Behavioral Health Network of Greater St. Louis
The Behavioral Health Network of Greater St. Louis (BHN) is seeking a Youth/Young Adult Coordinator as part of BHN’s growing line of community initiatives to support youth/young adults. BHN is a collaborative effort of providers, advocacy organizations, government leaders and community members dedicated to developing an accessible and coordinated system of behavioral healthcare throughout the eastern region of Missouri, with emphasis on services to the uninsured and underinsured citizens of St. Louis City and the Missouri counties of Franklin Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, St. Louis and Warren.
QUALIFICATION: Must be 18 years of age or older and have lived experience as a youth/young adult with mental health challenges who have received behavioral health services in the past ten years and be willing to share experiences as they relate to the position.
JOB SUMMARY: The Youth/Young Adult Coordinator for the Missouri Transition-Aged Youth Local Engagement and Recovery (MO TAY-LER) initiative is a full-time position, responsible for working with the identified communities to implement youth peer support networks, youth leadership within agencies that serve young people, and youth leadership within the system of care. This position will cultivate opportunities for youth and integrate youths’ opinions and values into all aspects of the project.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: A qualified candidate for this position will work collaboratively with staff at three agencies (Places for People, BJC Behavioral Health, Compass Health). The candidate will travel to each site on a regular basis to build relationships and provide guidance on youth networking development. The candidate must demonstrate a commitment to youth voice and leadership skills that will engage and nurture youth involvement at every level, and be attuned to best practice and evidence-informed curriculum for youth peer support training and youth adult leadership development.
KEY FUNCTIONS:
· Establish effective communication and relationships with the collaborating partner organizations, especially the Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs).
· Work with Project Director, Coordinator, and state and local partners to identify existing systems and services, gaps and needs related to young adults in transition.
· Work with staff to connect with state-level youth and young adult leadership efforts.
· Work within those efforts to connect the project-based work with ongoing efforts of state-level advisory and policy groups.
· Work with project local site partners (within the greater St. Louis region) to establish youth engagement and peer support development strategies as well as increasing youth voice within participating agencies and the system of care.
· Collaborate with other peers include Youth Peer Support Specialists, Family Support Provider and Adult Peer Support Specialists on joint projects, policy efforts and activities that are likely to support the ongoing influence of the Healthy Transitions project regionally and state-wide.
· Develop and deliver educational training and technical assistance to providers on effective youth engagement and creating organizational cultures that support youth guided and youth directed involvement and collaboration.
· Assist with the social marketing, outreach and awareness building aspects of the project.
· Advise leadership staff on the development of services, practices, and policies.
Required Skills and Knowledge:
· High school/GED required; Bachelor’s degree preferred.
· Two (2) years of responsible employment history.
· Experience working with Transition aged Youth.
· Understanding of the typical services and experiences of youth/young adults that received mental health treatment for serious mental illness and/or participate in public youth or young adult-serving systems.
· Valid driver’s license and insurance.
· Must have completed or will complete the State of Missouri’s Department of Mental Health approved training program and a standardized exam and maintain certification. First Aid, and CPR, and Med Tech certifications. Chauffer’s license, vehicle, and current insurance.
· Networking skills; experience and comfort with public presentation and meeting participation.
· Works collaboratively and respectfully with internal and external interdisciplinary agency providers to build healthy partnerships.
· Maintains positive work relationships, demonstrates cooperation with peers and supervisors, and contributes to a team environment.
· Strong leadership, communication and customer service skills.
· Strong verbal, written, computer, and interpersonal skills.
Supervisory Relationships: This position will not supervise other employees and will be supervised by the Director of Youth Initiatives at BHN.
Travel and Special Conditions: This position is supported by a 5-year grant funded by Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
· Candidate has access to transportation to participate in meetings throughout the 7-county Missouri Eastern region.
· The chosen candidate may be required to travel out-of-state to SAMHSA sponsored conferences, as well as use personal vehicle for local travel to attend meetings.
· Must pass a background check to include criminal history, abuse/neglect and driving record.
Through at least 03/2024, this position will be a part of the implementation team for the Eastern Region Missouri Transition-Aged Youth Local Engagement and Recovery (MO TAY-LER) initiative. This work is supported through a grant to Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH), awarded from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in response to their Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), “FY2019 Healthy Transitions: Improving Life Trajectories for Youth & Youth Adults with Serious Mental Disorders,” SM-19-001. Behavioral Health Network of Greater St. Louis (BHN) is the primary implementor of the project.
Please send a resume and a letter of interest explaining your lived experience as a consumer of mental health services within the last ten years along with your salary requirements to BHN@bhnstl.org
