Peer Advocate (CSEC Advocacy)

Position Summary The Peer Advocate provides trauma-informed, relationship-based peer advocacy and support to youth impacted by Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC), sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and other complex trauma experiences. This position primarily focuses on community-based engagement, mentorship, advocacy, crisis response, and supportive services designed to help youth increase safety, stability, self-determination, and connection to healthy supports. Using lived experience, motivational approaches, and trauma-informed practices, the Peer Advocate builds trusting relationships with youth in community settings, homes, schools, hospitals, placement settings, and other service environments. The Peer Advocate supports youth in accessing resources, participating in treatment and case planning, developing life skills, and navigating systems of care. The Peer Advocate may also provide flexible support and coverage within Optimist Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) as needed to ensure continuity of care, youth engagement, and program stability. STRTP support responsibilities are secondary to the primary community advocacy role and are provided in alignment with agency policies, trauma-informed practices, and licensing standards. This position is trained, supervised, and evaluated to support youth safety, individualized care, and implementation of trauma-informed, harm-reduction, and youth-centered services. Core Functions This position supports the organization’s trauma-informed continuum of care by: Providing community-based peer advocacy, mentorship, and engagement services Supporting youth impacted by exploitation, trauma, placement instability, and system involvement Utilizing harm-reduction, motivational, and survivor-centered approaches Assisting youth with resource linkage, stabilization, and goal attainment Supporting youth voice, empowerment, and self-advocacy Providing flexible support within STRTP programs as needed Participating in ongoing supervision, training, and professional development Promoting a safe, respectful, and healing-centered environment for youth Essential Duties and Responsibilities Peer Advocacy & Youth Engagement Utilizes lived experience (preferred) to provide peer-based mentoring, encouragement, and support to youth. Builds trusting relationships with youth using trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and nonjudgmental approaches. Meets youth in community settings, placement settings, schools, hospitals, court appointments, and other approved locations. Supports youth in identifying strengths, goals, needs, and safety concerns. Assists youth in accessing community resources, supportive services, and basic needs. Encourages youth participation in treatment planning, CFT meetings, education, employment, and supportive programming. Provides emotional support, role modeling, advocacy, and encouragement to promote resilience and empowerment. Crisis Response & Safety Support Provides crisis intervention, de-escalation, and stabilization support to youth in community and residential settings. Participates in First Responder Protocol (FRP) response as assigned. Supports safety planning and harm-reduction interventions for high‑risk youth. Responds appropriately to critical incidents and follows all reporting requirements and agency protocols. Maintains flexibility to support evenings, weekends, or urgent youth needs when required. Adheres to mandated reporting laws and agency policies at all times. Documentation & Communication Maintains accurate, timely, and compliant documentation, including: Advocacy Progress Notes Advocacy Plans Safety Plans Surveys and required program documentation Daily logs and incident documentation when applicable Communicates effectively with supervisors, multidisciplinary team members, DCFS, DMH, schools, probation, and community providers. Reports significant incidents, concerns, or safety issues in a timely manner. Team Participation, Training & Professional Development Participates in required supervision, staff meetings, and multidisciplinary team collaboration. Completes all mandatory trainings and in‑service education requirements. Demonstrates openness to feedback, coaching, and continued professional growth. Supports agency efforts to maintain trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and youth-centered services. STRTP Support Responsibilities (As Needed) Provides supportive coverage within the STRTP program as assigned to maintain continuity of care and youth engagement. Assists STRTP staff in maintaining a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment. Supports youth through relationship‑building, mentorship, coaching, and emotional support. Assists with recreation, community activities, transportation, appointments, and life skills activities. Reinforces trauma-informed program expectations and positive behavioral supports. Collaborates with STRTP staff and treatment team members to support individualized treatment goals. Professional Conduct & Compliance Maintains confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA, CCL, and agency policies. Demonstrates appropriate boundaries, professionalism, and emotional regulation at all times. Serves as a positive role model for youth and staff. Adheres to all organizational policies, procedures, and licensing requirements. Supports a harm-reduction, survivor-centered, and healing-centered model of care. Required Education, Training, Experience and/or Certification High School Diploma or GED required; Bachelor’s degree preferred. Lived experience relevant to peer advocacy strongly preferred. Experience working with high‑risk youth, CSEC youth, or system‑involved youth preferred. Knowledge of trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices. Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams and community systems. CPR/First Aid certification (or ability to obtain). Bilingual English/Spanish preferred. All employees, regardless of position, serve as role models for children and adolescents who are served by our Agency. Therefore, each employee must at all times be emotionally stable and able to function effectively with children, adolescents and adults who may have mental or behavioral health problems. The employee must be able to demonstrate appropriate daily behavior, appropriate expression of emotions, as well as appropriate role modeling. Valid California driver’s license; reliable transportation, current automobile insurance; have and maintain a clean driving record acceptable to the organization’s insurance company. Must be able to pass a fingerprint background investigation. Must be able to pass a TB test, physical exam, and drug screening. Physical Demands The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential competencies and job duties of this position. The Human Resources Department will explore reasonable accommodations that could enable an employee who has a disability to perform the essential competencies of the position. Stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, utilize fingers, hands and arms up to 2/3 of the day. Lift items and assist clients with lifting items up to 25 pounds 1/3 of the day. Clear close and distance vision and be able to adjust the focus. Ability to operate a vehicle and recognize all street signs. Ability to transport youth safely. Ability to respond appropriately during crisis situations consistent with training and agency policy. Ability to communicate effectively across community and residential settings. Speak and listen to others in person and over the phone and video conferencing. Use keyboard and read from computer screen. Environmental Conditions Ability to adjust to climate, outdoor and indoor conditions such as extreme heat, humidity and cold weather. Occupational Safety & Health Standards Every employee must comply with occupational safety and health standards and all rules, regulations and orders pursuant to Division 5 of the California Labor Code which are applicable to his or her own actions and conduct. Optimist Policies and Procedures Every employee must comply with all organizational wide policies and procedures and those department specific policies and procedures that apply to this position. All agency employees must maintain confidentiality of client and case information and may not access information unless directly related to their job responsibilities and duties. All information in case records shall be confidential and shall be available only to the placement agency staff and personnel who need access for the performance of their duties, otherwise special consent is required. #J-18808-Ljbffr Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services