ABOUT US

Youth ERA is an Oregon based non-profit that creates lasting positive change in the lives of young people and the systems that serve them. By uniting a diverse collective of young adults and organizations around innovative solutions, Youth Era impacts thousands each year.

The work we do is fueled by the unmatched dedication of our staff, the young people we serve, and the system partners we collaborate with who give their time and voices to empower young lives and improve our communities. Every day, our team creates positive change in a multitude of ways. Change happens when we support young people as they work to complete high school, find jobs, when we advocate for systems change, and so much more.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

YE has a two-tier interview process. Based on the pool of applicants, we will conduct an initial phone interview with our hiring specialist, and then the top candidates will be selected for secondary virtual interviews.

Please read the job post completely and thoroughly and reply with BOTH a cover letter and your resume. Please do not call to inquire. Position open until filled.

Please Note: All new hires will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or approved exemption.

BENEFITS:

• Generous paid-time-off plan with accrual increases linked to tenure
• 12 paid holidays a year and birthdays off!
• 100% employer-paid, comprehensive medical, vision, and dental insurance coverage
• Reimbursement for subscriptions like Audible, Hulu Plus, Costco, Spotify, Youtube Red, Ipsy Box and more, to support staff self-care and well-being.
• Paid professional development opportunities and trainings
• We value mental health and offer a generous paid time off program that includes a generous vacation accrual and up to 96 hours of sick time to be used for self-care and mental health purposes

POSITION SUMMARY:

Position Title: Youth Peer Support Specialist

Work Schedule: Full-Time (40hr/week)

Position Type: 1 FTE

Supervisor: Program Manager

DESCRIPTION:

The youth peer support specialist (YPSS) provides peer support services to Kaiser youth members ages 14-25, many of whom experience high needs, including suicidal ideation and recent suicide attempts. This position will primarily receive referrals from Kaiser Permanente’s Teen Intensive Outpatient Program and the Emergency Department. The YPSS is charged with building connections to natural supports (friends, family, community members, etc.) and assisting in needs-identification, solution brainstorming, and self-efficacy skill-building. This position is further tasked with meeting Kaiser youth 1:1 to support them through challenges and empower them to reach their goals and become self-sufficient. The YPSS is also expected to increase youth engagement in Kaiser services (Teen Intensive Outpatient Program among other services), which may require support for time management (to get to appointments on time) and ensuring the youth feel adequately prepared to participate in Kaiser programs, etc. Above all, this position will support youth in gaining control in their lives, developing coping skills, and reaching their individual recovery goals.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Sharing lived experience to provide peer support to young adult participants and helping them navigate the system(s) they participate in (mental health, addiction/recovery, incarceration/juvenile justice, Oregon Youth Authority, foster care, education, LGBTQ+, etc.);

• Organizing and executing additional meetings or communication regarding support, resources, and crisis intervention as may apply;

• Advertising the program to community partners and recruiting young adults to apply for drop-in center membership;

• Monitoring physical and emotional safety, appropriateness, applicability, and engagement of youth participants at the drop-in center, and interrupting oppressive and inappropriate behavior;

• Acting as a partner and an intermediary between formal mental health staff and peers by providing/advocating for recovery-based services, assisting young people in receiving services that suit their recovery, meeting with providers to improve relations, and role modeling effective problem-solving skills;

• Providing culturally responsive assistance to each participant utilizing evidence-based practices including Positive Youth Development, CPS, Wraparound, and the 40 Developmental Assets;

• Empowering young people to advocate for themselves, set goals and identify life assignments (using The 40 Developmental Assets) and implement achievable steps towards reaching them;

• Co-facilitating and leading youth groups, which may include creating weekly curriculum topics, coordinating guest speakers, leading youth activities and providing transportation to youth participants;

• Referring community-based resources, support, and opportunities;

• Communicating with participants outside of drop hours via phone, text/chat, and social media;

• Documenting and reporting cases of abuse or neglect to the Oregon Department of Human Services;

• Collecting paperwork and complying with confidentiality procedures, tracking attendance of youth and volunteers, and inputting data into data tracking software;

• Attending weekly staff meetings, reporting to and communicating with supervisor;

• Traveling to attend one-on-ones, community meetings, and when necessary;

• Tracking of expenses/mileage on a YE-approved expense tracking program (currently Tallie);

• Recording hours worked into YE-approved time tracking program (currently TimeTracker);

• Complying with all current policies as written in the Youth Era Employee Policy Manual; and

• Performing other assigned duties.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to travel and willingness to work evenings and weekends as required.

• Valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle, and car insurance.

• Willingness to update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining professional networks, and attending trainings.

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the capacity to communicate and, work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

• Ability to build/sustain collaborative working relationships with staff, supervisors, and others as appropriate.

• Willingness to address and work to eliminate personal biases and prejudices.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

• Demonstrated social/situational problem-solving skills.

• Outstanding oral/written communication skills and strong organizational skills.

• Excellent advocacy and public speaking skills.

• Ability and willingness to learn about youth culture and the organization's history, mission, demographics, programs, etc. in order to persuasively articulate how Youth Era distinguishes itself from peer organizations.

• Proficiency in the use of computers, their routine software applications (i.e. Microsoft Office, Word, and Excel), and Google applications (i.e. Gmail, Hangouts, and Google Calendar).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Understanding of peer-support, youth advocacy, and the youth movement and the ability to discuss it intelligently with professionals and the public.

• Familiarity with and understanding of the Youth Bill of Rights and support principles, youth and young adult culture, and issues affecting families (i.e. mental health, juvenile justice, child welfare, etc.) across the country.

• Identification as a peer with lived experience in youth/young adult-serving systems (i.e. mental health care, addiction/recovery, juvenile justice, Oregon Youth Authority, foster care).

• Multilingualism (especially in Spanish and English).

PREFERRED CERTIFICATIONS:

• First Aid Certification

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification

• Oregon Food Handlers Card