Peer Navigator

The Snohomish Young Adult Housing (SYAH) Peer Navigator is responsible for building healthy, supportive relationships with program participants and assisting Cocoon House staff with providing supportive services to all program participants. A Peer Navigator is someone who has experience navigating the challenges and barriers of young people experiencing homelessness or housing instability and is able to use that experience to help guide program participants that are having a similar experience. In this role, the Peer Navigator acts as a point of connection between other Cocoon House staff and the similarly aged program participants with whom the Peer Navigator may have life experiences in common.

Cocoon House is committed to continually growing in our equity, diversity, and inclusion journey, and candidates with lived experience or who identify as BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ are strongly encouraged to apply We will also provide reasonable accommodation to qualified persons with disabilities upon request.

SYAH Peer Navigator Duties & Responsibilities

Part-Time 20 hrs/week | On-site

Wages: $19-$20/hr DOE | +$1.50/hr pay differential for multi-lingual skills with additional paperwork

• Act as a unique avenue for communication with program participants with regular check-ins.
• Assist in establishing and maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for transitional housing participants.
• Work in collaboration with case managers in achieving program goals and providing supportive services, including addressing chemical dependency, mental health, employment, education, financial, housing and documentation needs.
• Assist program participants in navigating the challenges associated with attaining and maintaining housing stability. This can include providing or helping young adults connect to socio-emotional support as well as offering advice on practical life skills and positive youth development.
• Input accurate data and case notes following meetings with clients.
• Provide insight on how to make and maintain the program so it is driven and focused on participants.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision health options with employer contribution
• Multilingual pay stipend
• 403(b) retirement plan
• 21 days of PTO accrued in first year
• 10 agency-recognized holidays
• Paid training & testing: CPR/first aid, food handler's permit, blood borne pathogens, abuse awareness, TB testing, and additional in-depth practical trainings

Skills needed to be successful in this role:

• First-hand experience of the challenges faced by individuals experiencing homelessness (such as housing instability, financial strain, familial conflict, legal difficulties, chemical dependency, etc.).
• First-hand experience or knowledge of the following systems or programs: shelters, transitional housings, justice, foster care, behavioral health, McKinney-Vento, or other related systems or programs.
• Strong relationship-building skills, including tolerance and empathy for individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures
• Professional competency, including strong organization, time management, teamwork and adaptability.
• Enthusiasm for working with and supporting others.
• Openness to adapting strategies and approaches to work, both personally and in concert with Cocoon House, to constantly seek ways to better support program participants.
• The youth served in this position are between 18 – 24 years of age, and as a bona fide occupational qualification for the Peer Navigator the candidate must also be in the same age range of 21 – 24.

General:

• High school diploma/GED or high school equivalency
• Must be 21 years of age or older
• DCYF background clearance
• Acceptable driver's abstract with no more than 2 violations within last 3 years
• Possess a valid driver's license, auto insurance, and reliable transportation

Physical:

• Ability to effectively communicate with all internal and external clients
• Be able to hear voices and alarms.
• Ability to read and comprehend a variety of materials
• Ability to operate phone, computer, and record information for files and logs
• Must be able to lift up to 50 Ibs
• Must have ability to run up and down indoor and outdoor stairwells in case of youth emergency.
• Go up and down stairs

Compensation details: 19-20 Hourly Wage

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