Peer Counselor Parent Partner - WISe Wraparound Services

Overview

Our Commitment to Equity The Y actively promotes a culture free from bias and injustice. We are dedicated to removing institutional and systemic barriers that result in oppression and racism. We will be accountable to marginalized communities for creating equitable and sustainable environments where social justice is woven into every facet of our programs, and by caring for our communities in a culturally versatile and respectful manner.

Job Summary

You will provide culturally competent, and strength-based peer support to caregivers of youth enrolled in WISe (Wraparound with Intensive Services) to decrease crisis and increase in-home stabilization by identifying support and teaching skills to effectively navigate community resources to meet their needs. You will be providing services in client homes or other convenient community locations. You will collaborate with co-workers, supervisors, outside professionals, and others involved in delivering the youth’s care to meet safety plan needs and action plan goals, acting as a bridge between the caregiver, youth, and system representatives. This position serves as the parent peer support for the WISe wraparound intensive mental health services. A peer support specialist plays an intricate role in the team-based planning process for caregivers and youth who are experiencing complex needs. Peers are designed to help caregivers develop advocacy and empowerment skills to better achieve the identified goals of their youth and family, and so that young people may live in their homes and communities successfully.• This team member will work collaboratively with supervisors, clinicians, case managers, and all team providers to help implement an individualized plan of care, monitor the efficacy of the plan, and work towards success over time.• This plan of care is based on strengths and needs that respect the youth's and their family's culture, values, norms, and preferences

This position is at the Social Impact Center Y, the social services branch of YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS). The mission of the Social Impact Center Y is to accelerate young people’s ability to build safe, successful, and happy lives. Every year, we serve 5,000 children, youth, young adults, and families across King County with programs that aim to strengthen young people’s ability to develop to their fullest potential through four strategies: reducing risk factors; navigating systems towards successful life transition; ensuring stability, safety and wellness in times of crisis; and building competencies and social capital. The Social Impact Center Y’s programs include housing, behavioral health, foster care licensing, violence prevention, education, and employment. Many of the young people we serve have had involvement in the foster care, criminal justice system, and/or homelessness systems.  

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position with expected hours of Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. This is a community based role.

What you'll get from working at The Y

• Membership to the YMCA of Greater Seattle for you and your household

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life insurance

• Retirement with 12% employer contributions after 2 years of services - see Y Retirement for more information . ( Other Savings plans available upon hire.

• Free access to mental health resources

• Rapidly accruing paid time off (PTO)

• Discounts on qualifying YMCA of Greater Seattle childcare, day camp, overnight camp and outdoor leadership programs. 25% for part-time staff, 50% for full-time staff.

• Direct care staff in the Social Impact Center receive monthly personal Wellness days in addition to existing PTO and Paid Holiday benefits

• Some benefits only available to full-time staff

Hiring Range:

Pre-Certified Peer Counselor : Hiring Range: $22.00 – 24.00/hr

Certified Peer Counselor : Hiring Range: $24.00 – 27.00/hr

** Required qualifications listed below

Responsibilities

• Provide peer counseling and support to parents/caregivers, drawing on common experience to encourage hope and inspire a sense of agency.

• Promote self-determination, empowerment, personal responsibility for recovery and wellness, and assist parents/caregivers in advocating for themselves and their children.

• Engage youth and families in the Wraparound process by sharing personal experience and/or explaining Wraparound process in relation to family’s identified needs and concerns.

• Act as a bridge between families and system representatives on the team.

• Adhere closely to the National Wraparound Model.

• Assist in creating Care Plans by identifying relevant community resources and developing strategies to utilize and build upon strengths of the caregiver and youth.

• Collaborate with the treatment team to promote a culture within which each client’s point of view, experience, and preferences are recognized, understood, and respected, and client decision-making maximized.

• Assist caregivers in gaining skills to advocate for themselves when treatment planning and in other system settings.

• Assist families in identifying existing and building new community and natural supports.

• Identify opportunities for natural supports to participate in the Wraparound team planning process.

• Support caregivers during child and family team meetings.

• Provide resource referrals and linkages to caregivers and system partners.

• Assist families in navigating systems to have their needs met.

• Partner with the care coordinator, clinician, family, and other members of the family-identified team in the development of the crisis stabilization plan to make sure the plans are individualized and based on youth and family voice and choice. As appropriate, assist caregiver by providing short-term intensive care coordination and facilitating family collaboration with crisis providers or treatment options.

• Facilitate Wraparound team meetings as needed.

• Develop working knowledge of CANS assessment tool; interpret assessment results for families and incorporate relevant action items into the care planning process.

• Attend WISe community meetings with other partner agencies.

• Partner with system of care representatives to promote family involvement on all levels of care, service delivery, and policy development.

• Attend and participate in clinical consultation, staff meetings, and supervision appointments.

• Maintain complete and timely clinical documentation, including gathering data in accordance with agency policies and procedures.

• Participate in supervision with the WISe Program Director and regular collaboration with the care coordinators, clinicians, and fellow peers in the program.

• Demonstrate a high degree of skill in communication and positive interaction with all Y employees, prospective employees, external agencies/companies, and the community at large.

• Perform all other duties as assigned.

