Youth Peer Advocate & Wellness Ally

South-Coast-Community-Services; Placentia (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

South-Coast-Community-Services is seeking a Youth Peer Specialist to support children and youth in Wraparound services in California. The role focuses on peer connection, emotional support, and advocacy, drawing on lived experience across child welfare and behavioral health systems.

The Youth Peer Specialist will work with a multidisciplinary team to ensure the youth’s voice is heard and respected, while promoting culturally relevant planning and outcomes.

Qualifications

• Lived experience in child-serving systems as a minor/youth.
• Commitment to practice cultural respectfulness and relevance.
• Strong peer engagement and communication skills.
• Able to maintain healthy boundaries while building trust.
• Self-aware, resilient, and a collaborative team member.

Responsibilities

• Builds connection through empathy, active listening, and helps youth understand unmet needs.
• Prepares and supports the youth in expressing themselves during meetings or decisions.
• Attends meetings with the youth to advocate and ensure their understanding and inclusion.
• Validates the youth’s experiences and supports healing through peer relatability.
• Collaborates with the team to uphold youth voice and cultural relevance in planning.
• Offers feedback on practices and policies, reflecting on lived-system experiences.
• Promotes Wraparound fidelity and values in service delivery.
• Supports integration with Medi-Cal requirements when applicable.
• Attend required meetings with multidisciplinary teams and community resources.

Skills

Lived experience in child-serving

Peer engagement

Communication skills

Boundaries and trust

Self-awareness and teamwork

Job description

South-Coast-Community-Services is seeking a Youth Peer Specialist to support children and youth in Wraparound services in California. The role focuses on peer connection, emotional support, and advocacy, drawing on lived experience across child welfare and behavioral health systems.

The Youth Peer Specialist will work with a multidisciplinary team to ensure the youth’s voice is heard and respected, while promoting culturally relevant planning and outcomes.