FST Youth Peer Specialist (Field-based)
GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES
The Youth Peer Specialist provides peer-based support, encouragement, advocacy, and mentoring to children and youth who are receiving behavioral health or related services on the Family Support Team (FST). The Youth Peer Specialist uses their own lived experience and personal strengths to build trusting relationships with youth, promote hope and resilience, encourage self-advocacy, and help youth identify and work toward their personal goals.
The Youth Peer Specialist serves as a positive role model and supportive partner, helping youth navigate challenges, develop life skills, strengthen connections, and access community resources. This position works as part of a multidisciplinary team and collaborates with caregivers, providers, schools, and other community partners as appropriate.
The Youth Peer Specialist does not provide psychotherapy or other clinical services and works within the scope and responsibilities of a peer support role.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
- High school diploma/GED.
- Lived experience navigating mental health, behavioral health, child welfare, education, or other systems as a youth or young adult.
- Willingness to obtain Youth Peer Specialist certification within one year of hire, as applicable.
- Basic to intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office products.
- Reliable and dependable.
- Willingness to learn, expand knowledge, and participate in additional training as needed.
- Ability to use de-escalation and conflict-resolution skills and provide a calm, supportive, and nurturing environment that promotes cooperation and positive relationships.
- Valid Florida driver's license or state identification.
- Strong foundation in trauma-informed, strengths-based, and youth-centered care.
- Ability to build authentic, trusting relationships with youth and serve as a positive role model.
- Ability to appropriately use personal lived experience to provide hope, encouragement, advocacy, and support to youth.
- Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality.
- Flexible schedule to accommodate youth and families' needs.
PRINCIPLE DUTIES
- Support the youth and family team’s trauma-informed, culturally aware, strengths-based, and youth-centered approach.
- Work collaboratively with youth to explore strengths, interests, challenges, and goals and identify needed clinical and non-clinical supports.
- Provide peer support, mentorship, encouragement, and advocacy to youth using appropriate lived experience to promote hope, recovery, resilience, and positive development.
- Provide support and coordination to youth and serve as a consistent point of contact and source of encouragement as applicable.
- Maintain regular contact with youth receiving peer support, with a minimum of monthly interactions.
- Reach out to youth on the waitlist, as appropriate, to offer support, encouragement, and assistance while they are waiting for services.
- Work collaboratively with the FST team and maintain regular communication regarding youth needs, strengths, progress, barriers, and concerns.
- Maintain regular communication and meetings with other youth peers and team members assigned to shared youth and families.
- Model recovery, self-care, professionalism, healthy relationships, and a strengths-based approach.
- Actively participate in and maintain a personal wellness plan.
- Maintain healthy professional boundaries with youth, families, peers, and all program participants.
- Create and participate in social, recreational, and community-based opportunities that promote positive peer relationships and strengthen youth social networks.
- Promote youth voice, choice, self-advocacy, and participation in decisions related to their care and goals.
- Support youth in developing practical skills related to communication, problem-solving, emotional regulation, independence, organization, and healthy relationships.
- Promote acceptance, social learning, and personal growth through shared experiences and appropriate use of lived experience.
- Provide youth with written and/or verbal information about community resources, supports, and opportunities that may assist them.
- Assist youth with resource identification, system navigation, and connecting with appropriate community supports.
- Communicate with the appropriate clinical and supervisory team regarding barriers, concerns, safety issues, and youth needs.
- Collaborate with caregivers, schools, behavioral health providers, case managers, and other systems of care and community partners, as appropriate and within the scope of the Youth Peer Specialist role.
- Follow agency procedures and expectations for documentation and quality assurance and adhere to agency best-practice standards.
- Abide by all applicable agency and program incident-reporting procedures and immediately communicate safety concerns according to agency policy.
- Maintain appropriate documentation and follow applicable administrative regulations, program requirements, and agency policies and procedures.
- Assist with transition, aftercare, and discharge planning to support continuity of care and connection to ongoing resources and supports.
- Attend and participate in professional development training as required by the department, program, and agency.
- Create, strengthen, and maintain positive, supportive working relationships with youth, parents/legal guardians, and professionals involved in the youth’s care.
- Uphold public trust and pursue ongoing training, education, and supervision in the ethical and appropriate application of peer support practices.
- Maintain client records and documentation in accordance with applicable Medicaid, COA, program, and agency standards.
- Attend and participate in monthly team/clinical meetings, peer supervision, and peer review activities as required.
- Recognize and communicate situations that are outside the scope of the Youth Peer Specialist role and seek appropriate supervision or assistance.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS/PERSONAL QUALITIES
- Willingness to carry out the mission of The Florida Center for Child and Family Development and its programs.
- Demonstrated problem-solving, decision-making, time-management, organizational, and sound judgment skills.
- Effective public-speaking and communication skills, with strong attention to detail.
- Positive and professional attitude, behavior, and appearance.
- Ability to work effectively with diverse individuals and families in a variety of situations.
- Ability to tolerate and manage continuous stress and high-pressure situations.
- Ability to interpret, adapt, apply, and adhere to agency guidelines, policies, and procedures.
- Ability to work independently, take initiative, stay organized, multitask, prioritize projects, and meet deadlines.
- Computer proficiency in a Windows environment, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint, with the ability to learn and use new software programs.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills appropriate for children and parents.
- Comply with agency, state, and legal requirements for reporting suspected child abuse and neglect or persons at risk of homicide or suicide and complete all required documentation.
- Attend staff meetings with a standard of 90% attendance.
- Complete required documentation accurately and within established time frames, including timesheets, mileage logs, leave requests, client records, appointments, management information system entries, weekly calendars, daily logs, contact notes, assessments, and other required documentation.
- Provide quality services to clients and families as demonstrated through service delivery and the quality-improvement system.
- Understand and support the values of family-centered services.
- Demonstrate commitment to children's safety and family stability.
- Understand the role of cultural identity in motivating human behavior and respect differences in norms, values, and heritage.
- Demonstrate maturity and experience in successfully working with children and their families.
- Maintain established caseload productivity and direct-client-contact requirements.
- Maintain client confidentiality in accordance with agency policies and federal and state statutes, including obtaining required releases of information and keeping them current.
- Understand that services may take place in the family home, office, and/or community settings.
- Maintain a flexible schedule consistent with the practice model and program design to meet family needs.
- Identify and address personal and institutional bias or discrimination.
- Work with culturally diverse populations in a courteous and professional manner, including families who may be reluctant to accept services.
- Engage persons served in ways that allow family strengths and competencies to emerge.
- Complete assignments in compliance with established quality standards.
- Work independently and in partnership with team members and community partners.
- Adhere to the agency's drug-free workplace policy.
- Adapt effectively to an ever-changing environment.
- Set and maintain appropriate limits and professional boundaries with clients, coworkers, and agency partners.
- Adhere to Florida Statutes Chapter 491 and applicable laws and rules.
- Adhere to the ACA Code of Ethics.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $21.29 per hour
Expected hours: 40.0 per week
Benefits:
- 403(b)
- 403(b) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have personal lived experience navigating systems as a parent/caregiver to a young child or children who have experienced mental/behavioral health challenges?
- Are you comfortable sharing your story/experience with others?
Language:
Work Location: In person
