LGBTQIA+ Bilingual Peer Specialist

Description

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Since our founding in 1895 in Marin County as an orphanage – and through subsequent years as 

Sunny Hills Services – Side by Side has been at the forefront of best practices in child welfare, working with the most vulnerable youth in our community. Today, Side by Side operates in four counties – Marin, Alameda, Sonoma, and Napa – across the Bay Area, reaching nearly 2,000 children, young adults, and family members per year with much-needed services related to behavioral and mental health, early intervention in schools, LGBTQIA+ support, transitional housing for foster youth, and special education. 

Side By Side places high value on individuals with a passion for helping underserved youth and families in a collaborative and inclusive work culture. We strive to work together to create a trauma-informed workplace where we walk the walk of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging principles. 

COMPENSATION

This position has an hourly rate of pay between $23.00 to $26.78 based on experience. Bilingual Spanish/English required.

BENEFITS

• 3 weeks of paid vacation for F/T employees increasing to 4 weeks of vacation after 2 years of service
• 2 weeks of sick leave for F/T employees with 2 additional sick days for direct service staff 
• 10 paid holidays per year and 1 Self-Care Anniversary Day each year
• 99% employer-paid Medical for F/T employees including platinum level Kaiser Permanente insurance, Sutter Health or Anthem options
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Long Term Disability insurance up to $9,000 per month, plus $50,000 Life and AD&D insurance. Employees also have the option to purchase additional life insurance at their own cost.
• 403b Retirement Plan with matching after one year of employment
• Professional development and other learning opportunities including unlimited access to over 1,000 behavioral health courses online. Side By Side is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer
• FREE Employee Assistance Program including up to 10 complimentary personal counseling sessions per problem, per year for staff and dependents
• Employee recognition program with $500 bonus awards
• Employee referral bonus of up to $1,000
• Pet Insurance

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

As the only LGBTQIA+ provider in South Alameda County, Our Space serves over 400 queer and trans East Bay youth each year, with a focus on disconnected LGBTQIA+ youth in the foster system that are at high risk of further isolation and possible homelessness because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression (SOGIE). Approximately 75% of Our Space members are youth of color.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• The role of the Peer Specialist is to provide support services, case management and facilitate support groups to LGBTQ students ages age 14 up to 21. The Peer Specialist may, at times, serve youth younger than 14, at the discretion of their supervisor.
• The Peer Specialist will hold a caseload of 5-10 youth at any given time.
• Responsible for documentation of meetings in Electronic Health Record.
• Support services will be focused on placement stabilization, case management and Family Services and may include: weekly, individual support meetings with youth; facilitation of a weekly support group for LGBTQ foster youth, students, and Spanish speaking youth; collaboration and case consultation with school system staff and community partners; assessment and support of clients’ mental health needs; and referral and linkage services.
• The Peer Specialist will work closely with staff at the school districts to provide crisis intervention and support groups; build rapport and trust with LGBTQ youth; and decrease barriers to LGBTQ youth receiving services, education and community resources.
• Provide support, trainings, and consultation to HUSD and SLZUSD staff as they grow their skills in LGBTQ competent and affirming service provision.
• This position requires a high level of independent decision making as 60 – 75% of the Peer Specialist time will be spent in the field providing community-based support services to youth.
• Critical to this position is the ability to create and maintain positive working relationships with community partners, towards successfully supporting clients and engaging providers in submitting referrals.
• This role works to raise awareness around the programming and services offered through Our Space, the Youth Acceptance Collaborative, and the Prevention Early Intervention Program.
• Collaborate with Family Builders around referrals and shared clients who would benefit from Family Services.
• The Peer Specialist is responsible for overseeing communications platforms, including social media, the monthly newsletter, and print materials.
• Provide LGBTQ youth with appropriate service referrals and linkages.
• Attend Coordination of Services Team (COST) meetings to provide support to LGBTQ youth.
• Transport youth in vehicle on a regular basis.
• Additionally, the Peer Specialist will network and collaborate with community partners, including Hayward Unified School District, San Lorenzo Unified School District, and nonprofit organizations serving LGBTQ youth, to identify and pursue opportunities for collaboration.
• Participate in Our Space special projects, events, and/or community center programming and staffing as needed (at discretion of supervisor).
• Participate in the tracking of outcomes and use of outcome measurement tools, including Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS).
• Submit reports and required paperwork on time.
• Maintaining regular communication via e-mail, phone, and in person meetings with community partners to create and sustain community partnerships
• Identifying and pursuing opportunities for promoting Our Space and the YAC in the community, including tabling at resource fairs, workshops at local schools and nonprofit organizations, and presentations
• Participate in coordinating, planning, and facilitating Our Space community events.
• Creating and distributing original content for monthly newsletter, flyers, and infographics

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and expectations required of the position.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working with LGBTQ youth, preferably runaway/homeless youth and current or former foster youth
• Bilingual - Fluent in English and Spanish required.
• Experience with, and commitment to using, a positive youth development model.
• Experience with Case Management
• Experience with training facilitation and curriculum development.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Proficiency in utilizing Internet, email and web-based programs.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• California Department of Justice and FBI fingerprint clearance
• Reliable Transportation
• A valid California driver's license
• Personal vehicle insurance
• Please note that Covid-19 vaccination is mandated for all Side by Side staff, except in cases of approved medical or religious accommodations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Sitting, walking, standing, twisting and bending for brief periods of time.
• Occasional reaching and/or grasping using hands and/or arms.
• May be required to lift up to 20 pounds.
• May be required to ascend/descend stairs.
• Regular use of hands requiring dexterity in using the telephone, computer keyboard, mouse or calculator.
• Visual ability to read documents and computer monitor.
• Exposure to low to moderate noise levels characteristic of working in an office or client environments.
• Ability to drive to various sites.
• Hearing and speech to converse in person and over the telephone.

We are committed to maintaining a culturally inclusive work environment. We strongly encourage LGBTQ people, people of color, and others with diverse personal experience to apply. Sunny Hills Services/BAYC is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, Vietnam era or other veteran status.

Side by Side provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.