Youth Peer Specialist

Family Service League is seeking a per-diem Peer Specialist to provide a set of services designed to help youth and families to gain the necessary tools to be successful in their homes and communities.

The Peer Specialist works with caregivers or family members, who are caring for or raising a child who is experiencing social, emotional, medical, developmental, substance use and/or behavioral challenges in their home, school, placement and/or community.

The ideal candidate will be an individual 18 to 30 years old who has self-identified as having first-hand experience with mental health or behavioral challenges, or co-occurring disorders.

The Peer Specialist will provide weekly meetings with caregivers/family members in their home and community, develop skills towards goals identified that are focused primarily on activities that involve helping the families care for and strengthen their child's mental and physical health, development, and well-being.

The Peer Specialist will engage in a variety of activities to support the caregivers/family members, including discussions, psychoeducation, self-advocacy, empowerment, and parenting skills development.

The Peer Specialist will document in an Electronic Health Record and conduct regular communication, develop Treatment Plan Goals, provide community resources and general support, transport caregiver/family members and youth as needed, work as a team with other CFTSS and Care Management staff, participate in weekly supervision and monthly staff meetings, and perform all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications include a High School Diploma or equivalent, a Youth Peer Advocate credential, and proficiency in Microsoft Office.

The ideal candidate will have prior knowledge of mental health conditions and prior experience working with children, preferably children with special needs.

Excellent interpersonal, engagement, and verbal and written communication skills are required.

Bilingual in Spanish is preferred.

A valid and clean New York State Driver's License and own a reliable car that is properly insured, registered, and maintained to drive from worksite to worksite is required.