Position: Peer Navigator – Bronx Youth Center
Supervisor: Assistant Director of Runaway and Homeless Youth Services
The Door is an unparalleled model for youth development, offering a comprehensive range of integrated services within a single site for nearly eleven thousand New York City youth each year. Our mission is to empower young adults to reach their full potential by providing comprehensive youth development services in a diverse and caring environment. At The Door, youth can access health care and education, mental health counseling and crisis assistance, legal assistance, college preparation services, career development, housing supports, arts, sports and recreational activities, and nutritious meals – all for free and under one roof. By providing participants with our suite of integrated services, we seek to provide any motivated young person with the tools, resources, and opportunities needed to successfully transition into adulthood.
Peer Navigators are young adults (ages 18–30) with lived experience of unaccompanied
homelessness during their youth. They will provide mentorship, advocacy, and connection to resources for youth and young adults currently navigating the RHY continuum. Peer Navigators help build trust, promote youth voice and choice, and walk alongside young people in their journeys. Peer Navigators promote long-term stability and act as a connector between youth, staff, community, and service systems.
Responsibilities:
Engagement, Relationship-Building & Mentorship
- Engage Youth and Young Adults (YYA) during Drop-In Center hours and through outreach activities support access to services and sustain youth participation in programs.
- Conduct one-on-one peer mentorship sessions that focus on goal setting, coping skills, housing readiness, and navigating services systems.
- Facilitate and co-create peer-led programming, groups, and wellness activities that reflect youth voice and needs.
- Support the facilitation and development of Advisory Boards to elevate youth leadership and decision-making.
Systems Navigation & Advocacy
- Assist youth in accessing resources.
- Where appropriate, accompany youth to appointments when requested.
- Participate in case conferences, service plan reviews, and discharge planning meetings.
- Assist youth in building self-advocacy skills, understanding their service plans, and becoming active participants in their case plans.
Additional Responsibilities
- Participate in virtual and in-person DYCD peer meetings.
- Maintain documentation, including session notes, attendance logs, and referral logs, in accordance with agency and DYCD RHY program guidelines.
- Help identify gaps in services and advocate for enhanced programming and resources that are based on youth feedback.
- Participate in staff trainings, team meetings, and regular supervision.
Knowledge, Skills & Experience:
- Commitment to supporting youth who are experiencing or exiting homelessness.
- Knowledge of NYC Runaway & Homeless Youth system and other youth-serving programs.
- Awareness of community resources, including but not limited to educational services, housing resources, career opportunities, etc.
- Familiarity with approaches such as harm reduction, trauma-informed care, positive youth development, and peer support models.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to relate to young people from diverse backgrounds.
- Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams while maintaining appropriate boundaries and confidentiality.
- Commitment to ongoing professional development, including continuing education and supervision.
- Uphold Youth Peer Advocate (YPA) Code of Ethics standards.
- Promote positive youth development, harm reduction, and wellness strategies in every interaction.
Qualifications:
- Lived experience of unaccompanied homelessness or housing instability as a youth (ages 16–24).
- High School diploma or equivalent required
- Must be committed to obtaining the Youth Peer Advocate (YPA) Credential within 6 months of hire.
- Must complete 600 hours of supervised peer support experience to maintain credential.
Work Environment:
- This position may require evening or weekend hours based on agency youth engagement needs.
- Some travel within the five boroughs to accompany youth or attend community events may be required.
Hours: 35 hours per week; Monday – Friday
Salary: $43,00 - 47,000 annually with union benefits
Multilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Proficiency in French, Spanish, or Arabic preferred.
COVID -19 POLICY
The Door follows the CDC and NYS recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Door requires all new hires to be vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they have a qualified exemption.
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive community. We support a broadly diverse team who will contribute to our organization. We are an equal opportunity employer for all regardless of race, color, citizenship, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran or reservist status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.
