The Peer Support Specialist provides a variety of services including but not limited to advocacy, training, facilitating recovery, educational and enrichment groups, linkages to community resources, and mentoring. Through their personal and professional experience, the Peer Support Specialist supports families and/or individuals seeking to achieve and sustain recovery to reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence. The Peer Support Specialist empowers families and/or individuals by teaching them how to navigate the behavioral health and child welfare systems to achieve resiliency and recovery as defined by the individual and or family. The Peer Support Specialist acts as the “bridge” between the individual and/or family and the case manager or service provider, increasing awareness of their perspective and improving effectiveness of parent-professional partnerships.

Department Specific Functions

1.    Provides supportive services to program participants. 
2.    Assist individuals with linkage to behavioral health treatment and other community resources
3.    Build supportive relationships with program participants, emphasizing the development of trust, mutual respect, encouragement, and emotional support
4.    Help individuals served identify and/or re-engage with family, friends, and other natural supports and other community resources
5.    Ability to help set mutually beneficial boundaries with individuals    
6.    Help the individual served identify strengths and recognize successes to promote self-esteem and empowerment.    
7.    Reduce or eliminate barriers for individuals served to attend medical appointments
8.    Maintain appropriate standards of confidentiality and ethics
9.    May have to travel using personal vehicle to different locations where the individual may be served including home visits.
10.    Help individuals served identify goals and make choices that promote resiliency and facilitate recovery.
11.    Respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints in a calm, professional manner
12.    Validate the person’s served experiences and provide guidance and encouragement for the person to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery.
13.    Report clinical concerns and high-risk individuals and safety issues as they occur to program staff and supervisors.
14.    Ensure that services reflect and support an individual’s differences, language and cultural diversity.

Minimum Qualifications                                                                                

Education:

High School Diploma or equivalent required

Certification and Licensing:

Peer Support Specialist Certification or willing to work towards certification within first year of employment.

Experience:

• Minimum 2 years in recovery.  Must have a personal history of recovery from behavioral health, substance use or co-occurring disorders and be willing to disclose when necessary. Any relevant education, certifications and/or work experience may be considered.

• Must be bilingual, English and Spanish.

Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes:

Knowledge in the field of Behavioral health and knowledge of community resources and funding sources are desirable. Must have personal knowledge of mental health/substance abuse recovery, must be able to serve as a role model of recovery and must have a minimum of 2 years in recovery.  Must pass a post offer/pre-employment Level II Background Check.  Outstanding communication skills and ability to listen with compassion and to address sensitive issues in a caring, supportive manner.  Excellent interpersonal skills, communicate effectively with peers and management.