Peer Counselor, MRSS Youth Peer

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 youths 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 ofYMCAof Greater Seattle (YGS). The mission of the Social Impact Center Y is to accelerate young peoples ability to build safe successful and happy lives. Every year we serve 5000 children youth young adults and families across King County with programs that aim to strengthen young peoples 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 Ys programs include housing behavioral health foster care licensing violence prevention education and employment. Many of the young people we serve havehad involvementinthe fostercare criminal justice system and/or homelessness systems.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position with expected hours of work Monday through Friday day shifts. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

What youll 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 12% employer contributions after 2 years of services -see Y Retirement for more information.Other Savings plans available upon hire.

• Free access to mental health resources

• Rapidlyaccruingpaid time off (PTO)

• Discounts on qualifying YMCA of Greater Seattle childcare day camp overnightcampand outdoor leadership programs. 25% for part-time staff 50% for full-time staff.

• Direct care staff in the Social Impact Centerreceivemonthly personal Wellness days in addition to existing PTO and Paid Holiday benefits

*Some benefits only available to full-time staff

Hiring Range:

Pre-CertifiedPeerCounselor: Hiring Range: $22.50 25.00/hr

CertifiedPeerCounselor: Hiring Range: $24.50 27.50/hr

Schedule: Monday-Friday; 9am-5pm with occasional earlier morning/later evenings due to the needs of the on-call shift.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides both immediate and scheduled crisis outreach services to families in Snoqualmie Valley 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 familys 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

All employees and volunteersare responsible foradhering to abuse prevention policiesmaintainingappropriate boundaries completing required training reporting suspicious or inappropriate behavior andcomplying withmandated reporting requirements.

Responsible for ensuring staff are properly screened trainedsupervisedand held accountable to the organizationsabuserisk management standards.

Required Skills/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.

Pre-Certified Peer Counselor:
WA State Certified Peer Support Specialist Trainee or Certified Peer Support Specialist credentialwithin one year of employment.

Certified Peer Counselor:
WA State Certified Peer Support Specialist Trainee or Certified Peer Support Specialistwithin30 daysof employment.

Youllbe a great fit for the Seattle Y if you:

• Thrive on working in a collaborative environment.

• Arevery adaptable.

• Have high ownership and strong workethic.

• Area greatproblem solver who can think on your feet.

• Trulyenjoybeing of service to people.

• Like being part of a team that cares about one another as people andenjoyworking 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 andequitablework 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.

If you need assistance of any kind with the application process reach out to