​​​​​​​Senior Youth Support Partner

Senior Youth Support Partner

The Senior Youth Support Partner is a member of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS) Youth Support Partner Unit. The primary responsibility of this position is to serve as a peer mentor, positive role model and an advocate to support peer Youth Support Partners, as well as support youth/young adults served by DHS. The Senior Youth Support Partner will assist the YSP Leadership Team in coaching and mentoring other Youth Support Partners in their role and also assist youth in achieving their goals and living healthy, self-directed lives. This position involves connecting with other professional staff and youth in order to strengthen the Youth Support Partners’ role and the focus on a strength-based approach to empowering youth voice and choice. The Senior Youth Support Partner also focuses on promoting resources and trainings, collaboration and engaging community and natural supports. 

Additional assignments may include work with YSP Leadership Team, DHS Senior Management Staff and Director as 
needed. 

The Senior Youth Support Partner must have (1) personal life experience in one or more of the child serving human  service  systems,  like  juvenile  justice,  behavioral/mental health,  developmental disability,  child welfare,  drug & alcohol, etc., (2) the ability to positively and appropriately self-disclose regarding that experience, (3) minimum of 15 months as a  Youth  Support  Partner  including  1  year  carrying  a  caseload,  (4)  consistently  demonstrated  the YSP  Unit  skill  sets,  (5)  consistently  demonstrated  the  Family Development Credential principles, and (6) positive yearly evaluation(s) and a clean DCM disciplinary record for the past 6 months. Local and distant travel as required. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

• Assists YSP Supervisors/Coaches with training and coaching other Youth Support Partners. 

• Provides orientation and onboarding support. 

• Develops a schedule and works with Supervisors/Coaches and others to plan speakers and activities to fill the schedule of coaching and training for the YSP Unit Staff. 

• Completes periodic peer assessments to aid YSP Supervisors/Coaches in their evaluations of YSP's.

• Participates in Train-the-Trainer activities for trainings, (i.e. self-advocacy or the Youth Mental Health First Aid) and leads trainings for YSPs and youth. 

• Credentials YSPs in the field. 

• Provides shadowing opportunities. 

• Learn all 8 keys for A.M.P and teach 1-2 classes each month. 

• Leads YSP Unit efforts on managing requests for special speaking engagements or event 
  participation for members of the YSP Unit. 

• Actively participates in trainings and professional development opportunities. 

• Participates in outreach and advocacy efforts on local, state and national level. 

• Maintains membership on various boards and committees. 

• Uses technology and computer programs to develop documents to support the YSP Leadership 
  team, the other YSPs and the youth, as needed. 

• Coordinates and helps facilitate support groups and/or social events. 

• Provides outreach, recruits and identifies youth for the program. 

• Helps with Behavioral Rehearsals. 

• Assists with recruitment by going out and pitching YSP role to interested youth. 

• Helps with first round interviews for potential new YSPs. 

• Mentors new YSPs and serves as a role model for Youth Support Partners, youth and others. 

• Coordinates youth involvement in evaluation projects. 

• Participates in networking opportunities: speaking engagements, committees, workgroups, 
  roundtables, etc. 

• Serves as an advocate and peer mentor for youth currently receiving services through Allegheny County’s.

Department of Human Services

• Maintains a caselo