engagement and bridging during transitions in care
Helping youth develop self‑advocacy skills (e.g., may attend a Committee on Preschool or Special Education meeting with the youth and parent, coaching the youth to articulate his educational goals)
Assisting youth with gaining and regaining the ability to make independent choices and assist youth in playing a proactive role in their own treatment (assisting/mentoring them in discussing questions or concerns about medications, diagnoses or treatment approaches with their treating clinician)
Guiding the youth to effectively communicate their individual perspective to providers and families
Assisting youth in developing skills to advocate for needed services and benefits and seeking to effectively resolve unmet needs
Assisting youth in understanding their plan of care and help to ensure the plan is person/family centered
Community Connections and Natural Supports
Connecting youth to community resources and services; the YPA may accompany youth to appointments and meetings for mentoring and support but not for the sole purpose of providing transportation for the youth
Helping youth develop a network for information and support from others who have been through similar experiences, including locating similar interest programs, peer‑run programs, and support groups
Facilitating or arranging youth peer resiliency/recovery support groups; development and updating of service plans, including obtaining medical consenter signatures
Obtaining consents and enrollment documents for newly enrolled children/youth
Administrative Duties
Attend monthly waiver service provider meetings to stay current on practices and protocols
Submit progress notes, service plans, expense logs, and service provider logs within set forth-required timeframes; progress notes are due within 3 days of service provision so that approval from supervisor is completed by the 5th business day following service provision
Report incident(s) to supervisor upon discovery
Maintain open communication with other service providers (e.g., Care Manager) to report on child/youth’s progress and identify any potential barriers and referrals
Qualifications – External
Be at least eighteen (18) years of age with a High School Diploma/GED or equivalent; BA degree preferred; good verbal and written communication skills
Experience working with seriously emotional disturbed youth or children; job related or volunteer
Acceptable clearance checks for State Central Register, Driver license and fingerprinting as required by the program
Compliance with health regulations for physical/maintenance testing
Travel Required Yes, 50% of the Time
Skills & Behaviors
Team Player: Works well as a member of a group
Detail Oriented: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well
Peer Recognition: Inspired to perform well by the praise of coworkers
Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
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Requisition Number: YOUTH004164
Apply Now
Posted: August 6, 2025
Part-Time
Rate: $22 USD per hour
Locations Madonna Heights Campus 151 Burrs Ln Dix Hills, NY 11746, USA
Note: Youth Peer Advocates are individuals between 18-30 years of age who self-identify as a person with first‑hand experience with a social, emotional, medical, developmental, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges as a young person or have received services in any one of the child‑serving systems (juvenile justice, foster care, special education, or addiction recovery). YPAs use their lived experience to promote resiliency, recovery, wellness, and self‑efficacy in young people and promote the practice of youth‑guided and family‑driven approaches.
Specific Responsibilities Skill Building
Developing skills for coping with and managing psychiatric symptoms, trauma, and substance use disorders
Developing skills for wellness, resiliency, and recovery support
Developing skills to independently navigate the service system
Building community living skills
Coaching
Enhancing resiliency/recovery oriented attitudes, i.e., hope, confidence, and self‑efficacy
Promoting wellness through modeling
Providing mutual support, hope, reassurance, and advocacy that include sharing one's own "personal recovery/resiliency story" as the Youth Peer Advocating (YPA) deems appropriate as beneficial to both the youth and themselves
YPAs may also share their recovery with parents to engage parents and help them "see" youth possibilities for future in a new light
Engagement, Bridging, and Transition Support
Acting as a peer partner in transitioning to different levels of care and into adulthood; helping youth understand what to expect and how and why they should be active in developing their plan of care and natural supports
Self‑Advocacy, Self‑Efficacy, and Empowerment
Developing, linking, and facilitating the use of formal and informal services, including connection to peer support groups in the community
Serving as an advocate, mentor, or facilitator for resolution of issues
Assisting in navigating the service system including assisting with engagement and bridging during transitions in care
Helping youth develop self‑advocacy skills (e.g., may attend a Committee on Preschool or Special Education meeting with the youth and parent, coaching the youth to articulate his educational goals)
Assisting youth with gaining and regaining the ability to make independent choices and assist youth in playing a proactive role in their own treatment (assisting/mentoring them in discussing questions or concerns about medications, diagnoses or treatment approaches with their treating clinician)
Guiding the youth to effectively communicate their individual perspective to providers and families
Assisting youth in developing skills to advocate for needed services and benefits and seeking to effectively resolve unmet needs
Assisting youth in understanding their plan of care and help to ensure the plan is person/family centered
Community Connections and Natural Supports
Connecting youth to community resources and services; the YPA may accompany youth to appointments and meetings for mentoring and support but not for the sole purpose of providing transportation for the youth
Helping youth develop a network for information and support from others who have been through similar experiences, including locating similar interest programs, peer‑run programs, and support groups
Facilitating or arranging youth peer resiliency/recovery support groups; development and updating of service plans, including obtaining medical consenter signatures
Obtaining consents and enrollment documents for newly enrolled children/youth
Administrative Duties
Attend monthly waiver service provider meetings to stay current on practices and protocols
Submit progress notes, service plans, expense logs, and service provider logs within set forth-required timeframes; progress notes are due within 3 days of service provision so that approval from supervisor is completed by the 5th business day following service provision
Report incident(s) to supervisor upon discovery
Maintain open communication with other service providers (e.g., Care Manager) to report on child/youth’s progress and identify any potential barriers and referrals
Qualifications – External
Be at least eighteen (18) years of age with a High School Diploma/GED or equivalent; BA degree preferred; good verbal and written communication skills
Experience working with seriously emotional disturbed youth or children; job related or volunteer
Acceptable clearance checks for State Central Register, Driver license and fingerprinting as required by the program
Compliance with health regulations for physical/maintenance testing
Travel Required Yes, 50% of the Time
Skills & Behaviors
Team Player: Works well as a member of a group
Detail Oriented: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well
Peer Recognition: Inspired to perform well by the praise of coworkers
Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
#J-18808-Ljbffr