Young Adult Peer Mentor

Job Description

Job Description

Why Children’s Services of Roxbury?

At Children’s Services of Roxbury, we’re not just offering a job - we’re offering a chance to be part of something bigger. Our mission is to bring peace of mind to children and families across Massachusetts. We foster a culture of trust, humility, and respect, where every team member is valued and supported. If you’re looking to make a real impact and grow with a team that strives to create a brighter future for children and families across Massachusetts, this role is for you. 

Mental health is the key to personal well-being, family and interpersonal relationships, and contributing to society. Our Behavioral Health Department (BHD) offers a comprehensive array of high quality, culturally-sensitive mental health services that provide children and families with the services they need for success at home, in school, and in the community. We specialize in working with children of color and families from many cultures, languages and nationalities. Our services are individualized to meet the specific needs of each child and family, building on their strengths and supporting their goals.

Position Summary

As a YAPM you will work directly with youth and young adults to ensure that their voice is heard and valued in their own future planning and transition to adulthood. The YAPM will engage youth in activities that are designed to address one or more goals on the youth's transition plan while also demonstrating the ability to teach youth how to navigate community systems and effectively advocate for themselves. The YAPM will also transport youth to community activities and may provide respite in the home when it is relevant to advancing the treatment goals. A qualified candidate must have navigated the behavioral health system as a youth themselves and be able to use their personal expertise to help youth in the program successfully do the same. The YAPM will possess the necessary skills to act as an effective team member within the YAAC in the shared mission of helping youth and families achieve the goals they set for themselves. 

Responsibilities

• The YAPM will engage youth in activities that are designed to address one or more goals on the youth's transition plan while also demonstrating the ability to teach youth how to navigate community systems and effectively advocate for themselves
• Provide individual 1:1 peer mentoring
• Provides the core staffing for the Drop In center
• Uses the YAPM Practice Profile to define role
• Provides outreach and marketing efforts to educate youth and young adults and other stakeholders in the community about the program and services
• Helps the YAAC leadership and Transition to Independence Process (TIP) Facilitator staff with the identification and accessing of existing and new services and service providers that will benefit Youth and Young Adults(Y/YA).
• Assist in developing a Leadership Council and other leadership development activities. 
• Helps Y/YA to develop supportive relationships and community connections
• Promotes the development of healthy lifestyles and wellness practices, including substance misuse, homelessness, and mental health
• Supports Y/YA in the development of self-sufficiency and positive employment behaviors

Qualifications

• Knowledge of the unique needs of youth and young adults facing mental health and other challenges. Minimum of two years of experience working with children/adolescents/transition age youth preferred.
• Lived experience with trauma (homelessness, violence, LGBTQ+, racial, disrupted family), mental health, substance abuse, recovery and resiliency. Willing to share their lived experience with the purpose and intent to facilitate groups and provide individual coaching to youth and young adults. 
• Experience navigating behavioral health, substance abuse or other systems as a young person and able to use personal expertise to help others successfully do the same
• Members of LGBTQ+ community are strongly encouraged to apply
• Must have a clear CORI or waiver based on review of individual circumstances.
• Must have valid driver’s license without any restrictions and access to reliable vehicle
• Must provide three references (at least two from a comparable professional setting)
• A high school diploma or equivalent is required, AA or Bachelor's in a human services discipline preferred.

Based on the Department of Public Health regulations, all employees must be vaccinated for influenza and Covid-19.

Salary & Benefits

• Paid vacation, personal and sick leave
• Health, dental, and vision insurance (full-time)
• Retirement plan options (eligible roles)
• Growth opportunities with access to online CEU/professional development
• Employee discounts on thousands of products and services
• Supportive, mission-driven team environment