Location: Dobbs Ferry,NY, USA
Position Overview:
Braveheart's staff are comprised of young professionals often called peer navigators, credible messengers and advocates. These individuals harness various levels of personal lived experience in the NYS child welfare and juvenile justice system of services for youth/young adults with high end needs. The Braveheart Staff of Children's Village, utilize their unique skill set to authentically connect with youth participants to create plans for sustainable and realistic community connectedness for those youth who are the most at risk of arrest, homelessness, and social disconnection. This is achieved by giving youth voice a meaningful platform and establishing the value of partnership with existing professional supports already identified by the client while uplifting the voices and causes of youth.
The Bravehearts Peer Advocate will provide mentoring, advocacy, group facilitation and resource connection to young adults adversely impacted by youth serving child welfare and education systems. The Peer Advocate will provide programming on Children's Village campus throughout various cottages and to youth who exhibit runaway and high-risk behaviors requiring court activity through the Raise the Age initiative. The Braveheart Peer Advocate program staff will provide advocacy with and on behalf of the youth participant by working in partnership with professionals and systems that the youth is impacted by. Program staff will assist in permanency planning for youth alongside support teams. Individual will also help prepare youth for adulthood and aging out of care/systemic impact. Individual may be required to sit in on administrative meetings regarding individual clients and broader systemic advocacy.
Position Qualifications:
High School Diploma or GED required. Personal lived experience in a youth serving system. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to connect with adolescents. Knowledge and experience with system impacted youth preferred. Personal history of foster care as a youth, or experience with the juvenile justice system. Some public speaking is required. Demonstrated initiative and creativity, particularly with adolescents. Demonstrate understanding of the issues facing youth, particularly Black and Latino adolescents. Ability to work as a team member, independently and bring creative and innovative ideas to program. Ability to manage and organize program files and documents. Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with youth, family, and staff Excellent oral and written communication skills
Salary: $25.46 (Flat Hourly Rate)
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The Children's Village does not discriminate against any employee, prospective employee or contractor because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, creed, age, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic predisposition, domestic violence victim status, criminal conviction history or any other protected classification under federal, state or local law.