Community Youth Services is recruiting for Youth Peer Specialist, The Youth Peer Specialist (YPS) position is an essential part of the Transitional Age Youth (TAY) team that provides home and community-based services to young people between the ages of 15 and 24 in Thurston and Mason counties. Youth Peer Specialists are certified peer counselors people in recovery from mental illness or substance use who can effectively support clients with their experiences and with their treatment.

YPS mentor youth that is learning to take on adult roles successfully by walking youth through those experiences and supporting them in a strength-based way through challenges they may face. The Youth Peer Specialist intentionally and appropriately shares their own experiences from their journey towards recovery with participants to instill a sense of hope and empowerment. They also are tasked with engaging participants in services throughout treatment, doing outreach to new participants and those that have disengaged from services. The Youth Peer Specialist provides this support to TAY participants in collaboration with their therapist.

Starting pay is $25.72 per hour. (Non-exempt) (Full-time) covering Thurston/Mason counties.

CYS seeks to fill two openings to work in the Thurston and Mason County offices. Candidates are required to submit a lived experience letter.

CYS is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, creed, religion, age, marital or nursing mother status, pregnancy, national origin, citizenship, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.

About the Agency:

CYS has been a successful and established non-profit in downtown Olympia for nearly 50 years, providing a full continuum of care to meet the needs of at-risk youth and their families in our community. Our 20 programs help youth with housing, placement stabilization, family preservation, foster care, education, job training, employment, independent living skills, delinquent behaviors, shelter, and basic needs. About 4,000 youth – and their families – seek services annually in their transition to become independent, successful adult members of society.

Community Youth Services is the largest child welfare agency serving southwest Washington, employing over 175 staff and supporting 120 volunteers. CYS provides a staff-driven culture where we view our staff as our greatest asset in providing quality services.

For new full-time employees:

• 3.6 weeks of vacation leave (first year)
• 11 paid Holidays
• 12 days of sick leave
• Merit increases of 2.8% annually within pay grade
• Cost of Living increases annually when possible
• Free benefits valued at $500.00 paid for you by the agency include:
• Health insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) – CYS contributes $100 per month with the high deductible plan
• Dental Insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Teledoc
• Employee Assistance Program

After one year of employment:

• Retirement: 100% vested with no time minimums. 3% CYS contribution toward your 403(b) whether or not you invest yourself. Additional 100% CYS match of your retirement contributions up to 2% of your compensation.
• Eligible to apply for the tuition assistance program.

CYS is an approved National Health Service Corps site. To apply for student loan repayment or get information on this option, see http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/. Applications are now open.

Position Qualifications:

1. Be a person with lived experience as a participant in Behavioral Health (mental health and/or substance use) services or with multiple-system involvement who is confident in their recovery.
2. Must qualify for and maintain certified peer counselor certification and Agency Affiliated Counselor license.
3. Associate Degree with 2 years of experience working with at-risk youth or families preferred. High school diploma and experience will be considered.
4. Understanding of HIPAA and confidentiality requirements. Ability to learn documentation requirements, including a data-driven use of the Electronic Health Record.
5. Can work efficiently in a team environment as well as independently.

Agency Qualifications:

1. The ability to pass an extensive background check with no history of conviction or perpetration of child abuse or physical harm to a child or children or an individual aged 18 years and above who is or may be unable to take care of themselves or is unable to protect themselves against harm or exploitation by reason of age, illness, trauma or disability, or any other reason.
2. Professional and personal conduct that maintains a personal and professional background so that criminal history remains free from unlawful conduct. Certain crimes may disqualify employees to have unrestricted access to children or vulnerable populations in accordance with the Department of Social Health and Services policy and Washington State law. Professional or personal conduct that causes this clearance to be suspended or denied will result in suspension and/or termination of employment. (Pursuant to RCW 43.43.832, 43.43.832(7), 43.43.834, 43.20A.710 and WAC 388-06.).
3. A valid Washington State Driver License with a minimum of five years’ driving experience and a three-year good driving record evidenced on a Washington driver’s abstract. The ability to pass and maintain a clean driving records check at employment and annually. Professional or personal conduct that results in a restricted or denied driving status could result in termination of employment. (Candidates relocating to the area must provide current proof of three-year driving record from current state; and have ten days from date of employment to provide a copy of a Washington Driver’s License and Washington driver’s abstract.).
4. Proof of personal auto insurance levels provided on your insurance declaration page. Coverage must be current, and copies provided to HR at renewal. Coverages at or above $100,000 combined single limit is required for positions that require driving and is recommended and preferred for positions that have occasional driving.
5. A sensitivity and responsiveness to the cultural differences in the organization's employment and service population.
6. Must possess or obtain within 30 days of employment CPR/1st Aid/Bloodborne Pathogen certification. Some positions require CPR before a first shift.
7. Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work as part of a team.

