Job Description

Join our team as a Youth Peer Support Specialist! Are you a passionate advocate with firsthand, lived experience navigating mental health? If so and you're excited about making a difference in the lives of young people, apply with a copy of your resume and cover letter!

Position Summary:

The Youth Peer Support Specialist provides strength-based, recovery-oriented peer support services to children and adolescents experiencing serious emotional disturbance (SED) or serious mental illness (SMI). The ideal candidate is a young adult with personal lived experience of SED/SMI prior to age 21 who has achieved a level of stability in their recovery and is ready to empower, mentor, and advocate for youth navigating similar behavioral health challenges. This role plays a key part in engaging youth in services, promoting wellness and resiliency, and fostering hope for recovery.

Key Responsibilities:

Use lived experience to build rapport, provide mentorship, and offer encouragement to youth with SED/SMI. Actively engage youth in their own recovery and treatment planning processes. Provide support and coaching to promote healthy decision-making, emotional regulation, and goal setting. Help youth develop effective self-advocacy, communication, and coping skills. Assist youth in identifying and accessing community resources, peer supports, and wellness activities. Facilitate individual or group peer support sessions in various settings such as clinics, schools, or homes. Model recovery, resilience, and healthy lifestyle choices. Support youth in navigating systems such as mental health, child welfare, juvenile justice, and education. Document services in an Electronic Health Record system in compliance with program and agency standards. Promote a youth-driven, culturally competent, trauma-informed approach to care. All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

High school diploma or GED required. Must be at least 18 years old. Must have personal lived experience with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) or Serious Mental Illness (SMI) prior to age 21. Must demonstrate a level of recovery and emotional maturity appropriate to serve as a role model for others. Must submit separate application to ADMH Office of Peer Support to insure qualifications. Must be certified or become certified as an ADMH Certified Youth Peer Support Specialist within six (6) months of hire (training time included in paid work hours). Valid driver's license, safe driving record, and current proof of insurance required. Strong communication, active listening, and relationship-building skills. Must be willing to share lived experience, promote recovery, and help youth feel heard and supported.

Transportation Responsibilities:

Provide transportation for consumers as needed using agency or personal vehicles. Maintain a safe driving record and valid driver's license with personal liability insurance. Follow all agency transportation policies, including seatbelt usage, safe cellphone practices, and vehicle documentation. Immediately report any vehicle issues, accidents, or violations to appropriate personnel.

Work Environment & Schedule:

This position is community-based and includes travel to locations throughout the service area in response to behavioral health emergencies. Standard hours are Monday through Friday, allowing for flexible scheduling to include nights, weekends and on-call shifts. This position requires in-person work and is not eligible for remote or hybrid work arrangements. Exposure to emotionally stressful situations may occur.

In-Service Training & Continued Education Requirements:

Must complete required agency and ADMH trainings, including ADMH Certified Youth Peer Specialist training and certification exam within six (6) months of hire (included in paid working hours). Participate in ongoing continuing education and supervision as required by the program and certification standards. * Completion of PCM Practitioner I or II training required based on program needs.