WISe Youth Partner

The Youth Partner in our WISe Tukwila Program will utilize their own experiences as a past consumer of mental health services, to deliver direct supportive services to youth referred to or receiving wraparound services. The Youth Partner ensures that youth voice and choice is understood and utilized by other wraparound team members.

This Team Member will connect youth/families to supports and resources within their community, and engages youth and family in the wraparound process. This position will also advocate for youth/ family needs within the team and community and provide services in client homes, schools or other convenient community locations. This position will require flexible work schedule to accommodate the needs of our clients and their families.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES

• Meet the client communicating compassion, support, respect and enthusiasm for them and your role as a helper.
• Listen to and analyze their story, and with them, identify strengths, needs, preferences and goals.
• Relate personal experience as a person with lived experience that will assist in building trust.
• Work with the client to identify and reach out to natural supports to solicit their support.
• Assess and review the client’s ability to communicate their own position and preferences.
• Reassure and communicate hopefulness to clients and that “they are not in this alone.”
• Support the client to maximize their participation and voice in the development of the plan.
• Brainstorm and negotiate strategies that build on client strengths.
• Provide a range of supportive/helpful interventions and activities as agreed to with the client and documented on the plan.
• Assist the client in analyzing progress toward goals and encourage their feedback to their clinician and other team members.
• Complete all documentation activities in keeping with CFS and WISe fidelity guidelines, King County requirements, agency policies, and State and Federal requirements.
• Communicate ideas by using own life as a learning and teaching tool (when helpful to client and plan).
• Reach agreement with the client about their transition.
• Inspire confidence in the client about their strengths and ability to transition successfully.
• Assist with establishing ongoing formal and informal services and supports.
• Other duties as assigned at the discretion of management.

KEY WORK RELATIONSHIPS

Establishes and maintains positive, ethical, and professional working relationships with clinical team members, clients, and outside organizations. Relates to a wide variety of people including members of ethnic and sexual minority populations and is respectful of individual and cultural differences.

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, AND SKILLS:

• Desire to empower others to be self-sufficient.
• Create autonomy through collaboration and building of natural supports.
• Ability to assist others in recognizing their own strengths and help them develop in their areas of expertise. Ability to deal effectively with team member and clients essential.
• Able to deal effectively with team member and clients.
• Must demonstrate a commitment to service and professionalism through appropriate conduct and demeanor. Willingness to diligently and accurately report time and expenses.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

• GED or high school equivalent required, or actively pursuing.
• Experience with system advocacy for own family or others, and willingness to partner.
• Self-identify as having had their own personal experience with serious emotional or behavioral issues and was involved with at least one youth serving system.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Must be able to obtain a WA State Agency Affiliated Counselor credential within the first 60 days of hire.
• Washington State driver’s license and insurable driving record required.
• Must successfully pass criminal background checks.
• Washington State Peer Counselor Certification or the ability/availability to begin the certification process within the first year of employment.