HeartShare St. Vincent’s Services (HSVS) empowers youth and families to overcome the challenges of homelessness, family crises, addiction, mental illness and poverty. Founded in 1869 as St. Vincent’s Services in Downtown Brooklyn, we began as a home for “poor and friendless boys.” In 2014, HSVS was formed through an affiliation with Heart Share Human Services of New York. Through the affiliation, HSVS developed into a multi-program nonprofit agency with four divisions: Foster Care & Preventive Programs, Integrated Health Services, Housing & Residential Services and Youth & Community Programs. Across our agency, staff members serve our clients with compassion, respect and in collaboration with our outside partners. Our commitment to supporting vulnerable young people and their families in their quest to thrive and reach their fullest potential, ties together our rich array of services. HSVS understands that to best support our clients, our staff must have also be provided with the resources they need to do their jobs, while ensuring self-care. As a result, we prioritize staff well-being, and provide opportunities for reflection, team building, and professional development. While we have a fast-paced work environment, we also strive to approach our staff as whole people to support their long-time commitment to the work.

HeartShare is looking for a Youth Peer Support Services and Training (YPST) in our Foster Boarding Homes.

A YPST will work closely with youth of all ages in Foster Care, assisting youth with identifying needs, strengths, challenges, and developing goals and care plans for themselves. Individuals with lived experience supporting the youth to set goals, enhance life skills and strengthen involvement within community and treatment in order to foster hope, build resiliency, and develop self-advocacy skills that will empower them to achieve their goals.

Responsibilities:

• Facilitate groups and hold individual one-on-one peer support sessions focusing on engagement and supporting participants ability to navigate youth serving systems (schools, foster care, mental health, juvenile justice, etc.), meet their goals and support stronger relationships with caregivers
• Provide groups and workshops on self-care and wellness, resiliency and skill development including stress and anger management and coping strategies
• Promote and support the development of self-advocacy and the ability to navigate systems.
• Coach and model shared decision-making and skills to support collaboration with caregivers and other supportive individuals (teachers, coaches, relatives, etc.)
• Accompany youth and families to meeting and appointments as needed
• Support and encourage family and youth participation in community, regional state, national activities to develop their leadership skills. Encourage civic stewardship
• Connect youth to support systems within their own community.
• Conduct outreach and participate in community events.
• Help youth to improve social skills and become more involved in leisure and recreational activities as well as connect them to faith-based institutions and cultural activities and organizations.
• Make referrals for needed services and additional supports as needed.
• Document and report on all outcomes and goals in electronic data base as required by the program.
• Attend regular supervision meetings, staff meetings, trainings and program related meetings as required.
• Participate in community level committees/forums to represent the youth's perspective and influence policy.
• Perform other duties assigned by supervisor

Queens based position

• High School Diploma or Equivalent.
• Two years of relevant experience and be a Certified Peer Leader within 18 months of hire (YPA Certificate). On the job training provided
• Must be have Self-Identified as a person who has First-Hand experience with social,emotional, medical/developmental, substance use, experience in the juvenile justice system, special education and /or Foster Care
• Proven ability to effectively outreach and engage peers
• Knowledge or community resources and experience navigating serving systems
• Proficient in Office 365 and ability to document all case activity in electronic case record system.

Benefits:

• Rewarding Work in a team environment;
• Paid vacation, sick, personal days and holidays;
• 403(B) retirement plan with employer contribution;
• Health, dental, vision and life insurance;
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP);
• Flexible spending account (Dependent Care, Medical, Parking, and Transit);
• Employee Appreciation Programs and Events;
• Tuition Assistance Program;
• Professional Development opportunities;
• Gympass Discount
• Verizon Wireless Discount;
• BJs Membership discount;
• Discounts on Broadway tickets, movie tickets, theme parks, sporting events, gift certificates & more.