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Code of Conduct for Applicants (

All employees and volunteers are responsible for adhering to abuse prevention policies, maintaining appropriate boundaries , completing required training, reporting suspicious or inappropriate behavior, and complying with mandated reporting requirements.

Responsible for ensuring staff are properly screened, trained, supervised and held accountable to the organization’s abuse risk management standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum age of 21 years

• Lived experience in receiving services as a youth in complex, child serving systems (juvenile justice, behavioral health, child welfare, special education preferred) and is prepared to use that experience in helping others

• Other applicable education, training, and experience, which provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position will be considered.

• Ability to work independently and as a part of a team

• Ability to effectively communicate with others

• Ability to set priorities and manage time effectively

• Ability to use a computer and work with Microsoft Windows Outlook and electronic health records data system.

• Trained in and familiar with recovery model and able to assist families and youth to focus on their strengths, utilize their voice and partner with their team.

• Demonstrated ability to engage youth and their families in a structured process to verbalize their needs, develop an individualized care plan, and transition to reliance on natural supports.

• Knowledge of community services and resources including: support groups, mental health, substance abuse, child welfare, juvenile justice, developmental disabilities, special education programs, etc.

• Experience with crisis de-escalation and crisis stabilization practices.

• The following physical and mental abilities are required: frequent lifting or carrying up to 15 pounds, must be able to hear, frequent standing/walking going up and down stairs due to community outreach basis, ability to communicate effectively in person and/or phone, the ability to read, analyze and interpret information, ability to write reports, correspondence and procedures, ability to maintain notes/records, ability to define and solve practical problems, collect data

• WA State Peer Counselor Certification preferred and required within one year of employment.

• Possession of a high school diploma or equivalence preferred

• Possession of valid driver’s license and have access to a private vehicle for day-to-day job performance and ability to transport self and youth in a safe and effective manner, and to meet youth and families at their home or in the community. (Proof of adequate vehicle insurance coverage is required.)

• Prefer knowledge of, and previous experience with, diverse populations (language, culture, race, physical activity, sexual orientation, etc.). Ability to speak any language in addition to English may be helpful.

• Current State-approved first aid certification, state-approved CPR certification, BBP (HIV/AIDS) training certification.*

• Washington State Agency Affiliated Counseling Credential.

*Within 30 days of employment or first available training.

Pre-Certified Peer Counselor:

• WA State Certified Peer Support Specialist Trainee or Certified Peer Support Specialist credential required within one year of employment.

Certified Peer Counselor:

• WA State Certified Peer Support Specialist Trainee or Certified Peer Support Specialist required within 30 days of employment.

Personal Vehicle Authorized Driver Requirement

This role transports clients as an “authorized driver” for the YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS) using your own vehicle (proof of current auto insurance and vehicle registration are required). Driving duties for this role are Required.* Driving roles are safety-sensitive. To become an authorized driver, you must be 21+, have possessed a driver's license for at least 3 years, and pass a drug screen that will test for impairing substances (including marijuana) in addition to meeting the driving record standards below:

YGS Driving Record Standards

Within the last three (3) years: No more than two (2) vehicle related suspension(s) and/or reinstatement(s). No more than two (2) moving violations and/or accidents. Moving violations include, but are not limited to, the following:

· Speeding

· Improper Lane Change

· Failure to Yield in Right-of-Way

· Failure to Obey Traffic Signal

· Failure to obey Traffic Sign

Within the last five (5) years: No Major Violations which include, but are not limited to, the following:

· DUI, DWI, OUI, OWI, BUI (Boating), Administrative Per Se, or Refusing to Test

· Driving with an open container of alcohol

· Reckless Driving

· Hit and Run – property damage only (Incidents involving injury fall under Permanent Disqualification)

· Racing

· Driving with a suspended/revoked license/insurance

· Speeding over 20 mph

· Fleeing and/or eluding police

· Any other felony driving conviction(s)

Driving records that result in Permanent disqualification from driving duties:

· More than 3 DUI, DWI, OUI, OWI, BUI, Administrative Per Se, or Refusing to Test for entirety of driving history.

· More than 3 Driving with a suspended/revoked license

· Hit and Run resulting in bodily injury or death

· Manslaughter/felony death by motor vehicle

*Due to state-specific reporting requirements in our driver management system, we are not currently able to enroll California Driver's License holders as Authorized Drivers.

You'll be a great fit for the Seattle Y if you:

• Thrive on working in a collaborative environment.

• Are very adaptable.

• Have high ownership and strong work ethic .

• Are a great problem solver who can think on your feet.

• Truly enjoy being of service to people.

• Like being part of a team that cares about one another as people and enjoy working together.

• Want to know that the work you do contributes to building a better, stronger community for all.

OUR MISSION

Building a community where all people, especially the young, are encouraged to develop their fullest potential in spirit, mind, and body.

OUR VALUES

• Respect

• Responsibility

• Honesty

• Caring

• Passion for Excellence

YGS is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse and equitable work environment . Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by local, state, or federal law.

We are a drug & alcohol-free workplace. We participate in the Federal E-Verify system. All job offers are contingent on the results of a background check.

If you need assistance of any kind with the application process, reach out to View email address on click.appcast.io.