Youth Advocate

The Child Center of NY; New York (NY); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization in youth support seeks a Youth Advocate to guide adolescents facing various challenges. The role involves providing essential skills for personal and social development, documenting services, and connecting youth with community resources. The ideal candidate has extensive lived experience, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work effectively with diverse populations. A supportive and dynamic work environment is offered, alongside competitive benefits.

Benefits

Generous Paid Time Off

401k Pension and Employer Contribution

Flexible Spending and Commuter Benefits Accounts

Employer paid short-term & long-term disability

Life and AD&D insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Qualifications

• Experience with disability, mental illness, or juvenile justice.
• Completion of Youth Peer Support training recommended.
• Bilingual skills highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist youth in navigating service systems and goal-setting.
• Provide skills for coping with psychiatric symptoms and life experiences.
• Document all services provided in a timely manner.

Skills

Communication

Empathy

Advocacy

Motivational Skills

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Electronic Health Records (EHR)

Job description

Posted Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 4:00 AM

Position Overview

The Youth Peer Support (YPS) provides an array of both formal and informal services and supports to youth who are experiencing social, medical, emotional, developmental, substance use, and/or behavioral challenges in their home, school, placement, and/or community. The Youth Advocate is responsible for developing and facilitating in the social and personal development of adolescents and teenagers. A Youth Advocate is a guide to youth and gives direction in their academic, vocational, and personal lives.

We also offer:

• Generous Paid Time Off
• 401k Pension and Employer Contribution
• Flexible Spending and Commuter Benefits Accounts
• Employer paid short-term & long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
  
  

Essential Functions

• Helps youth with developing the skills needed in order to independently navigate the various service systems.
• Aids youth with goal setting and building community living skills.
• Provides youth with the skills needed in order to cope with and manage their psychiatric symptoms, traumatic experiences, issues related to their substance use disorders, and any other life experiences that they may be enduring.
• Provide mutual support, hope, reassurance, and advocacy that includes the sharing of one’s own “personal recovery/resiliency story” as the Youth Peer Advocating (YPA) deems appropriate as beneficial to both the youth and themselves.
• Help youth to engage, bridge, and transition support from youth to adulthood, understanding why they should be active participant in the development of their care and treatment.
• Develop, link, and facilitate the use of formal and informal services, including connection to peer support groups within the community.
• Serve as an advocate, mentor, and/or facilitator for the resolution of concerns and/or issues.
• Assists youth with developing the skills needed in order to advocate for services and benefits.
• Connect youth to community resources and services.
• Ensure that youth understand their treatment plan, as well as help to ensure that plan is person and family-centered.
• Documents all services provided both timely and accurately.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• A high school diploma, high school equivalency preferred or a State Education Commencement Credential.
• Demonstrate ‘lived experience’ with a disability, mental illness, juvenile justice, special education, substance use disorder, and/or foster care to assist in supporting youth in their resiliency/recovery and wellness.
• Ability to work among diverse social, cultural, and economic groups.
• Complete Level One (online component) and Level Two (online and in-person) training of the Youth Peer Support Advisory Council recommended and State approved training for YPA’s followed by a minimum of three consultation calls.
• Excellent written, verbal, and listening skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and have some knowledge and using Electronic Health Records (EHR).
• Bilingual (highly preferred) in one or more of the following: Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Bengali and others, as depending upon the needs of the client and their family.