Young Adult Peer Advocate, Safe ; SOS - South Team

Young Adult Peer Advocate, Safe Options Support (SOS) - South Team

Job Description

Position: Young Adult Peer Advocate

Program: Safe Options Support (SOS) – South Team

Function: Community outreach on the streets and in places where unhoused young adults frequent; coordinating participants needs before and after move from street to home; enhancing daily living skills, providing accompaniment to appointments, and advocating on their behalf when faced with discrimination or healthcare inequities.

Reports to: Team Leader, Young Adult SOS Team – South

Location: Midtown, Lower Manhattan & Brooklyn

Salary: $54,952 plus generous benefits

Summary: ACMH is committed to the mental and physical wellbeing of vulnerable New Yorkers and is a leader in outreach, engagement, care management, rehabilitation, crisis support, and supportive housing. ACMH is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to promote equity at all levels.

• Sustained outreach and engagement attempts for all individuals who are referred, even if they initially decline services.
• Develop meaningful partnerships with community stakeholders and providers (e.g., Youth Adult Peer Programs, Safe Horizon, LGBTQIA+ community programs, local hospitals, NYPD, Department of Youth and Community Development, shelter operators and housing providers) to identify those in most need of outreach and care.
• Conduct outreach to areas where unsheltered young adults are known to frequent.
• Provide elements of Positive Youth Development, including youth involvement, skill building, leadership, and community engagement.
• Use lived experiences to promote client recovery, offering support, advocacy, and skill development opportunities.
• Assist young adults with developing a stigma-free approach to wellness, recovery and/or treatment.
• Assist in identifying needs, strengths, challenges and goals to develop individualized care plans (ICP).
• Hold one-on-one peer support sessions focusing on engagement, bridging, and transition support to enhance participants’ ability to navigate systems.
• Continuous assessment of health and social needs using conversational, observational, and formal risk assessment tools for those at high risk.
• Collaborate with the centralized SOS Hub to identify housing options and support participants through housing processes (e.g., completing forms, interviewing preparation, housing follow-up, move-in assistance).
• Participate in hospital discharge planning meetings to identify best community resources for returning patients.
• Collect and report data as required; work with team leader and data analysts to inform future care delivery.
• Foster relationships with community providers to ensure transitions back into the community are supported.
• Escort to appointments when necessary; travel training to address barriers to care.
• Facilitate crisis interventions, referrals, and hospitalizations as appropriate.
• Attend and participate in team meetings and supervisory sessions.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

• Minimum High School Diploma or equivalent;
  New York State Certified Youth Peer Advocate (YPA) preferred or required.
• Completion of internship or comparable training in peer advocacy; experience advocating for people who are mentally ill and/or homeless; prior or current participation in behavioral health, substance services or homeless services preferred.
• Experience with homeless and/or precariously housed populations preferred but not required.
• Knowledge of treatment, rehabilitation, trauma-responsive services, and community support programs; ability to relate to recipients, families, and staff.
• Ability to develop, evaluate, implement, and modify treatment interventions to meet individual needs.
• Ability to prepare accurate and timely reports; computer proficiency (Health IT, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Knowledge of homeless resources, NYC shelter systems, and MTA transit systems is a plus.
• Knowledge of best practices in mental illness and substance use disorders; crisis management and de-escalation techniques.
• Ability to support individuals in developing real-world skills and educational/vocational goals; promote community inclusion and strengthen support networks.
• Experience in implementing positive youth development strategies; familiarity with homeless outreach teams/programs and temporary housing options is preferred.

Note: Please include a resume, cover letter and contact information for 3 professional references.

Equal Opportunity: ACMH is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment decisions based on race, color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, mental or physical disability, marital status, veteran status or citizenship status.