Peer Support Worker, Back 2 Our Future (B2OF)

Breakthrough; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 47,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Life insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation days

Paid sick days

Paid personal days

Job summary

Breakthrough in Chicago seeks a dedicated Peer Support Worker, B2OF, reporting to the Director of High School and Post Secondary Education. The role collaborates with multiple teams to provide outreach and supportive services to youth aged 13-21 at FamilyPlex.

You will build relationships, connect youth to wrap‑around services, and assist with data entry in Salesforce while developing individualized plans and activities to promote life skills and engagement.

Qualifications

• At least 21 years of age.
• High school diploma/GED with lived experience or caregiver experience OR 2 years in youth development.
• Has individual lived experience with firearm violence.
• Ability to work within agency structure and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Completion or planned completion of Metropolitan Peace Academy training on hire.
• Willingness to learn principles of nonviolence, restorative justice, and trauma-informed practices.
• Strong interpersonal, conflict resolution, and written communication skills.
• Teamwork, responsiveness to supervision, flexibility and dependability, initiative.
• Sensitivity to diverse cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.

Responsibilities

• Build strong positive relationships with youth and facilitate team building between participants.
• Engage youth in wrap around services and coordinate with external partners for additional support.
• Maintain trust with students and ensure relentless engagement to keep youth involved.
• Develop and implement strategies to retain youth participants during the program.
• Assist with data collection and entry into data systems such as Salesforce.
• Implement performance measurement tools and meet deadlines.
• Attend mandatory training and meetings and participate in program facilitation.
• Document all youth services activities in paper and electronic systems.
• Create and execute individualized service plans and Life Skills Assessments.
• Support youth with transitions to employment and/or education after program completion.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Team collaboration

Data entry

Education

High school diploma or GED

Lived experience with firearm violence

Caregiver experience of a child with behavioral health needs

Metropolitan Peace Academy training

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

We seek to create an intense, cutting‑edge environment that inspires each staff member to individual and organizational greatness. Our hope is to provide a culture where you can contribute your gifts for the benefit of all.

Descriptions of employment opportunities can be found by clicking the name of the open position below.

Location: Chicago, IL

Job Id:361

# of Openings:1

Job Title: Peer Support Worker, B2OF
Reports to:Director, High School and Post Secondary Education
Program Area: Breakthrough Youth Network, Back 2 Our Future (B2OF)
FLSA Code: Full time, Exempt
Hours: 40-hour workweek; flexible schedule (including evenings and weekends hours as needed)
Location: FamilyPlex, 3219 W. Carroll, Chicago, IL 60624
POSITION SUMMARY
The Peer Support Worker will work collaboratively with the Breakthrough Beyond team, Violence Prevention team, and Behavioral Health team to provide culturally relevant outreach, engagement, and support services to youth ages 13-21.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES/FUNCTIONS

• Build strong positive relationships with youth and facilitate team building between participants
• Engage youth in wrap around services within their agency and work with external partners to provide additional support services to youth
• Responsible for gaining trust of the students and demonstrating relentless engagement to keep youth actively engaged
• Develop and implement creative strategies to retain youth participants throughout the program
• Assist with data collection and entry into data systems such as Salesforce
• Implement performance measurement tools with youth participants and ensure timely completion of deadlines
• Attend mandatory training and meetings
• Participate in facilitation of programs, workshops and events geared toward youth development and engagement
• Document all youth services activities and engagement in appropriate paper and electronic systems
• Work with the team to create and execute individualized service plans (ISP) and Casey Life Skills Assessment
• Engage youth in problem-solving, life skills, conflict resolution and communication activities to enhance core competencies
• Work collaboratively with Behavioral Health Staff
• In collaboration with support staff, conduct regular home visits for potential program participants for recruitment purposes and to disengaged participants to re‑engage in the program
• Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standards and displays a positive image of Breakthrough
• Act in a professional manner always and maintains appropriate boundaries with youth
• Demonstrates accountability for results and keeps commitments to others
• Supports youth with transitions to employment and/or education upon program completion
• Demonstrates openness and respect for cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of youth and coworkers
• Accepts feedback and ideas from team and supervisor and is constructive when giving feedback and ideas to others
• Responds in a timely manner to all written correspondence, email, and phone calls
• Connects youth to year‑round and summer related career activities, vocational training, employment, etc.
• Attends regular supervision, team meetings and other professional workshops to enhance job skills
• Serve as linkages and support to individuals by referring clients to outside services and other opportunities (i.e., drug treatment, etc.)
• Prepare accurate reports and case summaries
• Performs other duties and tasks assigned

Demonstrated Values

• Independently follows agency policy and procedures
• Follows through with commitments including meeting established timelines
• Identifies and resolves difficult issues
• Project a professional image to all internal and external customers ensuring proper grooming
• Promote customer care through all actions and behaviors
• Works effectively with diverse staff, communities and population served
• Maintain a high degree of sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy during stressful situations.
• A passion for the mission of Breakthrough

