What is the Role of a Youth Peer Advocate? January 22, 2018 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

What is the Role of a Youth Peer Advocate?

January 22, 2018

PRESENTERS: AZARIA WITTEKIND AND ALEX FRISINA YOUTH POWER!

What is the Role of a Youth Peer Advocate?

A man falls into a hole so deep he can’t get out. A doctor walks by, and the man calls for help. The doctor writes a prescription, tosses it into the hole, and walks on. A priest walks by, and the man tries again. The priest writes a prayer, tosses it into the hole, and walks on. Finally a friend walks by, and again the man asks for help. T

• his surprise, the friend jumps in with him.

“Why did you do that?” the man asks. “Now we’re both in the hole.” “Yes,” the friend responds. “But I’ve been in this hole before, and I know the way out.”

Peer Support

What is a Youth Peer Advocate?

• Share Recovery/ Resiliency

Story

• Empower to be self-

directed

Peer S upport

• Empower to speak up for

themselves

• Advocate for them

Peer Advocacy

From: “New York State Office of Mental Health, HCBS Waiver Program Youth Peer Advocate Training Manual” YOUTH POWER! & Cornell University, 2015.

Youth Peer Advocate Expertise

Knowledge of t he provider syst em Knowledge of Communit y Resources and opport unit ies Knowledge of peer movement s & resources for self-advocat es Personal Recovery/ Resiliency St ory

Benefits of having YPAs

Y

• ut h

Families Adult Allies Organizat ions Communit ies

NYS Credentialing

 Peer S

upport Hist ory

 Y

• ut h Guided Pract ices

 Trauma informed Pract ices  Cult ural Compet ence  Professional expect at ions  S

mall group facilit at ion skills

 S

yst em navigat ion

 S

upport ing skill development

 Wellness and Recovery  Advocacy  Goal set t ing  Independence

What do YP A’s report as barriers?

 Ageism  S

t igma

 Fear, discomfort , misunderst anding  Lack of clarit y in t he role as Y

• ut h Peer Advocat e

(Expect at ions? )

 Underst anding responsibilit ies of self and ot hers  Frequency of meaningful t raining  Lack of needed supervision & support  Regulat ing st rong emot ions & wellness (secondary t rauma)  Defining words like “ S

afet y” and “ Boundaries”

Youth Guided Practice

The First Step for Integrating YPAs

Giving young people a sustainable voice and then listening to that voice Creating safe environments Recognizing the continuum of power

“Youth Guided means that young people have the right to be empowered, educated, and given a decision making role in the care of their own lives as well as the policies and procedures governing care for all youth in the community, state and nation.”

• Youth M.O.V.E. National

Setting the Stage

 Partner with youth led groups including YP!  Evaluate readiness –

(t ools are available!)

 Have a flexible plan t hat leaves room for

problem solving and creat ivit y

 Prepare Staff and Clinicians –

make sure t hey are aware of t he purpose, role and act ivit ies t hat are t o come. Ask t hem t o help creat e an environment where yout h are meaningfully engaged

 Have a j ob descript ion wit h clear

expect at ions of t he role.

 Sample descriptions available  Code of ethics

 Transport at ion  Ident ify peer support

• pport unit ies

Pre-Hire Considerations

Defining the position

Pre-Hire Considerations Recruiting YPAs

 Build an underst and of and connect ion t o our social-

j ust ice & civil right s movement

 Ut ilize exist ing movement event s and act ivit ies t o

draw in new people

 Init iat e Y

• ut h Advisory/ Leadership Groups –

t he young people you serve may very well be t he next YP A!

 Part ner wit h ot her organizat ions and agencies  Recognize t he effect s of st igma and discriminat ion  Ensure approaches are cult urally compet ent and

address current yout h cult ure

Pre-Hire Considerations Interview Process & Onboarding

 Int erview process

 Diverse team including a young person to provide the youth

perspective

 S

ample interview questions  Structured orientation/ onboarding

 Topics t o consider: HR and program orient at ion,

• verview & underst anding t he YP

A role, work place expect at ions, boundaries, effect ive communicat ion, st rat egic sharing, role plays, HIP AA, mandat ed report ing, cult ural compet ency, t rauma informed care, self-care & support , safet y planning, syst em navigat ion

 Supervision & Coaching  Professional Development  Nat ural ment orship

• pport unit ies

 Reasonable

accommodat ions

 Clear expect at ion on

safet y and boundaries

Pre-Hire Considerations

Supporting the position

 Don’ t make assumpt ions  Support ing flexible

posit ions while holding t o high st andards

 Respect ing t he right t o

choose what t o disclose and t o whom

Pre-Hire Considerations

Respecting the person

YPA interviews Dec 2016:

 S

upervision- laid back style, holding YP A ’s accountable, check in on personal and professional life, regular supervision, encourage applying for full time positions and advancement when ready

 Having clear expectations of position and

education on population working with

 YP

A ’s need to be in a good place in their own recovery with the right supports in place before becoming a YP A

YPA interviews Dec 2016:

 YP

A ’s want to be treated as young professionals

 Negative perception of YP

A position has led to YP A ’s not feeling valued, not getting hired into full time positions within the agency and even hired into other agencies. S

• me

YP A ’s feel supported by their agencies while

• thers feel looked down upon or not taken

seriously due to their position.

Agency & Supervisor training & support

 YOUTH POWER! Technical Assist ance  Y

• ut h Peer Advocat e Leaders

 Fut ure CTAC t rainings  Ut ilize Local and Nat ional resources

Please send us recommendat ions or quest ions you would like explored in t he fut ure.

What YOUTH POWER! can offer you!

 Peer Leader S

upport and Development

 Professional Development for YP

As

 Y

• ut h Peer Advocat e Leaders Meet ings

 S

upport and collaborat ion for S upervisors of YP As

 The How To’s of Y

• ut h Guided Pract ice

 Online resources;

 Tip sheet s  Guides  Webinars  Videos

Open p posit itio ion

New York City R YP

1-888-326-8644

Open p posit itio ion

Western R YP

1-888-326-8644

Ale Alex Frisin ina

Long Island R YP

AFrisina@ youthpowerny.org 631-245-5289

Mica G a Gonzal alez

Central R YP

MGonzalez@ youthpowerny.org 315-679-1476

Brenna nnan W n Williams

Hudson River R YP

BWilliams@ youthpowerny.org 518-322-2096 A motivated peer between the ages of 18-30 A motivated peer between the ages of 18-30

Questions or Technical Assistance Requests

Toll Free: 1-888-326-8644 info@youthpowerny.org www.YOUTHPOWERNY.org

@YOUTHPOWERNY /YOUTHPOWER.NY

YOUTH POWER!

Contact

Q & A

Thank You