<p>The Youth Advisor in Adams County Health Department (ACHD) will be a part of the Youth Engagement Team working to empower and amplify youth voices, particularly around the issues of substance misuse, mental health, and social justice. This position will support young people in the ACHD Youth Advisory Council, acting as a mentor who not only fosters their growth but also equips them with the skills and confidence to advocate for positive social change in their communities. Youth should feel heard, respected, and empowered under this position's mentorship, with the resources and guidance to lead impactful initiatives.</p> <p>As a liaison between ACHD and youth, this Youth Advisor will build bridges of open communication, ensuring that the perspectives and lived experiences of young people are meaningfully integrated into departmental initiatives and policies. This involves actively listening to and engaging with youth in ways that respect their voices and reflect cultural awareness, leading to strong, supportive relationships. A successful Youth Advisor is, above all, a trusted advocate and resource for young people, creating a space and platform where youth voices shape our community's health landscape. The impact of this position's work will be seen in empowered youth leadership, strengthened public health initiatives, and ACHD policies that reflect the lived experiences of Adams County's young residents.Liaison, Mentorship, and Support for Youth Advisory Council Members</p> <ul> <li>Act as a liaison between the Adams County Health Department and the youth community, focusing on addressing social justice and equity issues in the context of opioid use prevention, substance use prevention and mental health promotion. </li><li>Serve as a mentor for youth members involved in the council and provide guidance on project development, advocacy strategies, and personal and professional growth. </li></ul> <p>Co-facilitation of Youth Advisory Council</p> <ul> <li>Organize and facilitate monthly meetings for the Adams County Youth Advisory Council. </li><li>Collaborate with youth council members to develop agendas for priority areas. </li><li>Facilitate workshops for youth on opioid use prevention, substance use prevention, mental health promotion, social justice, and other public health topics. </li><li>Empower youth with knowledge and skills to address and prevent substance use challenges in their communities. </li></ul> <p>Youth Social Justice Initiatives</p> <ul> <li>Lead and support youth-led social justice initiatives addressing the root causes of substance misuse and mental health inequities. </li><li>Collaborate with youth members on projects and campaigns that advance equity and justice in public health. </li><li>Work to amplify the voices of youth with lived experience of substance misuse and mental health impacts. </li></ul> <p>Community Outreach and Advocacy</p> <ul> <li>Conduct outreach and engage with community- based organizations and youth in conversations around substance use prevention, opioid prevention, youth civic engagement and social justice. </li><li>Work closely with community-based organizations, schools, and community leaders to build partnerships that support youth-led initiatives in specified focus areas. </li><li>Participate in community events to advocate for youth advisory council and represent Adams County Health Department. </li></ul> <p>Data Collection and Reporting</p> <ul> <li>Gather data on the issues surrounding youth and community opioid use, substance use, and mental health challenges. </li><li>Utilize data and ongoing input from youth council members to inform future prevention initiatives and policy recommendations. </li></ul> <p>Commitment to Equity</p> <ul> <li>Creates and maintains partnerships and processes that support and integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of Adams County Health Department work. </li><li>Prioritizes transparency and supports a no wrong door culture. </li><li>Willingness to learn the concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias, and a genuine commitment to equity and inclusion. </li><li>Lived experience with substance misuse. </li><li>Strong understanding or demonstrated willingness to learn youth social justice and equity principles. </li><li>Relationship building skills, including active listening and open communication. </li><li>Ability to mentor and support youth towards positive social change. </li><li>Familiarity with community engagement and advocacy. </li></ul> <p>Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. Lived experience may substitute for experience, on a year-for-year basis. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities is as follows:</p> <p>Education:</p> <ul> <li>Requires a high school diploma or GED. </li></ul> <p>Experience:</p> <ul> <li>Minimum one year prior formal or informal experience in the following: </li><li>Working with youth and/or peers to improve health and social outcomes. </li><li>Leading youth and peers in projects to positively enact change. </li></ul> <p>OR</p> <ul> <li>One (1) year of lived experience in substance misuse treatment and/or behavioral health challenges. This can be personal, family or community-level. </li></ul> <p>Preferred Qualifications:</p> <ul> <li>Experience in youth engagement preferred. </li><li>Bi-lingual preferred. </li></ul> <p>License or Certificate: Possession of or ability to obtain valid Colorado driver's license and access to dependable transportation for business purposes as needed is required.</p> <p>Background Check: Must pass a criminal background check.</p> <p>Other: Bilingual candidates are preferred and may receive a Language Pay incentive based on use.</p> <p>Emergency Preparedness and Response Duties:</p> <ul> <li>Completes trainings identified as appropriate for this level employee. </li><li>Employee participates in all exercises and drills on emergency preparedness and response, as required. </li><li>Employee responds, as required, to support emergencies, incidents and events with a public health and medical impact. </li></ul> <p>HIPAA STATEMENT: Maintain sensitive & confidential client information according to the HIPAA policy confidentiality requirements.</p> <p>WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:</p> <ul> <li>Work is primarily conducted indoors with occasional time spent in an outside environment. </li><li>Incumbent will experience routine, environment. </li><li>Requires travel between Adams County offices and to locations in the surrounding community for meetings and events. </li><li>May be required to work after normal work hours to attend meetings and events. </li><li>Requires sufficient hearing and speech ability to communicate verbally in response to inquiries, complaints, and to speak to groups of people or the media in an informational or training situation. </li><li>Requires sufficient writing ability to communicate needs fluidly and accurately in program development. </li><li>Requires the ability to operate computer and office equipment. </li></ul>