Job Description

Youth Eastside Services (YES) is a non-profit organization with a diverse and cultural work environment, including passionate staff and commitment to the community. If you want to join in developing the children's Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe) program, this is the place!

Program Summary

Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe) is a new approach to helping Medicaid-eligible children, youth, and their families with intensive behavioral and mental health care. The program's goal is to help youth thrive in their natural supports such as homes and communities and assist in helping them meet the goals they have identified. Services are available in home and community settings and offer a system of care based on the individualized need of the child or youth.

Job Summary

Youth Eastside Services (YES) is currently looking for a Youth Peer Counselor to join the Children's Intensive Services program! We are looking for someone who can work as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team to provide an individualized, creative, and strength-based approach within the wraparound model. Additionally, this position will support youth to maintain the least restrictive and community-based environment.

The WISe Youth Peer Counselor provides comprehensive support services assisting children, youth, and families in coping with complex behavior and mental health needs. In a team framework, the Youth Peer Counselor works in close collaboration with a Mental Health Therapist, Care Coordinator, and Parent Partner Counselor to identify goals, assess needs, and coordinate access to community resources. In addition, the Youth Peer Counselor will conduct outreach to clients and families in their homes, school, and community.

This position requires a flexible schedule with evening and weekend hours in the office, the client's home, and the community. Youth Peer Counselor works with the client to help support their engagement and active participation in making informed decisions to drive the wraparound process. The Youth Peer Counselor ensures each client is heard and their individual needs are addressed and met. Youth Peer Counselor have their own life experience of living with a behavioral health disorder as a young person, which helps them connect with and provide hope to youth in the program.

Reporting to the Director of Community Services, the Youth Peer Counselor will carry out the position's responsibilities as defined below.

Primary Job Functions

Some knowledge of child development, behavior management, parenting techniques, and culturally diverse families. Acceptance of various lifestyles, behaviors, cultural, and spiritual practices. Lived experience navigating social resource systems. Willingness to share lived experiences as a means of providing hope and support to clients in challenging circumstances. Knowledge and understanding of rehabilitation and recovery and effective strategies for dealing with its effects. Lived experience with mental health systems or struggles as a youth. Ability to collaborate, provide peer support, and help facilitate services for families when receiving high-intensity services. Advocating for and partnering with youth/families of multi-systems involved clients. Strong knowledge of and experience with crises such as de-escalation and safety planning effectively is essential. Maintaining paperwork in accordance with agency, state, and federal laws and credentialing. Collaborating with CFT and other treatment team members to provide comprehensive care. Must provide own transportation and meet clients/families throughout greater East King County. Provide consultation to the youth and the youth's family members as the family learns new skills to support the youth's treatment Participate in activities with the youth that pertain to the youth's goal and treatment. Some examples include: Providing self-esteem-building activities. Taking the youth to a music or art studio. Engaging in the activity with the youth is essential. As appropriate, partner with CFT by providing short-term intensive care coordination and facilitating family collaboration with hospitals or other crisis providers. Linking youth to leadership training, Washington State Family Youth System Partner Round Tables (FYSPRTs) committees, and councils. Participate in supervision with the WISe Program Manager. The Youth Peer will be on call once per week/weekend to provide after-hours crisis support for all WISe clients.

Knowledge & Skills

Ability to work effectively in cross-culturalsituations Strong ability to work with a diverse Eastside community, including race, ethnicity, gender, LGBTQ+, religious, socio-economic status, etc. Experience working with vulnerable children, youth, and families Strong verbal, written communication, and interpersonal skills Customer service mindset Aptitude to work in a fast-paced environment, prioritize workload, complete assigned tasks, and maintain poise under pressure. Dependable, receptive to change, willing to learn, cooperative approach to problem-solving, flexible team player, etc. Effectively work in both a team environment and independently. Computer literate and able to use Electronic Health Records (EHR), telehealth, and other software programs with basic training. Encouraged to be certified in CANS to utilize the CANS results to support and educate the youth and family, Other work-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

High School Diploma or equivalent required; AA or BA Degree in a behavioral science-related field. Minimum of 18 years of age Certified Peer Counselor credentialed (training available) Clearance fingerprints and any other state or federal requirements Own vehicle; valid Washington Driver's License w/ proof of auto insurance Ability to work as part of and supervise a multidisciplinary team Robust organizational, coordination, writing, verbal, and interpersonal skills Bilingual and bicultural skills are a plus! Experience in WISe or other WRAP programs is a plus! Must maintain a flexible schedule to work some evenings and weekends Creativity and flexibility are essential in assuming significant responsibility. Experience working in racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse urban communities preferred Ability to exercise discretion and maintain both client and employee confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA, contract requirements, or other applicable laws and regulations. Must provide own transportation and meet clients/families throughout King County.

Physical / Working Requirements

Pursuant to the State mandate, all employees must be fully vaccinated Work in general office and home-visiting conditions Travel throughout Eastside King County w/ mileage reimbursement Frequent sitting, standing, walking, and driving (HV) Ability to use hands and handle objects Adequate vision and hearing is necessary for duties Occasional pushing/pulling/lifting/carrying up to 25 pounds Speaking/talking on the telephone, telehealth, and in-person Ability to travel and work in multiple settings Ability to work evening/weekend hours and adjust work schedule as necessary to meet business needs.
The requirements described represent those that the employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. In addition, YES provides reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Salary: $23.15 - $28.04

How to Apply: send cover letter and resume to HR@youtheastsideservices.org

YES is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to having a diverse staff team. LGBTQ+, BIPOC+ encouraged to apply

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $23.15 - $28.04 per hour

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance
Experience:

lived: 2 years (Required)
Ability to Commute:

Bellevue, WA 98008 (Required)
Work Location: In person