Youth Peer Advocate

Summary

The Youth Peer Advocate, in this role, will be part of an interdisciplinary team that provides an evidence-based treatment model. The Youth Peer Advocate will provide support and assistance to program participants, family members, and all other team members. The Youth Peer Advocate will walk alongside clients on their recovery journeys, serving as an ally, a mentor, and an advocate for teens and young adults as they contend with difficulties and uncertainties related to early-onset psychosis.

______________________________________________________________________

Essential Functions:

· Utilize selective self-disclosure about their lived experience with mental health challenges, substance use, and/or other aspects of their lives

· Maintain a “client-focused” perspective including a primary focus on a problems participants face

· Share his/her own path to recovery to foster a sense of trust and mutuality with the client with the goal of empowering the client to feel less isolated and provide opportunities for future goal attainment

· Participate in activities related to community awareness of recovery and stigma reduction

· Participate in outreach and recruitment activities with community providers

· Promote person-centered, recovery-focused, strength-based service delivery

· Assist in engagement and retention recovery-oriented activities within the team

· Provide social support to clients and their families in support of client’s return to school/work

· Assist clients in understanding their symptoms of psychosis, develop and practice skills to promote recovery

· Assisting participants and their families during transition enrollment/discharge

· Complete progress notes in the electronic health record

Supervisory Responsibilities:

None

Minimum Qualifications Required

· State certification as a Peer Specialist or Provisional Certification as a Peer Specialist with the understanding that they become certified within 1 year of employment

· At least two years of active participation in mental health self-help activities, peer support or peer advocacy programs

· Personal experience with mental health treatment and/or psychosis