The rate of pay for this position is $21.75 an hour. Evenings and weekend are required.

New Avenues for Youth is committed to supporting a workplace that honors, celebrates, and acknowledges our community's powerful differences. Through our work here, we move together to support the wellbeing, care, and growth of youth in our community. To be at our best, we embrace that the diverse communities we serve must be reflected in our colleagues supporting the work we do each day. We are committed to our workforce centering practices that support and encourage Black, Indigenous, people of color, people with disabilities, and people with non-dominant gender identities to grow and thrive.

We encourage Black, Indigenous, people of color, people with disabilities, and people with non-dominant gender identities who may not believe they meet all of the described qualifications to consider what they contribute to community, and apply.

Your New Role...

The Living Room (TLR) Peer Support Specialist uses previous work experience or valuable lived experience to provide support for LGBTQIA2S youth and young adults aged 13-23, who may be facing substance use or mental health challenges. This position works directly with clients through the stages of change to engage them in recovery-oriented activities, promote healthy decision-making, and support their individual recovery. The TLR Peer Support Specialist will participate in drop-in supports, group facilitation, community outreach, collaboration with various New Avenues programs, and community providers, as well as working with youth individually to connect to mental health or recovery resources.

Skills and Knowledge:

* Understanding of diversity, anti-racist, and equity frameworks that support the various needs of a thriving community and program

* Understanding of the issues of LGBTQ2IA youth, substance abuse, mental health, trauma, abuse, and adolescent development, including brain development

* Excellent communication, organization, creativity, flexibility, optimism, positive humor and overall interpersonal skills.

* Reliable transportation and valid driver's license

Required Experience:

* 3 years of lived, worked or educational experience in social work, youth advocacy, and/or community organizing

* Experience and commitment to working with sexual and gender minority and culturally diverse staff, participants and community.

* Lived experience with mental health challenges and/or the mental health system, substance use, houselessness or homelessness, or any combination of the above

* Peer Support Specialist (PSS), Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM), or similar credential or ability to obtain within a period of 6 months of hire

About Us...

New Avenues is an innovative, influential social services agency that works in partnership with the Portland area community to provide homeless, foster-care, and at-risk youth of all backgrounds with the resources and skills needed to lead healthy, productive lives. At New Avenues, everyone is youth centered and collaboratively work together to accomplish our mission.

We are a diverse non-profit organization serving this community for over 25 years. At New Avenues, we seek dynamic, spirited individuals looking to contribute to the success of these amazing young people. Being part of our team offers a rewarding experience where your contributions have impact. Our approachable and supportive management team is focused on providing you with the tools, guidance, and autonomy to thrive while gaining invaluable social services background.

Our Commitment to Equity...

Back in 2015, New Avenues for Youth embarked on an unending initiative to consistently advance equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. Today, we are a more curious and consciously aware agency of employees invested in the ongoing practice of learning from multiple perspectives and lived experiences. We firmly believe equity is an ongoing commitment without closure; in taking risks, we will learn from our mistakes. We are an organization committed to listen to each other and those that we serve, to always strive for transparency, to remain humble, and to resist the urge to simplify or silence hard truths. We make these commitments because we believe in social justice and the inherent human dignity of each individual.

New Avenues Offers a Comprehensive Benefits Package...

Paid Vacation, Sick, and Personal Time, Paid Holidays, No Employee Cost Share for your Health, Vision, and Dental Insurance, Short and Long Term Disability, and Life Insurance. Flexibility Spending Accounts, a 403b Retirement Savings Plan, and an Employee Assistance Resource and Referral Program.

Apply Today...

Simply click on the 'Apply for Job' button at the bottom of this screen and attach your resume and cover letter.

New Avenues for Youth is an Equal opportunity Employer.