Job Summary

You will provide culturally competent, and strength-based peer support to youth and their families to decrease crisis and increase in-home stabilization by identifying support and teaching youth skills to effectively navigate community resources to meet their needs. You will be providing services in client homes, schools or other convenient community locations. The goals of Youth Peer Support include supporting youth empowerment, assisting youth in developing skills to improve their overall functioning and quality of life. 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 youth, family and system representatives.

This position is with the Y Social Impact Center, the social services division of the YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS), serving around 5,000 youth, young adults, and families every year in communities across King County, Pierce County, and various counties across WA. Through our programs we 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; establishing stability, safety and wellness in times of crisis; and building competencies and social capital. The Social Impact Center’s programs include homelessness prevention, housing, behavioral health, crisis response, foster care licensing, violence prevention, and employment. Since many of the young people we serve have been involved in the foster care, criminal justice, behavioral health, and/or homelessness systems, we truly value relatable lived experience of our staff and those applying for our positions as an asset.

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 generous employer contributions
Free access to mental health resources
Rapidly accruing paid time off (PTO)
Full-time employees qualify for a 50% discount, and part-time employees qualify for a 25% discount, on eligible Childcare Services.
Working at the YMCA may contribute to eligibility for student loan forgiveness

Hiring Range: $22.00 - $27.50/hour

Peer Support Specialist I - $22.00 - $24.20/hour

Peer Support Specialist II - $24.50 - 27.50/hour

Responsibilities

Provides both immediate and scheduled crisis outreach services to families throughout King County and additional coverage as needed
Flexes schedule to include evenings and possible weekends to meet the needs of families.
Assist youth in developing self-determination and empowerment skills through self-advocacy.
Identify youth stresses, instability and provide appropriate support.
Identifies community resources and natural supports and works with the youth to effectively navigate resources.
Collaborates effectively with co-workers, supervisors and outside professionals to meet action plan goals.
Transports youth to appointments, meetings, or other locations as needed to support the action plan and linkage to community resources.
Works with families to build their own “Child & Family Team”. Attends wrap around and other team meetings to support youth and ensure that their voice is heard. Acts as a role model for effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.
Maintains a working knowledge of current trends and developments in behavioral health.
Completes required documentation within program deadlines.
Reports all critical incidents and adheres to YMCA program rules and procedures.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time and in-person position. The hours of work and days are generally Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00p.m, however flexibility is required with some evening and weekend work required as job duties demand.

This position is part of our CCORS Program Regional Expansion. There is the opportunity to support families in:

North King County (Bellevue, Bothell, Duval, Issaquah, Kenmore, Woodinville, etc.)
South King County (Auburn, Federal Way, Enumclaw, Maple Valley, etc.)
Central King County (Seattle, Vashon, Eastlake, Capitol Hill, etc.)

Code of Conduct for Applicants

Qualifications

All Peer Support Specialists:

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
Possession of a high school diploma or equivalence preferred
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. **

Peer Support Specialist I:

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

Peer Support Specialist II:

2 years of relevant experience in social services
WA State Peer Counselor Certification preferred and required within 30 days of employment.

*Within 30 days of employment or first available training.

**Training and certification can be completed after hire. Start process of training and certification within the first month of hire and full certification as a Peer within 6 months of hire. 

Preferred Qualifications

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

Reliable Transportation Requirement

This role requires the incumbent to have reliable access to a vehicle to meet clients in the community, attend trainings, and be in office.

Authorized Driver Potential

This is a driving-preferred role that could potentially involve transporting clients as an “authorized driver” for the Y. To become an authorized driver, you must be 21+, have had a driver's license for at least 3 years and with a driving record that meets Y standards (no more than 2 moving violations within the last 3 years, no major incidents such as reckless driving, DUI/DWI, no tickets 20+ miles above the speed limit etc.). As driving roles are safety sensitive, you will also need pass a drug screen that will test for impairing substances including marijuana. (*Due to state-specific reporting requirements in our fleet management system, we are not currently able to enroll California Driver's License holders as Authorized Drivers).

Fingerprinting Requirement

In this role, you are required to complete and pass fingerprinting with Puget Sound Education Services District (PSESD) to work with children and in schools. This is an additional background check, required within the first 30 days of employment. Incumbents must resubmit and pass the PSESD fingerprinting background check every two years. This background check will be expensed to the YMCA of Greater Seattle.

Our Commitment 

The YMCA of Greater Seattle (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; all job offers are contingent on the results of a background check and (on applicable jobs) drug screening, including screening for marijuana. We participate in the Federal E-Verify system.

If you need assistance of any kind with the application process, reach out to recruiting@seattleymca.org or the HR department at 206.382.5082.

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Peer Support Specialist