Establishes the peer advocacy and mentoring program

S 5948 creates a new peer advocacy and mentoring program within New York's Office of Children and Family Services. The program provides peer support, advocacy, and mentoring specifically for youth in residential care facilities, with priority for those placed under Family Court Act §353.3. It requires contracting with nonprofit organizations to hire peer advocates who are former youth in residential care (ages 16-30), trained in emotional/behavioral support, and who maintain confidentiality. The program connects youth to resources like attorneys for the child while ensuring advocates cannot disclose youth identities without consent. This bill establishes concrete policy changes to improve support for vulnerable youth in state care.