Certified Peer Specialist (CPS)

About the role

A Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) serves as an advocate and mentor to Transition Age Youth (ages 14–26) with serious mental illness and/or emotional disturbance. The role focuses on developing community supports, navigating mental health systems, accessing resources, and supporting wellness and recovery based on personal lived experience to inspire hope and help youth reach their full potential. The CPS assists in identifying individualized goals and walks the young person through the steps to achieve them.

Weekly meetings occur in the home and community with emphasis on maintaining personal wellness, developing coping skills, building social skills and a social community, identifying educational and/or employment opportunities, improving functioning in their environment, and enhancing daily living skills.

Qualifications

• Certified as a Peer Specialist (CPS)
• High school diploma or GED
• Valid driver’s license, insurance, and vehicle
• Able to work at least 20 hours per week, including a minimum of 3 evenings
• Exhibit stability and competency in personal wellness and recovery and use of coping skills
• Ability to reflect the culture and understand the values of the Transition Age Youth population
• Proficiency in reading, writing, and computer literacy

Responsibilities

• Participate in weekly individual supervision
• Engage in local travel using own vehicle to offsite locations as required by caseload, supervision, and/or trainings
• Transport youth to various community locations as needed
• Document session activity through electronic health records, progress notes, and program-specific paperwork by typing
• Ensure program files are organized and paperwork is completed within required deadlines
• Maintain a varied work schedule, including evenings
• Meet at least weekly with all assigned youth on an assigned caseload
• Work both individually and in teams with colleagues
• Effectively communicate and interact with youth, peers, and community representatives
• Serve as a role model and coach to guide youth toward recovery through shared experiences
• Assist youth in implementing identified coping strategies to aid with crisis support
• Support the development of community roles and natural supports
• Assist with accessing and participating in community events and activities
• Cultivate youth’s ability to make informed, independent choices
• Plan and facilitate practical activities leading to increased self-worth and independence
• Model and promote skills needed for community integration and independent living
• Assist youth to develop and maintain positive personal and social support networks
• Support youth in becoming active community members
• Use and implement the 5 core values of Trauma-Informed Care in all work practices: Safety, Trustworthiness, Choice, Collaboration, and Empowerment

Pay

Starting rate of $17.00 per hour. All staff start at part-time with the potential to build to a full-time position.

Benefits

• Part-time positions available with potential to transition to full-time
• Annual rate increases
• 9 paid holidays (paid at 4 hours each) when maintaining 20 hours per week
• Paid Time Off accrual when maintaining 20 hours per week
• 401(k) plan with company match and profit sharing
• Mileage and expense reimbursement for travel and training
• Clearance reimbursement