Young Adult Peer Mentor

Overview

The Youth and Young Adult (YYA) Access Center (AC) Young Adult Peer Mentor (YAPM) is a young adult who supports YYA to engage in services, supports, and community activities; promotes YYA self-determination; and supports a shift in decision-making to the YYA. YAPMs help YYA through life transitions such as educational/vocational pursuits, relationship changes, getting housing, and other aspects of transition to adult roles, aligning with each YYA’s goals. The AC YAPM is essential in welcoming new YYA to services and to the activities offered at the AC, and offers ongoing engagement and support to YYA.

Responsibilities

• Works with the YYA (if chosen) to enhance skills of self-direction and empowerment.
• Shares personal experiences; provide non-directive support, coaching, and modeling to support and improve engagement in services and assist with identifying and accessing existing and new services, service providers, and recovery tools and resources.
• Provides individual 1:1 peer mentoring to 5-10 YYA. Uses the Young Adult Peer Mentoring Practice Profile to define role.
• Provides the core staffing for the AC and engages YYA during drop-in hours. Staffs activities and events held by the AC, supporting the full participation of YYA.
• Works collaboratively with TIP Facilitators and other AC staff to welcome YYA "dropping in," offer peer support, and orient to services available at the AC.
• Facilitates a regular schedule of peer support groups that address topics relevant to YYA while fostering a non-judgmental, open, and mutual environment.
• Assists Peer Leadership Coordinator (PLC) and collaborates with other AC staff to recruit for and support the YA Leadership Council.
• Supports PLC and collaborates with other AC staff to plan events and training opportunities for the AC staff, YYA, and the community-at-large based on identified needs of the YYA at the AC and the communities served.
• Provides outreach and marketing efforts to educate YYA and other stakeholders in the community about the program and services, including by reaching out directly, creating and distributing marketing materials, and collaborating with other AC staff.
• Attends community events and activities to engage with YYA and explain the benefits and supports available to YYA at the ACs.
• Assists the AC leadership, clinician, and TIP Facilitator staff with the identification and accessing of existing and new services and service providers that will benefit the YYA.
• Helps the YYA to develop supportive relationships and community connections.
• Promotes the development of healthy lifestyles and wellness practices, including addressing substance use.
• Supports the YYA in the development of self-sufficiency and positive employment behaviors.
• Helps the YYA to identify their needs and goals relating to education, employment, family relationships, spirituality, and social recreation, and ensure they are integrated in their service planning.
• Helps YYA in communicating and working effectively with service providers, employers, natural supports, family members, and others to achieve their goals.
• Helps YYA in developing life skills, finding their voice and identifying and using their strengths.
• Uses Gathering and Inspiring Future Talent, Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), motivational interviewing, harm reduction, and other evidence informed/based and best practice models, as trained.
• Promotes discovery and recovery as they use their own lived experience in a purposeful, strengths-based way to support YYA.
• Inspires hope and future focus in YYA.
• Attends in-service trainings and staff meetings.
• Helps YYA develop self-advocacy skills, in groups or individually.
• Serves as a bridge between the child/young adult-serving mental health service systems on behalf of the YYA.
• Helps maximize choices available to YYA as well as their self-determination, and participation and decision-making in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of their services.
• Models effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.
• Provides crisis intervention, when needed.
• Works collaboratively as a cohesive unit with all other AC staff, both within the AC and collaboratively with other area ACs, to deliver services under the leadership of the AC Program Director (PD).
• Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Knowledge and Skills

• Competent in the use of the Young Adult Peer Mentoring Practice Profile
• Knowledge of both the DMH Child Youth and Family and Adult services systems
• Ability to assist YYA in participating in service planning to meet YYA expressed goals
• Skilled in mediation and conflict resolution
• Willing to use and share their personal, practical experience of recovery process, wellness management, and the personal effort and commitment required for YYA to have a full and satisfying life in the community
• Strong commitments to the right and ability of people served to live, work, have meaningful relationships, and receive the resources and supports needed in their community of choice
• Knowledge of person-centered, strengths-based, recovery-oriented values, principles, and modalities
• Knowledge of Peer Support practices and ethical standards
• Ability to learn and use evidence-based approaches
• Ability to create and maintain supportive, trusting relationships with YYA served by the AC
• Commitment to maintain confidentiality of YYA
• Knowledge of engagement and participatory planning techniques
• Sensitivity to the cultural, religious, ethnic, disability, and gender/gender identity differences of YYA
• Knowledge and use of advocacy techniques
• Respect for and knowledge of legal, civil, and human rights of YYA
• Knowledge of community resources, supports, and services
• Ability to work independently as well as a part of a team
• Ability to use crisis intervention techniques and relapse prevention techniques
• Ability to balance competing priorities
• Ability to make independent judgments and decisions
• Knowledge of personal computer applications and equipment