Major Responsibilities and Related Tasks:

1. Meets with participant as needed to provide support in addressing their needs as defined in the Cross System Care Plan or ISP, with the goal of improving the participant’s ability to successfully function in the home and community and to function independently by building social, communication, behavioral, and basic living skills.
2. Helps the participant engage and actively participate with their team and treatment process and supports them in driving their treatment.
3. Uses own lived experience to inspire hope and provide peer support to participants receiving mental health and wraparound services in the TAY Program, along with appropriate and intentional use of self-disclosure.
4. Share resources with participants and assist them in connecting to and utilizing community resources and natural supports.
5. Provides coaching/teaching to participants to assist them in their transition to adulthood and towards achieving stability.
6. Participate as a formal member of the youth and family’s treatment team, including Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe). This includes working closely with the Care Coordinator, Therapist, and Family Peer Specialist, as well as with the participant.
7. Participates in an effective team culture and an emotionally-safe, youth-driven process. Demonstrates ability to show cultural humility and provide a non-judgmental space for youth, families, and professionals.
8. Shows an ability to maintain a stance of appreciation and acceptance of participants, including their choices. Shows an ability to engage participants with process of learning to guide their own treatment.
9. Utilizes agency Electronic Health Record system (EHR) to document services provided in a timely manner. Engages with a data-driven model to monitor participant needs, outcomes, and successes. Experience and ability to work with clients in a community and/or client home setting a plus.
10. Meet with participants in person or over telehealth on a one-to-one basis, in peer support groups, in the community such as the peer’s home, meetings, court rooms, hospitals, schools, etc.
11. Meet participants where they are at by providing flexible times for peer sessions and team/wrap meetings.
12. Increase ‘natural supports’ available to a participant by strengthening interpersonal relationships and utilizing other resources that are available in the participant’s network of social and community relationships
13. Provide sessions that include leveraging strengths, normalizing asking for help, de-stigmatizing mental health challenges, increasing the participant’s capacity for self-advocacy and self-efficacy, and increasing supports across all life domains
14. Participates in meetings, supervision, trainings, and consultation as required

Professional Development:

1. Attends required staff meetings and contribute input on program and agency issues.
2. Attend scheduled in-service training for on-going development of professional skills.
3. Meets with supervisor on a monthly basis to review performance and SMART goals.

Other Related Responsibilities

1. Participates in meetings, supervision, training, and consultation as required.
2. Uses Agency or personal vehicle to perform agency business.
3. Maintains confidential information.
4. Participates as a flexible member of the agency team in order to accomplish the overall agency goals.
5. Follows agency policies and procedures Code of Ethics, RCW’s, WAC’s, and other applicable external regulations.
6. Participates in creating and maintaining a workplace that values diversity and is free of racism, sexism, heterosexism, and other discriminatory practices.
7. Manages time and other resources in a skilled manner and completes all required documentation thoroughly and in a timely manner.
8. Demonstrates professionalism and appropriate boundaries in all interactions.
9. Functions with creativity, independence, and initiative.
10. Performs other work as assigned.

CYS is an Equal Opportunity EmployerIn order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at Community Youth Services will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Community Youth Services will not tolerate discrimination in employment or personnel practices including the advertisement of positions, recruitment, selection, promotion, demotion, transfer, disciplinary action, layoffs, or termination. These activities shall be conducted without regard to race, color, sex, creed, religion, age, marital or nursing mother status, pregnancy, national origin, citizenship, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.

Applicants wishing to receive job posting in an alternative format, or who need accommodation with the application process are encouraged to contact CYS Human Resources using the CYS website.