QUALIFICATIONS

• At least 21 years of age
• High school diploma/GED with lived experience or experience as a caregiver of a child with behavioral health needs OR 2 years of experience in youth development
• Has individual, lived experience with firearm violence, either directly or through community exposure
• Demonstrates the ability to work within agency structure, accept supervision, and participate as a member of a multi‑disciplinary team
• Has completed or will complete training through the Metropolitan Peace Academy upon hire
• Willingness to learn and commit to the principles of nonviolence, restorative justice, and trauma‑informed practices
• Strong interpersonal skills, conflict resolution skills, and the ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing
• Ability to work with a team, respond well to supervisor direction, be flexible and dependable, and demonstrate initiative
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity to the service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Demonstrates comfort and skill using basic computer software such as Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook as well as other Windows based programs
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license, have daily access to a vehicle and an acceptable motor vehicle driving record and/or reliable means of transportation are required

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Interpret and explain policies, procedures, and relevant laws
• Ability to demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, professionalism and problem‑solving skills.
• Project a professional image to all internal and external customers ensuring correct grooming.
• Ability to display a warm, supportive attitude toward all people
• Ability to demonstrate initiative and follow‑through and be comfortable working in a changing environment
• Demonstrate a willingness to consistently improve work performance through relationships and guidance
• Maintain a high degree of sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy during stressful situations.
• Maintain confidentiality with sensitive information
• Ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others

SUPERVISION

• This position has no direct reports
• Direction is received from Director of High School and Post Secondary Education

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Work Environment
While performing the duties of this job, the employee will work in a multi‑purpose facility and/or outdoors and thus will be exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be high depending on the activities in the facility.
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk and/or sit; use hands and fingers to feel objects, tools or controls, reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; regularly talk or hear. The employee must be able to bend, stoop, pull, lift as well as have an overhead extension of arms. Must be able to stand for long periods of time; be able to lift, carry or move at least 50 pounds. Must adhere to proper handling and lifting techniques. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions
Equipment Used
The employee will generally use general office equipment including but not limited to telephone, computer, calculator, copier, overhead projector, paper shredder, paper cutter, and filing systems.
Safety Requirements
Prior to the first day of work, must complete a criminal background and sex offender clearance
BENEFITS

• Medical - We offer group medical benefits through BlueCross BlueShield to full‑time employees. You have the option of choosing between a PPO or HMO plan. We pay the full cost of an employee single coverage. There is a cost per pay period for coverage for family (i.e., employee plus spouse; employee plus child(ren) or employee plus spouse and child(ren).
• Dental-We offer group dental benefits through BlueCross BlueShield to full‑time employees. You have the option of choosing between a PPO or HMO. This is an employee paid benefit.
• Vision - We offer group vision benefits through BlueCross BlueShield to full‑time employees. This is an employee paid benefit.
• Life-Through BlueCross BlueShield, we offer full‑time employees term life insurance to the employee’s family in case of death. The cost of this benefit is paid fully by the organization.
• Short and long-term disability -If you become disabled, BlueCross BlueShieldprovides both short‑term and long‑term disability insurance to full‑time employees. The cost of this benefit is paid fully by the organization.
• 401 (k) Plan -We offer a 401(k) plan which is a tax‑deferred annuity to assist full‑time employees in planning for retirement. We match 50% of your contribution up to a total of 3% of your base salary.
• Section 125 Plan (FSA)-Through TASC, we allow full‑time employees to make contributions toward premiums for medical insurance, out‑of‑pocket medical expenses, dependent care expenses, and/or transit and parking on a “before tax” rather than an “after tax” basis.
• Vacation Days -Full‑time employees in this position are eligible to accrue vacation days at a rate of 6.67 – 13.33 days per month based on tenure with the organization.
• Personal Days -Full‑time employees in this position are eligible for up to 3 personal days annually, pro‑rated in year one.
• Sick Days -Full‑time employees in this position are eligible for up to 10 sick days annually, pro‑rated in year one.

COMPENSATION

The actual salary within the range is determined by many factors including, but not limited to, skills, experience, education and internal equity.

$47,000-$52,000/annually

Breakthrough is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or any other non‑merit factors. If a reasonable accommodation is needed for any part of the hiring process, please contact us at [e-mail]. The decision to grant reasonable accommodation will be on a case‑by‑case basis.

When applying to a position at Breakthrough, all interviews will be conducted virtually.

It is the policy of Breakthrough to recruit, employ, train, transfer, compensate, and promote individuals who are best qualified for the specific position by reason of education, training, skills, experience, performance, and/or general ability. It is the policy of Breakthrough that all employment decisions and personnel actions, including decisions or actions to recruit, employ, train, transfer, compensate, provide benefits for, promote, demote, discipline, discharge, lay off employees, or call employees back from lay‑off, be made without regard to any individual’s age, race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, veteran or military status, military discharge status, non‑disqualifying physical/mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, parental status, source of income, and/or genetic information.

Our organization is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against staff members or applicants for employment on any legally‑recognized basis [“protected class”] including, but not limited to: veteran status, uniform service member status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability or any other protected class under federal, state or local law. All employees are expected to cooperate with and follow this policy.

Working and serving at Breakthrough not only includes a collaborative work environment, but also includes the following benefits for full‑time employees.

• Medical (HMO & PPO)
• Vision Coverage
• 401(k) with company match *
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) & Parking/Transit Reimbursable Account *
• Paid Vacation Days (increase with tenure)
• Paid Sick Days *
• Paid Personal Days
• Complimentary on‑site fitness center membership (Generous discount for household members) *
• Professional Financial Planning Services available *
• Breakthrough apparel purchase discounts *

*Part-time employees are eligible for these benefits.