Peer Navigator at Cocoon House

The Peer Navigator is responsible for building healthy, supportive relationships with program participants and assisting Cocoon House staff with providing supportive services to all program participants. A Peer Navigator, internally referred to as the Snohomish Young Adult Housing (SYAH)/Youth Engagement Team (YET) Peer Navigator is someone who has experience navigating the challenges and barriers of experiencing homelessness or housing instability and is able to use that experience to help guide program participants that are having a similar experience. In this role, the SYAH/YET Peer Navigator acts as a point of connection between other Cocoon House staff and the similarly aged program participants with whom the Peer Leader may have life experiences in common.

SYAH/YET Peer Navigator Duties & Responsibilities:

Full-Time 40 hrs/week | On-site in Everett, Snohomish County 

Wages: $21-23/hr | +$1.50/hr pay differential for multi-lingual skills with additional paperwork

• Build trusting relationships with program participants through regular check-ins, active listening, and authentic peer support.
• Act as a unique avenue of communication and advocacy for participants, helping to ensure youth voices guide program development and delivery.
• Support youth and young adults in navigating challenges related to homelessness, housing instability, and system involvement (including juvenile justice, foster care, behavioral health, and McKinney-Vento).
• Collaborate with case managers and navigators to help participants achieve goals related to: chemical dependency, mental health, employment, education, financial stability, budgeting, housing access, and documentation needs.
• Provide or help participants connect to socio-emotional supports, community resources, and positive youth development opportunities.
• Assist in maintaining a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment within transitional housing and drop-in program spaces.
• Offer guidance and mentoring on practical life skills, self-advocacy, and independent living.
• Accurately document participant interactions, progress notes, and service outcomes in agency databases.
• Provide input and feedback to program leadership to ensure services remain youth-driven and responsive to participant needs.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision health options with employer contribution
• Multilingual pay stipend
• 403(b) retirement plan
• 21 days of PTO accrued in first year
• 10 agency-recognized holidays
• Paid training & testing: CPR/first aid, food handler's permit, blood borne pathogens, abuse awareness, TB testing, and additional in-depth practical trainings

Skills needed to be successful in this role: 

• Lived Experience: Demonstrated first-hand experience with challenges commonly faced by youth and young adults experiencing homelessness, such as housing instability, financial strain, familial conflict, legal involvement, or chemical dependency.
• System Knowledge: Familiarity with systems and programs such as shelters, transitional housing, juvenile justice, foster care, behavioral health, or McKinney-Vento.
• Peer Leadership: The youth served in this role are between the ages of 12 and 24. As a bona fide occupational qualification for this position, candidates must be within the age range of 21 to 24.
• Relationship Building: Strong ability to build rapport and trust with participants while maintaining professional boundaries; demonstrates empathy, patience, and acceptance of diverse lifestyles, cultures, and experiences.
• Professional Competency: Excellent organizational, time management, and teamwork skills; able to maintain professionalism and adaptability in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• Passion for Support: Genuine enthusiasm for empowering and supporting others, fostering a positive and strengths-based environment.
• Adaptability & Innovation: Openness to evolving strategies and approaches to better serve participants in alignment with Cocoon Houses mission.
• Administrative Skills: Attention to detail with the ability to accurately track data, complete paperwork, and follow agency policies and procedures.

General Requirements: 

• The youth served in this position are between 12 24 years of age, and as a bona fide occupational qualification for the Peer Navigator the candidate must also be in the same age range of 21 24.
• High school diploma/GED or high school equivalency
• Must be 21 years of age or older
• 6 months of experience working with youth preferred
• DCYF background clearance
• Acceptable driver's abstract with no more than 2 violations within last 3 years
• Possess a valid driver's license, auto insurance, and reliable transportation

Physical:

• Ability to effectively communicate with all internal and external clients
• Be able to hear voices and alarms.
• Ability to read and comprehend a variety of materials
• Ability to operate phone, computer, and record information for files and logs
• Must be able to lift up to 50 Ibs
• Must have ability to run up and down indoor and outdoor stairwells in case of youth emergency.
• Go up and down stairs

Compensation details: 21-23 Hourly Wage

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