Job Purpose: The role of the Peer Support Staff is to promote the inclusion of youth voice in
youth programing; lead regional youth advisory board; lead quarterly regional focus groups and
participate in Administrative Reviews.
Experience and Knowledge
• Firsthand experience in the child welfare system
• Flexibility to work non-traditional business hours
• Knowledge of community, job, financial, and social resources
• Demonstrates ability to partner with youth using a strengths-based approach
• Preference will be given to candidates who most reflect the racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic status of the majority of members of the neighborhoods being served
• Must have reliable transportation, valid driver’s license, and meet state required automobile insurance minimums
Skills and Abilities
• Ability to communicate with, be sensitive to the needs of, and develop and maintain relationships with individuals from various cultural, ethnic and racial backgrounds
• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external customers in a professional, tactful, and friendly manner
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to record with clarity and promptness
• Good listening skills and the ability to ask appropriate questions
• Maintains poise and self-control even under extreme stress and unexpected crises; handles delicate situations tactfully
• Appropriately assertive even in difficult situations
• Must demonstrate mature and objective, non-judgmental behaviors
• Ability to assess situations both within and outside the client system and determine priorities
• Maintains positive work relationships with other staff, is cooperative and promotes teamwork
• Effective in planning and arranging work responsibilities including determining priorities, managing multiple projects, handling deadlines and changes in priorities
• Ability to identify and use community resources
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Outlook, Excel and Power Point
• Maintains personal appearance consistent with agency image
• Ability to work within the purpose, structure and constraints of the Agency and to make suggestions for change in a responsible manner
• Ability to maintain confidentiality with regard to clients and agency business
• Commitment to continued professional growth
Core Values of Staff
• Service: I act with a servant’s heart to contribute meaningfully to the wellbeing of others.
• Teamwork: I willingly help my teammates.
• Respect: I recognize the dignity, worth and importance of others.
• Open-hearted: I am kind, caring and compassionate.
• iNtegrity: I am honest and ethical in all that I do.
• Growth: I embrace challenges and change with a positive attitude.
Job Related Training Courses & Programs
• Orientation
• Initial 40 hours Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault as required by Wellspring
• Initial and ongoing MCC training in the areas of protective factors that promote child wellbeing, individual and community level trauma and its impact, best practices in preventing child
abuse and neglect, and disparities and disproportionalities in public systems
• Trust-Based Relational Intervention® and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) training
• 40 hours continuing education yearly
• On-going in-service workshops, conferences and self-study
• Monthly Agency Staff meetings, program delivery meetings and program area meetings
Principal Duties & Responsibilities:
1. Delivers services by
• Participate in up to 15 Administrative Reviews a month or as many as possible.
o Take notes during each review and send to the AR Coordinator
o Offer suggestions and/or resources to the young adult when needed
o Follow-up with youth to provide support regarding resources when needed
o Provide feedback when needed during review
• Develop and lead Youth Advisory Boards, to include recruitment of youth, coordinating activities and training opportunities to enhance youth voice and practice.
• Meet with the statewide Youth Advisory Board as needed to discuss ideas, concerns, and progress reports from regional youth input that they have obtained.
• Coordinate and Lead Quarterly Youth Focus Groups, to include written summaries of feedback.
• Assist with the facilitation of Life Skills training to youth in DCFS foster homes 14-17 or youth 18-21 not enrolled in EFC.
• Providing peer mentoring to support youth involved in the child welfare foster care system, explaining case plans, court expectations, available services and accompanying families to court, family team meetings, etc...
• Offering flexible support options (in-person, virtual, or phone-based) based on the youth’s preference and accessibility needs
• Demonstrating a positive attitude through word and action
• Demonstrating concern and respect for others by listening carefully and without judgment
• Establishing personal rapport with clients
• Maintaining case records by documenting client activity and actions
• Tracking and reporting required MCC qualitative and quantitative data to the MCC Program Coordinator and MCC State staff.
• Reporting to the MCC Program Coordinator and utilizing the staff for support in implementation of youth support related responsibilities
• Participating in meetings with the MCC State staff, MCC State teams, and MCC peer network as requested
• Participating in agency meetings as required
2. Assures quality services and program efficiency and effectiveness by:
• Complying with appropriate program standards and guidelines
• Completing required agency and funder paperwork in a timely and accurate manner
3. Maintains professional and technical competency by:
• Participating in case review meetings as indicated
• Participating in continued education and personal growth experiences
• Reviewing professional publications
• Establishing personal and community networks
4. Maintains safety of clients and staff by:
• Complying with agency procedures, rules and regulations
• Safety procedures will be followed at all times
5. Maintains confidential records by:
• Performing and documenting required collaborative and client contacts in accordance with agency standards
• Recording data into MCC management Information System(s); or other identified database in a timely manner
• Adhering to all agency and grant confidentiality policies and procedures
• Gathering and documenting necessary demographic and personal information
• Documenting all contacts with or activities on behalf of each client, including youth support sessions, cancellations and no-shows, advocacy, referrals and phone contacts
• Keeping information confidential
6. Contributes to team effort by:
• Communicating effectively
• Exhibiting a willingness to help other staff
• Demonstrating flexibility and accommodating change
• Encouraging and supporting others
• Engaging in amenable and cooperative contacts
• Giving and receiving feedback
7. Maintains agency credibility by:
• Establishing working relationships with sponsoring, advisory and related service agencies
8. Performs other duties as related to the position as assigned
• Work non-traditional hours and/or alternate schedule during special projects or to meet agency deadlines
| 
Your email job alert is now active!