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?

Peer Support 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 o 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. ”

What is a Youth Peer Advocate? • Share Recovery/ Resiliency Peer Story • Empower to be self- S upport directed • Empower to speak up for Peer themselves • Advocate for them 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 out h Families Adult Allies Organizat ions Communit ies

NYS Credentialing  Peer S upport Hist ory  Y out 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 out 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 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 Creating safe care of their own lives as environments well as the policies and procedures governing care for all youth in the Giving young people a sustainable voice and community, state and then listening to that nation.” voice - 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

Pre-Hire Considerations Defining the position  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 opport unit ies

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 out 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, overview & 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

Pre-Hire Considerations Supporting the position  Supervision & Coaching  Professional Development  Nat ural ment orship opport unit ies  Reasonable accommodat ions  Clear expect at ion on safet y and boundaries

Pre-Hire Considerations Respecting the person  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

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 ome YP A ’s feel supported by their agencies while others feel looked down upon or not taken seriously due to their position.

Agency & Supervisor training & support  YOUTH POWER! Technical Assist ance  Y out 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 out h Peer Advocat e Leaders Meet ings  S upport and collaborat ion for S upervisors of YP As  The How To’s of Y out h Guided Pract ice  Online resources;  Tip sheet s  Guides  Webinars  Videos

Ale Alex Frisin ina Long Island R YP Mica G a Gonzal alez AFrisina@ youthpowerny.org 631-245-5289 Central R YP MGonzalez@ youthpowerny.org 315-679-1476 Open p posit itio ion A motivated peer New York City R YP between the 1-888-326-8644 ages of 18-30 Open p posit itio ion A motivated peer Western R YP between the 1-888-326-8644 Brenna nnan W n Williams ages of 18-30 Hudson River R YP BWilliams@ youthpowerny.org 518-322-2096

Questions or Technical Assistance Requests Contact YOUTH POWER! Toll Free: 1-888-326-8644 info@youthpowerny.org www.YOUTHPOWERNY.org /YOUTHPOWER.NY @YOUTHPOWERNY

Q & A

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