Certified Peer Support Specialist

Join our team as a Certified Peer Support Specialist at Behavioral Health Services in Yakima, WA! Be part of a healthcare organization that believes in making a difference beyond medical care. We are a leading community health center in the Pacific Northwest with 40+ clinics across Washington and Oregon, offering medical, dental, pharmacy, orthodontia, nutritional counseling, autism screening, behavioral health, and holistic support services including shelter assistance, energy/weatherization programs, HIV/AIDS counseling, home visits, and mobile medical/dental clinics.

About the Role

• Full-time position (1.0 FTE, 40 hours per week)
• Non-exempt status

Pay

• $20.39–$22.24/hour (DOE, with potential for higher pay for highly experienced candidates)
• Additional pay for bilingual skills (paid on hours worked)

Benefits

• 100% employer-paid health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, 24/7 telemedicine)
• Profit sharing & 403(b) retirement plan available
• Generous PTO and 8 paid holidays

Responsibilities

• Provides peer counseling to youth and their families, individually and in group engagements, in settings such as homes, meetings, courtrooms, hospitals, and schools.
• Assesses and identifies lagging skills, interests, or motivators to ensure successful engagement in the WISe model.
• Establishes and maintains rapport with individuals through community and in-home engagements to encourage participation and retention in the treatment program.
• Works individually and as part of a team to complete CANS Assessments and screen individuals for WISe program eligibility using state-mandated criteria.
• Completes required written narratives (Strengths, Needs, Cultural Discovery) with family input and updates throughout the program.
• Provides peer consultation and shares personal lived experience to support families or youth as they learn new skills.
• Utilizes lived experience to provide peer counseling in crisis stabilization, recovery, self-advocacy, health and wellness, and community living skills development.
• Amplifies family voice and choice in planning and service provision, serving as a role model for competency in recovery and coping skills.
• Shares personal experiences to build trust and encourage program participants.
• Ensures youth/families are present and actively involved in care planning decisions.
• Provides 24-hour crisis support to clients enrolled in WISe via phone or in-person response (home, hospital, or community settings).
• Participates in crisis response on-call rotation, including after-hours coverage.
• Assists individuals with completing action steps according to the plan of care, often in home, school, or community-based settings.
• Provides feedback to the team on family interactions, cultural norms, and preferences for goal setting and care planning.
• Offers skill training, encouragement, emotional support, and behavior redirection to program participants.
• Communicates and educates agency staff on the importance of family voice and choice in family-driven care.
• Facilitates Child and Family Team meetings and agendas in the absence of the Care Coordinator.
• Assists families in identifying and recruiting “natural supports” by strengthening interpersonal relationships and utilizing community resources.
• Completes all required documentation, including individual records of activities, concerns, and behaviors, per YVFWC and applicable standards.
• Meets productivity and service-specific requirements and participates in program meetings as assigned.
• Purchases food and supplies as needed, following all policies and procedures.
• Performs duties in alignment with The Joint Commission (TJC), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and YVFWC requirements.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Self-identification as a person with lived experience, defined as one or more years in recovery from a mental health condition, substance use disorder, or both, or a parent/legal guardian of a youth who is receiving or has received behavioral health services.
• Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) credential or meets the following requirements:
  • Lived experience (as defined above).
  • Verification of supervised experience requirements under WAC 246-929-150, with the required 80-hour training course completed and CPSS application submitted within 45 days of hire.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification within 45 days of hire.
• Valid Driver’s License and proof of automobile liability insurance coverage.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) skills preferred at a level 9 (eligible for Bilingual Differential Compensation upon achieving an ALTA score of 9).

Skills & Knowledge

• Knowledge of Trauma Informed Care.
• Familiarity with Yakima County services and resources for youth and families.
• Understanding of cultural differences and their impact on client support.
• Knowledge of Mental Health First Aid and conflict resolution skills to diffuse stressful situations.
• Effective verbal, written, and listening communication skills.
• Maintains a non-judgmental attitude toward youth, families, and professionals.
• Ability to appreciate and accept parents’ choices and exercise independent judgment and decision-making.
• Ability to apply coping skills when exposed to vicarious trauma.
• Knowledge of Children’s Behavioral Health/WISe principles.
• Ability to work in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Ability to establish rapport with youth/families, participate in physical activities, and redirect negative behavior.
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel.

Work Environment

• May involve exposure to secondary trauma while providing direct services to individuals with behavioral health challenges or trauma histories.
• Client population may include persons involved in gangs, with substance abuse concerns, mental health diagnoses, homelessness, and/or tendencies toward violent behavior.
• May require active participation in activities with clients to ensure supervision and therapeutic engagement.
• Flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Requires reliable transportation and the ability to transport clients.