Peer Learning Assistant Jobs in Harrison, NJ (NOW HIRING)

At The New York Foundling, we trust in the power and potential of people, and we deliberately invest in proven practices. From bold beginnings in 1869, our New York-based nonprofit has supported hundreds of thousands of our neighbors on their own paths to stability, strength, and independence.  We help children and families navigate through and beyond foster care. We help families struggling with conflict and poverty grow strong. We help individuals with developmental disabilities live their best lives, and we help our neighbors access quality health and mental health services-core to building lifelong resilience and wellbeing. Together, our interrelated programs provide a whole-person, whole-family, and whole-life approach that unlocks solutions for a lifetime.

The Youth Peer Advisor serves as a Trainer and Consultant. In this role, the Youth Peer Advisor will provide information, consultation, and technical assistance to FPAs and YPAs in the DOHMH-funded Family and Youth Peer Support (FYPS) programs and assist in developing training and curricula.

• Responsible for planning and implementing activities associated with carrying out assigned program's vision
• Be prepared to train FYPS staff on family or youth-guided practice and key principles of family and youth peer support.
• Ensures ongoing programmatic excellence, quality management, infrastructure to support and advance the services needed to meet families and programs need.
• Attends all program meetings, conferences, stakeholder meetings (site visits) and including in-person meetings
• Actively participate in meetings including when virtual meetings are occurring with the camera on and consistently speaking during the duration of the meeting
• Provides training, consultation calls with a team (teams assigned) or staff. Able to train and consult with participant in navigating the mental health system.
• Adopt a strength focused approach with families, stakeholder, and within the program/treatment team.
• Able to work independently, as a team, and serve in the capacity of consultancy, training, and community coordinator
• Adheres to high standards of personal conduct and maintain appropriate standards of professional behavior.
• Maintains additional communication with multiple layers within the organization and with external partners/providers
• Supports with event and program management. This includes: Convening planning committees, Managing follow-up and Coordinating event logistics and debriefs. Maintain a calendar community events to be present at to engage residents of
• Monitors and follows the Learning Management System protocol for quality assurance
• Monitors training needs, competencies of Staff/teams, and development needs.
• Gains understanding of Foundling's policy, compliance, and resources. Remains informed on latest policy and regulations related to program functions and diverse services sectors program interacts with.
• Has management level check-in meeting(s) on model/process fidelity, certification tracking and monitoring.
• Responsible to help remove barriers by conducting fit assessments on advances and barriers.
• Able to travel outside of assigned borough/region.
• Flexible and able to work both independently and with a team.
• Managing data collection, documentation of outcomes, and draft reports
• Coordinate efforts to solve local problems and assist in implementing solutions.
• Assist in writing reports, concept papers and other materials needed for the program
• Attend all required agency training. Participates in all evidence-based model program training, supervision and consultation activities.
• Maintain communication with direct supervisor on advances and barriers
• Maintain clear, concise and accurate documentation of progress that promote peer and supervisory review and feedback, and that demonstrates compliance with evidenced based clinical model and meeting our agency's expectation
• Timely data entry of all services practices of the program in Evolv and other system as provided. Assure documentation (data entry) for contacts, incidents, and reports are submitted timely (as indicated by program).
• Able to identify and engage key participants, identifying systemic strengths and weaknesses, and developing a referral plan/linkages
• Receives supervision from NY Foundling leadership. Attend mandatory weekly supervision and consultation on-site at identified location by supervisor or program director.
• Willing to cover for team-members.
• Willing and able to work flexible hours. Some evenings and weekends may be required.
• Participate in On-call process

Organizational expectations include:

• Regular and punctual time and attendance, and adherence to The Foundling's and your department's specific time and attendance policies and protocol.
• Consistent demonstrated commitment to The Foundling's BHAG, mission, vision and values (Compassion, Dignity, Family and Community, Diversity, Excellence).
• Adherence to The Foundling's employee policies, Code of Conduct and applicable rules, laws, regulations or bargaining agreements.
• Appropriate engagement with support departments to ensure appropriate and timely hiring, performance management, investigation, discipline, suspension, and restructuring decisions concerning direct reports. Regular supervision and performance evaluation of direct reports.
• Any other duties and/or tasks that may be assigned.

The New York Foundling is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse employee population, the Foundling will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

• HS/GED required
• Bachelor's Degree or Master's Degree in Social Work, Public Health, or related field a plus
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred 
• Four to Five years of experience working as Youth Peer Advocate or a similar role with having had have lived experience navigating the mental health system, Educational system, Juvenile Justice System, Childware System, or other similar systems working as a Youth Peer Advocate.

Preferred Experience:

• Supervisory and/or managerial experience in program of similar type or size, including direct work experience.
• Be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Internet, Email, and Data entry systems.
• Must be organized, creative, Responsive, dependable, and accountable
• Must be an energetic, confident, and positive individual who can easily build rapport
• Excellent critical thinking, written and verbal communication, and problem-solving skills required. 
• Ability to work with a wide variety of stakeholders and manage multiple deadlines and projects as necessary.
• Awareness of state and city regulations and protocols
• Experience with and willingness to work with culturally diverse populations, computer literacy, able to research current information on medical, social and legal issues.  
• Some experience and comfort with speaking to large audiences
• Knowledge of the Community
• Experience engaging stakeholders with diverse backgrounds and perspectives around a common concerns
• Demonstrated ability to speak effectively and professionally in public to a variety of audiences,
• Must possess professional demeanor, and communications,
• Must possess strong group facilitation skills, must be a team player, must have excellent organizational skills, local and occasional overnight travel may be required.
• Ability to form relationships with strategic partners; ie., government agencies, non-profit agencies, schools and faith based communities,
• EXPERT in Microsoft Office {which also include, excel, word, and Publisher}
• Ability to follow guidance and plan
• Comfortable and adaptable to changes
• Take initiative and a team-player
• Experience with cross-agency collaboration
• Skills to manage own and team "self-care" to prevent burnout

• Demonstrated strong commitment to safety.