Youth Advocate

Program:

JOB SUMMARY:

The position has primary responsibility for using their lived experience and knowledge of the system to provide outreach and engagement, support, and advocacy to TAY engaged in the Youth Help Network (YHN) program .

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Experience

High School diploma or equivalent plus personal experience as a consumer, in the child welfare, probation, or mental health systems and 2 years of experience working in a behavioral health field or a similar position.

License or Certification

Valid California Driver's License preferred

SPECIALIZED SKILLS

• Ability to interact and communicate with participants, families, schools, other staff, physicians, county agencies, other health care and social services providers and the public.
• Ability to assist professional and para-professional staff in understanding and honoring TAY and family perspective. Specific language and cultural competencies of participants as required.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a treatment team.
• Ability to understand and work with participants from diverse cultural backgrounds in a positive manner.
• Demonstrated understanding and knowledge of county, education, and community-based resources.
• Ability to use personal story as an engagement tool while demonstrating thoughtful boundaries around disclosures.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential Duties

• Provides Outreach and Engagement to TAY within the community.
• Provides one-on-one support, mentoring, and role-modeling to TAY.
• Helps TAY formulate problem-solving plans.
• Helps TAY navigate the peer support, wellness services and navigation supports within the behavioral health system of care, other health systems, and community supports.
• Links TAY to various resources, including housing, food, education/vocation, recreation, spiritual, mentors, mental and physical health, and social, as deemed appropriate in partnership with the team.
• Assists TAY with communicating with other providers and agencies.
• Advocates on behalf of TAY and promotes self-advocacy. Provides and documents services as determined necessary by the team.
• Documents services related to specific domains from the TAY perspective.
• Uses a “whatever it takes” approach to provide services in various settings, including homes, schools/work, and community and office settings.
• Participates in various meetings on an as-needed basis to support the team with meeting the TAY’s needs.

Other Responsibilities

• Provides transportation to participants and family members between school, home, and services and activities as able and needed.
• Participates in on-going support with other Advocates, as available.

For more information, please contact: marflores@starsinc.com

We offer:

• Competitive compensation
• Company paid benefits package including medical, dental and vision and many other voluntary benefits for employees
• Generous vacation and holiday pay
• DailyPay

When applicable:

• On the job training including paid CEU opportunities and career development
• MFTI and ACSW’s receive supervision for BBS hours

Potential Work Schedule :