Bilingual Youth Peer Support Specialist

Position Title: Bilingual Youth Peer Support Specialist (Spanish/English)

Compensation: $21.00 - $24.00 per hour

Offered Benefits: Medical, Vision, and Dental

Work Schedule: 40 hrs/wk (hours vary)

Position Type: Hourly, Non-exempt

Schedule: Full-time, M-F 10 am - 6:30 pm (Occsianal Weekends / Evenings as needed)

Location: Based from Clackamas Drop in Center

Supervisor: Clackamas Program Manager

JOB SUMMARY

The Bilingual Youth Peer Support Specialist plays a key role in connecting with and supporting diverse youth populations, ensuring accessibility to Youth Era’s programs and resources. This position focuses on outreach to young people in various community settings, with a strong emphasis on engaging non-English-speaking youth and their families. The specialist will use their bilingual skills to provide culturally responsive support, translate materials, and facilitate communication between youth, families, and service providers. Additionally, they will provide occasional coverage for drop-in hours, fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all participants.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Conduct proactive outreach to engage youth, particularly those from linguistically and culturally diverse communities.
• Utilize bilingual skills to communicate with young people and their families, ensuring access to Youth Era’s services and programs.
• Develop and facilitate culturally relevant workshops, events, and activities that encourage youth participation.
• Build partnerships with community organizations, schools, and cultural groups to enhance outreach efforts.
• Provide resource navigation and referrals in both languages to ensure youth and families can access needed support.
• Provide a welcoming and inclusive space for all youth, ensuring that language barriers do not prevent engagement.
• Offer bilingual support during drop-in hours, assisting non-English-speaking youth in accessing resources and peer support.
• Support daily operations, including administrative tasks, space maintenance, and participant engagement.

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the capacity to communicate and work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Experience developing and leading engaging youth-centered activities, workshops, or events.
• Ability to build/sustain collaborative working relationships with staff, supervisors, and others as appropriate.
• Ability to provide culturally responsive services and tailor engagement strategies to meet the needs of various communities.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple outreach efforts and drop-in support responsibilities effectively.
• Flexibility to cover drop-in hours and respond to emerging challenges in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong crisis response and conflict resolution skills to support youth in a variety of situations.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Fluency in Spanish and English (spoken and written).
• At least 1 year of experience in youth engagement, outreach, peer support, or a related field.
• Strong ability to build trust and connect with diverse youth, particularly those from bilingual and immigrant communities.
• Experience in culturally responsive communication and engagement strategies.
• Ability to translate written materials as needed.
• Strong collaboration skills to work with youth, families, and community partners in both languages.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable personal vehicle, and proof of auto insurance.
• Ability to drive frequently for outreach efforts and community engagement in the Jackson County area.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing needs, including covering drop-in hours.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working with immigrant, refugee, or multilingual youth communities.
• Knowledge of local resources and support services available for bilingual and non-English-speaking youth.
• Background in crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, or community organizing.
• Familiarity with and understanding of the Youth Bill of Rights and support principles, youth and young adult culture, and issues affecting families (i.e. mental health, juvenile justice, child welfare, etc.) across the country.
• Identification as a peer with lived experience in youth/young adult-serving systems (i.e. mental health care, addiction/recovery, juvenile justice, Oregon Youth Authority, foster care).

Work Environment and Conditions 

• This position may require travel to various community locations for outreach and engagement efforts.
• Work hours may include evenings or weekends depending on program needs or events.
• Drop-in coverage may involve working in a fast-paced, youth-centered environment.

Note: This job description outlines the general duties and requirements expected of this role. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on the needs of the organization.