WISe Youth Partner

Akin (formerly Children's Home Society of Washington + Childhaven) · Auburn, WA · 2 days ago

Hybrid$24.88–$29.23/hrFull-time

Position Summary

The WISe Youth Partner is a Certified Peer Specialist who draws on their own lived experience as a young person who has navigated trauma, emotional or behavioral health challenges, and involvement in child‑serving systems. In this role you act as a trusted bridge between the youth you serve and the WISe team—ensuring that each young person’s voice and choice is genuinely heard, respected, and reflected at every stage of the process. Services are provided in homes, schools, and other community settings with a flexible schedule that meets youth where they are. This position has access to protected health information (PHI) or confidential identifiable information (CII), both paper and electronic, as necessary to perform related duties.

Essential Functions

Amplify Family Voice & Choice

Serve as the primary champion for the voice and choice of each WISe participant, ensuring their perspective is articulated and honored throughout every phase of the WISe process.
Build trusting relationships with youth who may be reluctant to share their views, especially those who have been marginalized or dismissed in previous system experiences.
Ensure each young person’s hopes, concerns, strengths, and goals are captured respectfully and clearly in the Cross‑System Care Plan (CSCP) and the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) tool.
Assess and support the youth’s ability and confidence to communicate their own perspective and preferences, and actively work to strengthen that capacity over time.
Advocate for the youth’s needs, interests, and goals within the Child and Family Team and the broader community.

Building Trust & Connection

Meet with youth regularly, bringing authenticity, consistency, and genuine care to every interaction.
Draw on your own lived experience to build rapport, establish trust, and demonstrate that recovery and a meaningful life are possible.
Listen to each young person’s story and, with them, identify strengths, needs, preferences, and goals.
Work with youth to identify and engage natural supports in the wraparound process.

Coaching, Skill Building & Empowerment

Coach youth to develop communication, self‑advocacy, and self‑regulation skills that help them take an active role in their own treatment and goal‑setting.
Model effective ways to engage with systems, services, and team members.
Share de‑escalation strategies for managing difficult moments, developed and reinforced collaboratively with the whole team.
Help youth understand their rights within the systems they are involved in and how to exercise those rights.
Encourage youth to give feedback to team members and celebrate progress toward their goals.

System Navigation & Community Connection

Draw on lived experience to help youth navigate complex systems—including mental health, education, child welfare, and juvenile justice—in practical and empowering ways.
Participate in Child and Family Team (CFT) meetings, providing a youth‑centered perspective and supporting youth participation and voice.
Connect youth to community resources, activities, and natural supports that align with their interests and goals.
Brainstorm and co‑develop strategies with youth that build on their strengths and expand their sense of possibility.
Participate in rotating after‑hours crisis on‑call coverage, providing timely response and support to youth and families outside of regular business hours.

Team Collaboration & Documentation

Collaborate with CFT members and complete assigned tasks on the care plan relevant to this role.
Communicate with the team about progress and completion of assigned tasks.
Provide a range of supportive interventions and activities as agreed with the youth and documented in the cross‑system care plan.
Coordinate strategies and approaches with clinicians and other team members to ensure consistency.
Maintain productivity standards for direct service as established for the position.
Ensure timely collection of statistical information for funding sources and program evaluations.
Ensure compliance with all Akin policies, applicable contracts, and Federal, State, and local confidentiality requirements.
Perform documentation reviews and self‑audits as required by the WISe Coach or as needs arise.
Participate in scheduled supervision, team meetings, and administrative meetings; utilize reflective supervision to support professional growth and quality client care.
Remain current with all professional development and licensure requirements.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Lived experience as a young person who has navigated trauma and/or significant emotional or behavioral health challenges, with personal involvement in at least one child‑serving system (e.g., mental health, child welfare, juvenile justice, special education).
Demonstrated ability to connect authentically with youth who may feel unheard, distrustful, or disengaged from services.
Ability to draw on your own story to build hope and trust without centering your experience over the youth’s.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with warmth, patience, and genuine enthusiasm for young people’s growth.
Commitment to accessibility, inclusion, and belonging; openness to learning and contributing to an equitable workplace.
Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook and Word; strong typing skills.

Working Environment

This position requires a flexible work schedule, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate families’ needs. Services are performed throughout the community, including family homes, schools, and Akin offices. Hybrid work is a benefit of Akin’s flexible workplace but cannot be offered for all positions; some positions require daily presence in the office, and hybrid arrangements may be adjusted or rescinded based on business needs.

Physical Demands

Regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard.
Occasionally required to reach, stoop, and kneel.
Close vision required for computer work.
Regular, predictable attendance is required.

Minimum Qualifications

Have or obtain the Peer Counselor Certification from the State of Washington within 6 months of hire (Akin will support the process).
Proof of CPR and First Aid Certification required within 30 days.
A one‑step Mantoux TB skin test prior to start of employment; if previously positive, provide documented proof of treatment or a negative chest X‑ray.
HIV/AIDS and blood‑borne pathogens training required within 30 days.
A valid driver’s license and a favorable driving record, with no more than three violations within the past three years.

Preferred Qualifications

Prior experience in a peer support role.

Salary Range and Benefits

We provide a comprehensive benefits package, including competitive pay, medical, dental and retirement benefits, and paid time off.

Target starting pay for this position is $24.88 – $29.23 per hour, typically within the first half of this range. Actual offers will be based on individual qualifications relevant to the role and will not consider an applicant’s pay history. The range allows employees room for growth during their tenure.