Minimum Hourly Wage: $12.15/hour

Position Summary: This is a Family Advocate/Youth Peer Specialist position that supports youth empowerment, assists youth in developing skills to improve quality of life, and works collaboratively with others involved in delivering the youth’s individual care. The Youth Peer Specialist supports youth and young adults who are transitioning to adulthood. As young adults exit from system involvement, the Youth Peer Specialist serves as an additional support to provide a “bridge” to support the transition and assist in navigating systems and securing resources to achieve and sustain wellness, guided by the youth’s own lived experience in the system.

Technical/Functional Expectations:

1. One-on-one support (Essential Function): Provide one‐on‐one support and encouragement through stories of hope, recovery, and healing.
2. Goal Setting (Essential Function): Assist with setting goals and identifying positive environments and social connections.
3. Advocate (Essential Function): Advocate for active youth engagement in team meetings and services.
4. Meeting Facilitation (Essential Function): Facilitate group meetings of youth and young adults.
5. Mentoring and Advocacy (Essential Function): Provide mentoring and advocacy for youth voice and the value of lived experience within agencies, communities, and systems.
6. Youth Social Network (Essential Function): Attend/participate in social network groups for youth:
7. Meeting Attendance (Essential Function): Attend Family Team Conferences, attend Youth Thrive Leadership meetings, Brevard Behavioral Health Expansion grant meetings as requested.
8. Other duties as required: Job performance requires fulfilling other incidental or related duties as assigned, assisting, and training others, and performing duties of higher rated positions from time to time for developmental purposes.

Behavioral Competencies:

1. Listening: Able to pay attention to others; listen without interrupting; convey understanding of others' points of view; clarify understanding of questions and objections before responding.
2. Integrity: Able to demonstrate consistency of words and actions; protect confidential information; practice what he/she preaches; do what is right even when no one is watching.
3. Trust and Respect: Able to demonstrate and treat others in an honest and straightforward manner; keep dealings with others confidential; keep word and follow through on commitments.
4. Adaptability: Able to adjust approach when dealing with arrogant or inflexible people; adapt to changes in situation, direction, or people; adjust to needs of others without losing self.
5. Consideration: Able to show respect for the feelings or needs of others; show courtesy and make others comfortable; attentive while others are speaking.
6. Problem Solving: Able to exercise judgment in building realistic solutions to problems; understand the real issues behind problems; use common sense and take practical action to solve problems.
7. Sensitivity: Work effectively with and show sensitivity to cultural differences and various socio-economic backgrounds of others.
8. Ethics: Adhere to and model principles and values of Agency and System of Care by being strength-based, solution-focused, maintains highest level of integrity and ethical standards and work collaboratively with employees, partners, stakeholders and clients in all interactions.

Business Experience:

1. Valid Driver's License & Appropriate Insurance - Essential: This position requires a valid driver’s license in order to travel throughout the County and requires $100,000/$300,000 bodily injury insurance coverage in order to transport clients.
2. Minimum 1- year consumer experience in the foster care and/or behavioral health system: This is required to provide guidance to other youth and to be able to make recommendations, suggestions and to address barriers.
3. Experience navigating complex systems: This is required to assist, guide, and empower at-risk youth.
4. Computer Skills: Basic computer skills are required to develop talking points or presentations to groups.
5. Public/Group Speaking: This is necessary to speak to small groups, stakeholders, system of care partners and others about the needs and challenges of youth in the system.

Educational and Experience Requirements:

1. High School Diploma required.
2. AA/AS - Associates Degree or equivalent preferred.
3. 1-2 years’ experience navigating the child welfare system required.
4. Former consumer experience in foster care and/or behavioral health.

Physical Requirements:

1. Lifting 20 pounds
2. Sitting
3. Bending
4. Reading
5. Speaking
6. Listening
7. Typing
8. Writing
9. Standing
10. Pulling 20 pounds

The Brevard Family Partnership family of agencies are Equal Opportunity Employers, comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and maintain a drug-free workplace. The Brevard Family Partnership family of agencies maintain and enforce a drug-free workplace program.