Peer Advocate

If you want to make a living by making a difference, join Acenda as an

Counselor Non-Exempt Job Title: Peer Advocate

About Acenda Integrated Health

Acenda Integrated Health provides 100+ behavioral health programs, including mental health services, crisis care, substance use recovery, family therapy, maternal and pediatric support, and residential programs across New Jersey. Our team enjoys competitive benefits, work-life balance, professional development, and team engaging events. Acenda is recognized as a multi-year Top Workplace by USA Today and The Inquirer and a Top Workplace Culture award winner for Work-Life Balance as well as Joint Commission accredited and certified by MHCA and the New Jersey Alliance for Children, Youth, and Families. Join #TeamAcenda and make a lasting impact.

Job Overview

The Peer Advocate provides assertive outreach and engagement to young adults transitioning out of foster care in Burlington County, offering consistent support and connection to services. This role helps participants build essential life skills—such as maintaining housing, developing employment and social skills, managing benefits, and navigating conflict—while leveraging professional training and lived experience to guide and empower them.

As an integrated health organization Acenda values the use of evidence-based practice or EBP's.

Program Info

Connect to Home is a supportive housing model working in collaboration with the Department of Children and Families Office of Housing (OOH) and the Department of Community Affairs to support youth and/or parenting youth who are currently involved with the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P) or have been in DCP&P custody for at least one day in their life in Burlington County. These youth must be homeless or at risk of homelessness. These individuals are identified by the Burlington County DCP&P offices. This housing first program model supplements safe and stable housing for at-risk young adults with voluntary supportive services.

Key Responsibilities:

• •Provides assertive outreach and engagement to young adults transitioning out of foster care and residing in Burlington County
• •Assist program participants in the development of life skills such as resolving interpersonal conflict in their environment, maintain housing, developing work skills, safety skills, social skills, and managing/receiving benefits
• •Use training, professional strategies with lived experience (where appropriate) to assist and support that program participants and the provider agency.

Requirements:

• •High-School diploma and a minimum of one-year of professional experience.
• •Previous lived experience in the child welfare system or homelessness/severe risk of homelessness.
• •Demonstrates a passion for working with young adults, especially those with complicated needs and histories.
• •Must have and maintain a valid driver's license, use of an insured vehicle and an acceptable driving record

Additional Information:

• •Starting Compensation: $19.30
• •Sign-on Bonus: $250
• •Schedule: Flexible Hours, Day/Night/Occasional Weekends
• •Bilingual-Spanish differential: An additional $1.50 added to the base rate is Spanish proficient.

What we provide:

An Innovative culture that encourages you to grow and learn with the agency

Mission-driven core

Acenda Integrated Health is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Department/Program

Connect to Home (CTH)