Vanderheyden, Inc.·City of Troy, New York
Provide peer support and training services to youth facing social, emotional, and behavioral challenges within a triad team. Responsibilities include conducting assessments, facilitating peer groups, and assisting youth in achieving their plan of care goals.
The Youth Peer Advocate is responsible for providing Youth Peer Support and Training Services to youth who experience social, emotional, developmental, medical, substance abuse, and/or behavioral challenges in their home, school, placement, and/or community. The Youth Peer Advocate will function as a member of a triad team including a Family Peer Advocate and a High-Fidelity Wraparound (HFW) Care Manager. Full-time. Travel between locations in the Capital District/Troy area required.
Must be available to work a 40-hour work week.
Must be able to lift 25 pounds.
Requires sitting for long periods of time, as well as: standing, stooping, squatting, kneeling, and climbing stairs.
Use of hands and fingers to execute daily tasks
Must be able to stand and run for moderate periods of time.
Must be able to perform restraints and maintain TCI certification.
Willingness to respond to the needs of a culturally
$20-$22 an hour based on education.
Vanderheyden is committed to the National Sanctuary Model - a blueprint for clinical and organizational change which, at its core, promotes safety and recovery from adversity through the active creation of a trauma-informed community. The Sanctuary Model's focus is not only on the people who seek services, but equally on the people and systems that provide those served.
Vanderheyden, as an Equal Opportunity Employer, does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices on the basis of gender, race or ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, military or marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, prior arrest or conviction record or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
Candidates must be between 18 and 30 years old with lived experience in mental health, foster care, juvenile justice, or substance abuse recovery. A high school diploma is preferred, along with a valid NYS driver's license and the ability to obtain TCI certification.
Market context
In New York, Youth Peer Advocate roles are often tied to youth mental health, child welfare, and community-based support programs, so demand tends to follow agency staffing needs in those settings. These roles are competitive because employers look for both lived experience with child-serving systems and practical skills in human services, education, or mental health. Review how your experience aligns with the required license and background, and use the platform’s AI-summarized requirements and benefits to quickly compare openings without reading every original posting.