Peer Advocate - SJO

Wesley Health Centers - JWCH Institute, Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision

13 paid holidays

401(k) Safe Harbor

Job summary

JWCH Institute, Inc. in Los Angeles seeks a Peer Advocate to join the SJO Recuperative Care program.

You will work within an interdisciplinary team to deliver health and social services to people experiencing homelessness, using harm-reduction approaches and personal life experiences to motivate client progress. The role emphasizes building rapport, supporting behavior change, maintaining confidential records, and facilitating referrals across health, social and social service networks.

Qualifications

• Experience working with homeless individuals
• Excellent communication skills tailored to engaging homeless clients with substance abuse and homelessness-related factors
• Personal overcoming of challenges similar to those faced by clients
• Ability to travel to multiple community sites and attend appointments on time
• Strong desire to make a difference in the lives of homeless individuals
• COVID-19 vaccination recommended for JWCH Wesley Health Centers workforce

Responsibilities

• Foster a strong rapport with clients and demonstrate genuine care for their well-being
• Provide unwavering support to clients and motivate them to engage in behavior modification programs
• Maintain up-to-date confidential records of client progress
• Initiate contact with clients once or twice monthly during scheduled hours
• Accompany clients to referrals for health and social services and document progress
• Facilitate referrals to substance abuse recovery services, healthcare, family planning, and social service organizations
• Deliver curriculum-based educational content and share personal experiences related to incarceration, substance use, mental health, and risk behaviors
• Participate in ongoing collection of program data and processing forms
• Contribute to monthly reports for funding agencies
• Fulfill any additional duties as assigned

Job description

Classification: Full-Time-100% (40 hours per week)

Shift: Thursday - Monday

Location: Skid Row, 628 San Julian Street, Los Angeles CA 90014

Position Purpose

The Peer Advocate will participate as a valued member within the interdisciplinary team responsible for providing comprehensive health and social services to clients at Wesley Health Centers-San Julian Oasis (SJO) Program. Additionally, this position involves collaboration with the health education and prevention team. Through this collaboration, the Peer advocate will deliver practical information and personal insights from life experiences, aimed at assisting clients facing similar life challenges at Wesley Health Centers.

Program Population

The SJO Recuperative Care Program consists of a cohesive team of clinicians, community health workers, and other professionals who collaborate to provide housing and critical services to People Experiencing Homelessness (PEH) and those who have previously experienced homelessness. The clients/patients may come with behavioral and/or substance abuse issues. The program utilizes the Harm Reduction Model and we do whatever it takes to encourage success of the client.

Principal Responsibilities

• Foster a strong rapport with clients, demonstrating genuine care for their well-being.
• Provide unwavering support to clients, effectively motivating them to embrace behavior modification programs.
• Maintain strict, up-to-date, and confidential records detailing client progress in evolving personal behaviors.
• Initiate contact with clients once or twice monthly during scheduled hours.
• Accompany clients to referrals for health and social services, diligently encouraging adherence and strict recording advancements using appropriate documentation.
• Facilitate referrals to substance abuse recovery services, healthcare facilities, family planning services, and relevant social service organizations.
• Deliver approved curriculum-based educational content and skill-building information.
• Share personal experiences related to incarceration, substance abuse, mental health, and other associated risk behaviors.
• Assist in the continuous collection of program data and the processing of program-related forms.
• Contribute to the preparation of monthly reports for funding agencies.
• Fulfill any additional assigned duties.

Requirements

• Proven experience in working with homeless individuals.
• Possession of a High School diploma or GED.
• Exceptional communication skills tailored to effectively engage homeless individuals grappling with substance abuse and other homelessness-associated factors.
• Personal triumph over challenges similar to those faced by clients.
• Ability to reliably travel to various community sites and punctually attend appointments.
• Strong desire to make a difference in the lives of homeless individuals.
• All JWCH, Wesley Health Centers workforce members are recommended to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Employee Benefits

At JWCH Institute, Inc., we believe in taking care of those who take care of others. If you work 30+ hours per week, you’ll enjoy competitive pay and a robust benefits package that includes:

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Monthly employer-sponsored allowance for assistance with health premiums.
• Funded Health Savings Account (up to deductible) to assist with carrier-approved medical expenses.
• Paid time off (vacation, sick leave) and 13 paid holidays.
• 401(k) Safe Harbor Profit Sharing plan.
• Mileage reimbursement.
• Short- and long-term disability plans (LTD/STD).
• Life insurance policy & AD&D, and more!

JWCH Institute, Inc + Wesley Health Centers is an Equal Opportunity and Fair Chance Employer.