Youth Peer Advocate

Job Title Youth Peer Advocate

Department Youth Services Rapid Rehousing for Young Adults

Reports To Program Supervisor

Classification Full-Time

Date 2/7/25

About Rising Ground

Founded as an orphanage in 1831, Rising Ground has been at the forefront of evolving community needs. Driven by the belief that each of us can thrive when life has hope and opportunity, Rising Ground provides caring support and proven paths to positive change, helping children, adults, and families rise above adversity, and each year, Rising Ground is a positive force in the lives of more than 72,000 individuals annually. We do this through 101 programs across 138 sites, throughout New York City and Westchester. Our strong belief and commitment to diversity is shown not just through our work with supported persons but is integral to the building of a strong staff that reflects the communities we serve. Rising Ground is headquartered in New York City.

About The Role

Rapid Rehousing for Young Adults is a solution to homelessness designed to help young adults aged 18-24 quickly exit homelessness to permanent housing. The program provides rental assistance and support services that are tailored to the unique needs of the young person. The Youth Advocate provides peer support and system navigation to a case load of youth in the Rapid Rehousing Program.

What You’ll Do

• Assist program participants in obtaining and maintaining housing by providing frequent coaching and peer-to-peer mentoring.
• Support program participants in understanding the housing and social service system.
• Accompany program participants on appointment for mental health, health, education, employment and other concrete needs.
• Assist participants with concerns including housing, health care, social service and educational issues.
• Help youth to understand and follow their individualized plan.
• Assist with mediation of conflict between roommates enrolled in the program.
• Advocate for needs and best interest of program participants with case management staff.
• Act as a source of support for program participants and provide appropriate feedback to promote success.
• Participate in treatment team meetings, service plan reviews, intake meetings and discharge conferences to represent the needs and best interest of program participants.
• Document all interactions and meetings in progress notes.
• Other duties that may be assigned.
  
  
  

Your Qualifications

• Must have lived experience/knowledge of the RHY system (formerly homeless) foster care system and/or social service system in NYC
• Must have experience in youth development
• Ability to communicate well with others and motivate individuals towards personal goals
• Knowledge of computer systems
  
  
  

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Supervisory Responsibility

No

Work Environment

In the Field/In Office/Hybrid

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday in our Headquarters at 1333 Broadway office in Midtown Manhattan. Work hours options are 900 am - 500 pm, 930 am - 530 pm, 10 am - 6 pm.

Additional Requirements

• Authorized to work in the U.S.
• Ability to work in-person in New York City (NY) for at least 3 days or more per week.
• Ability to travel to other Rising Ground sites (if required)
  
  
  

Our Commitment to Diversity, Fairness, and Belonging

Rising Ground is comprised of unique and valued individuals who together make the organization effective in assisting the children, adults and families who come to us for support. We believe that only when all employees contribute fully as their true selves can Rising Ground's true strength, vision, and values come to fruition. We recognize the ubiquitous social biases and structures that impact and shape the experiences of all people, including our own staff and people supported. Among the many biases present in our society that shape our personal and professional experiences race, gender, sexual orientation, and gender expression are all factors that can present hurdles. As such, Rising Ground is committed to being an anti-racist and inclusive organization that will actively strive to overcome both systemic and interpersonal biases that perpetuate oppression.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is the policy of Rising Ground that the Agency complies with equal treatment of all

employees and applicants for employment without unlawful discrimination as to an individual’s

perceived or actual race, creed, color, national origin, alienate, citizenship status, gender, gender

identity, age, disability, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or

veteran status in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring,

compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, layoff and termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.