Peer Advocate I/II

SSYAF & Sutter Health's School Based Mental Health; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 30,307 - 35,817; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

$1,000 Hiring Bonus

Additional $1,500 Spanish Speaking Bonus

Job summary

SSYAF & Sutter Health's School Based Mental Health is seeking a Peer Advocate for full-time engagement in Sacramento, California. The ideal candidate will possess a High School Diploma and have lived experience in the system of care. This role emphasizes advocacy, peer support, and facilitation of youth activities.

Responsibilities include one-on-one mentorship, leading support groups, and assisting families in navigating services. Compensation is competitive, with a hiring bonus of $1,000 and additional perks for Spanish speakers.

Qualifications

• Experience as a youth impacted by a system of care required.
• Active and current Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification.
• Minimum of 1 year experience as a Peer Advocate.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate peer and youth activities such as group outings.
• Assist youth and families in navigating services.
• Provide one-on-one mentorship for adoptive families.

Skills

Advocacy

Communication

Time Management

Flexibility

Education

High School Diploma (or GED)

Some college courses or degree

Job description

Job Category: Peer Support/Advocacy/Mentor

Requisition Number: PEERA001728

• Full-Time

Locations

Showing 1 location

Description

*$1,000 Hiring Bonus,

Additional $1,500 Spanish Speaking Bonus*

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience

• High School Diploma (or GED) required. Some college courses or degree preferred.
• Experience as a youth impacted by a system of care required (Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice, Mental Health).
• Basic knowledge of Public Mental Health/Child Welfare/Education systems, and the ability to advocate on behalf of clients in navigating and negotiating those systems.
• Previous experience with advocacy, outreach, and community resources preferred.
• Meets minimum qualification listed above.
• Spanish speaking preferred.
• Meets all minimum qualifications for Peer Advocate I and meets the following:
• Active and current Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification.
• Has a minimum of 1 year experience as a Peer Advocate.
• Meets all qualifications for Peer Advocate II and demonstrates advanced proficiency and leadership in the Peer Advocate role.
• Has a minimum of two (2) years of experience providing peer support, advocacy, or related family engagement services.
• Demonstrates experience leading, training, or mentoring others in peer support practices and the ability to model effective engagement and advocacy aligned with agency values.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Position Specific

• Engagement and Support
• Facilitate peer and youth activities such as group outings, workshops, and community service projects.
• Lead support groups tailored to the needs of youth and adoptive parents.
• One-on-one mentorship for adoptive families or youth to share experiences and guidance.
• Training and Education
  • Participate in delivering training sessions on topics like trauma-informed care, cultural competency, and behavioral interventions. Assist in preparing materials for training sessions and family support activities.
• Advocacy
  • Help youth and families navigate services by advocating for their needs with service providers, schools, and legal entities. Speak on behalf of youth and families in team settings to ensure their voices are included in decision‑making.
• Case Management and Resource Linkage
  • Support short‑term case management activities, including developing case plans and linking families to services programs.
• Life Skills Development
  • Facilitate life skills workshops for youth, focusing on areas such as financial literacy, job readiness, and self‑care strategies. Support youth in setting and achieving personal and academic goals.
• Documentation and Reporting
  • Maintain accurate records of interactions and progress for youth and families.
  • Contribute to quarterly and outcome reports for tracking program effectiveness and meeting contract requirements.
• Event Coordination
  • Assist in planning and executing events and family respite activities. Organize community‑building activities to strengthen family networks.
• Crisis Support
  • Provide immediate assistance and referrals for families experiencing urgent needs. Operate and manage warm line calls for adoptive families seeking support.
• Work with social workers, program coordinators, and other team members to align service delivery. Attend staff meetings to share updates and remove barriers.
• Family Engagement
  • Help identify and strengthen connections with extended family or supportive adults. Document children’s histories using tools such as Lifebook’s and connectedness mapping. Assist in finding family connections.

Performs essential job functions of a Peer Advocate I/II along with:

• Coaching and Mentorship
  • Provide guidance, mentoring and informal coaching to other Peer Advocates to build skills and consistency in service delivery.
  • Model effective engagement and communication aligned with agency standards and values.
• Leadership & Program Development
  • Participate in leadership or planning meetings, as requested.
  • Contribute to the development, implementation, evaluation and monitoring of program initiatives, team engagement strategies and professional culture.
  • Co‑facilitate or lead trainings and workshops for staff, youth, and caregivers, as directed by leadership.

Agency Specific

• Performs all duties in a manner consistent with the principles and values of agency, while adhering to applicable professional codes of ethics, the agency’s policies and procedures, contractor requirements, and regulatory requirements.
• Model and communicate appropriate positive attitudes toward the agency’s Mission, Vision, and Values.
• Work collaboratively with all agency programs and staff to provide support as needed.
• Utilize and maintain calendar with all work‑related details to manage time effectively and share calendar information with coworkers.
• Participate in on‑going training to expand and develop professional skills.
• Perform other duties as necessary for the agency, as assigned.

Employment At-Will

Employment at the Agency is terminable at-will, which means that employment may be terminated at any time, without cause or reason, by either the employee or the Agency. In addition, the Agency may also demote, layoff, transfer or reassign employees at any time at its sole discretion without cause or reason.

Compensation

This position may be filled at any level listed in this posting. Level determination is based on the role’s minimum qualifications and the candidate’s directly relevant experience and scope of responsibility.

The posted salary bands represent the full pay range for each role and reflect opportunities for compensation growth over time. The typical hiring ranges reflect where we reasonably expect to make offers to new hires based on relevant experience, qualifications, and internal equity.

• Level I
  • Typical hiring range: $22.00 – $26.00 per hour.
  • Full salary band: $22.00 – $32.00 per hour.
• Level II
  • Typical hiring range: $24.00 – $28.00 per hour.
  • Full salary band: $24.00 – $34.00 per hour.
• Level III
  • Typical hiring range: $26.00 – $31.00 per hour.
  • Full salary band: $26.00 – $36.00 per hour.

Compensation offers are made through our established compensation framework to promote fairness, consistency, and internal equity.

Skills

• Written and verbal communication – Intermediate.
• Work mobile, fast paced environment – Intermediate.
• Work independently – Intermediate.
• Time management – Intermediate.
• Proof of automobile insurance – Novice.
• Multi‑tasker – Intermediate.
• Flexibility in schedule – Intermediate.
• Adhere to all confidentiality requirements – Intermediate.
• Ability to use laptop computer – Intermediate.

Education

• Required – High School or better.
• Preferred – Some college or better.

Equal Opportunity Employer. This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.