Peer Specialist

Valley Youth House; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 32,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Health insurance

401(k) up to 6% match

Disability insurance

FSA

Wellness programs

Referral program

Tuition reimbursement

Orientation program

Job summary

Valley Youth House is seeking a Peer Specialist to engage youth in developing and implementing their Housing Stability Plan, focusing on income, education, life skills, and financial management. You will use trauma-informed and culturally competent approaches to support tenancy and goal achievement.

This role requires intensive in-person interaction, weekly meetings in residents' apartments during the first month, and strong documentation across HMIS and other data systems, while adhering to

Qualifications

• High school diploma with 1–2 years working with youth or young adults.
• 21+ years old with alignment to independent living goals.
• Lived experience with homelessness or housing insecurity encouraged to apply.
• Knowledge of adolescent/young adult development in a trauma-informed framework.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Creative, flexible, and able to work with diverse groups.
• Valid driver's license and motor vehicle clearance to operate agency vehicles.
• Proficient with Windows; familiarity with HMIS and Google Suite is desired.
• No disqualifying criminal or child abuse offenses.
• Occasional travel to off-site locations.

Responsibilities

• Engage youth to develop and implement Housing Stability Plans with goals for income, education, life skills, and finances.
• Apply trauma-informed and culturally appropriate frameworks to address non-compliance and preserve tenancy.
• Spend at least 50% of hours in-person goal planning, supervision, and weekly face-to-face meetings in residents' apartments.
• Provide tailored case management and link youth to permanency resources.
• Maintain up-to-date paper and electronic records per regulations; document services and progress in data systems.

Skills

Youth engagement

Trauma-informed approach

Organizational skills

Teamwork

Flexible/adaptable

Communication with diverse groups

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Windows software

HMIS

Google Suite

Job description

Pay Rate:($23hr - $25hr)

Location: Philadelphia, PA.
Shift: Mon 1pm-7pm, Thu & Fri 2pm-7pm & Sat 10am-2pm

The Organization:

Valley Youth House empowers and strengthens the lives of children, youth, and families through inclusive programming that builds resilience and fosters growth and independence. Valley Youth House works from a Trauma Informed / Healing Centered perspective, incorporating positive youth and human development and cultural awareness into all aspects of our agency. We strive for our clients and staff to feel safe, have choice and voice, collaborate in a trusting environment, and be empowered to make a difference in their own lives and the agency.

Why Join Us?

• We offer a competitive compensation package with paid time off (PTO) to promote work-life balance.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance coverage, including prescription benefits.
• Enroll in our 401(k)-retirement plan and enjoy a company match up to 6% to secure your financial future.
• Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage for peace of mind.
• Take advantage of our pre-tax spending accounts (Health Care and Dependent Care FSA).
• Health and wellness programs to support your overall well-being.
• Referral program where you can earn rewards for bringing talented individuals to our team.
• Tuition reimbursement program to fuel your professional growth
• An extensive orientation program to ensure a smooth onboarding process.

Essential Functions of thePeer Specialist:

• Successfully engage youth in developing and implementing their individualized Housing Stability Plan (HSP), outlining mandatory goals for increasing income, educational attainment, life skills, and financial management.
• Plan to use positive youth development, trauma-informed, and culturally appropriate frameworks, utilizing the graduated response matrix to address non-compliance and mediate conflict to preserve tenancy.
• A minimum of 50% of the working hours will be spent providing quality in-person goal planning, oversight of goals, and routine supervision of youth. Note: Intensive contact is required, including weekly face-to-face meetings in the resident's apartment for the first month following move-in.
• Provide tailored case management and instruction to ensure residents understand lease and service requirements, while actively connecting youth to supportive permanency resources.
• Ensure up-to-date paper & electronic client records in compliance with program, county, state, and federal regulations. This explicitly includes accurate and timely entry of all services, referrals, and progress checks into assigned and appropriate data systems.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma with a minimum of 1 to 2 years of experience working with youth and young adults is required.
• 21 years of age or older, with the ability to identify with and adapt to the goals and philosophies of the independent living program.
• Candidates with lived experience of homelessness, housing insecurity, or the foster care system are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Possess sound judgment and knowledge of adolescent/young adult development and behavior, specifically within a trauma-informed framework.
• Display organizational skills and be highly adept at managing multiple tasks and assignments.
• Successful team members are creative thinkers, are flexible in their approaches to people and projects, and are capable of working with diverse groups of the population.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver's license.
• Must receive a passing score on annual motor vehicle clearance to be eligible to operate agency vehicles.
• Proficient in computer knowledge & skills (i.e., Microsoft Windows software); familiarity with the operations of external databases (HMIS) and Google Suite is desired.
• Never have been convicted of any prohibited criminal or child abuse offense.
• Occasional travel to off-site locations, which may require driving or use of public transportation

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods (i.e., during client interviews, documentation, or meetings).
• Frequent movement within office, facility, or community settings to meet with clients, families, and service providers.
• Capacity to lift and carry materials or equipment weighing up to 75 lbs. (i.e., case files, laptops, resource materials, assisting clients during move-in process).
• Adequate vision and hearing to observe client behavior, read documents, and participate in conversations in various environments.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment and technology, including computers, telephones, and video conferencing tools.
• Ability to navigate stairs is highly preferred (as some locations are not always handicap accessible).

Medical, vision, and prescription benefit available after the first month of hire, Vacation, Sick, and Personal Time Off, 401k -6% match, Employer-paid clearances, physical, and training, Opportunities for Tuition reimbursement, Opportunities for licensure supervision hours for LCSW and LPC.

For more position details!