Certified Peer Support Specialist/Trainee (Parent Partner)

Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health is seeking Multiple Certified Peer Support Specialist/Trainee - Parent Partners to support a variety of programs. This recruitment will be used to fill current and future vacancies across multiple locations throughout Riverside County.

About the role

In this role, Peer Support Specialists/Trainee Parent Partners provide support, encouragement, and guidance to parents and primary caregivers of children or youth receiving behavioral health services, drawing on their own lived experience supporting their own children, foster children, or children in their care through behavioral health recovery. They assist parents and primary caregivers with navigating services, accessing community resources, developing coping strategies, and working toward personal goals. Incumbents share their experiences, when appropriate, to inspire hope, promote resilience, and strengthen engagement in treatment. They also collaborate with clinical teams by offering the parent or caregiver perspective, advocate for the children's needs, support system navigation, and complete required documentation while participating in ongoing training and supervision.

Competitive candidates will possess current or previous experience as a parent or primary caregiver of a child or youth who is receiving, or has received, behavioral health services for at least one year.

Responsibilities

• Provide meaningful self-disclosure of lived experience as a parent/primary caregiver of a child or youth's behavioral health-related recovery and resiliency to families served in the system of care (required by State Certification).
• In a training capacity, inform, train, support, and empower families and caregivers of children and youth who directly or indirectly receive behavioral health services.
• Communicate, represent, and promote the parent and caregivers' perspective within the behavioral health system.
• Facilitate self-help groups for youth, family members, and caregivers.
• Attend and participate in special events, conferences, workshops, and trainings within the behavioral health system and in the community.
• Develop activities, programs, and resources which support families and caregivers in achieving their goals.
• Support the appropriate recognition, acceptance, and understanding of social and cultural factors in the provision of behavioral health services.
• Develop effective working relationships with agencies and organizations to advocate for consumer, family, and caregiver empowerment.
• Help prepare and support clients, families, and caregivers at progress consultation meetings and at a variety of formal and informal hearings.
• Help parents and primary caregivers and those who support them to articulate their needs.
• Focus on and be sensitive to parent and caregiver satisfaction with the services received and general satisfaction with behavioral health services.
• Document all activities as required, following appropriate Medi-Cal billing practices.

Requirements

Peer Support Specialist Trainee

• Education: Possession of a high school diploma, G.E.D. equivalency, or high school proficiency certificate is required.
• Experience: Current or previous recovery experience as a parent or primary caregiver of a child or youth who has received behavioral health services for at least one year.
• Other Requirements: Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification must be obtained within two (2) years of the employee start date. Failure to obtain a Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification may lead to termination. Possession of a valid California Driver's License may be required. Spanish Bilingual exam may be required.

Certified Peer Support Specialist

• Education: Possession of a high school diploma, G.E.D. equivalency, or high school proficiency certificate is required.
• Experience: Current or previous recovery experience as a parent or primary caregiver of a child or youth who has received behavioral health services for at least one year.
• Certification: California State Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification. A valid Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification must be obtained prior to the employment start date. Employees holding a Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification must be re-certified every two (2) years. Failure to maintain a valid Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification may lead to termination.
• Other Requirements: Possession of a valid California Driver's License may be required. Spanish Bilingual exam may be required.

Skills

Peer Support Specialist Trainee

Knowledge of: The basic needs and difficulties faced by ethnically diverse consumers, caregivers, and families of behavioral health and/or substance abuse consumers; the public and/or private agency services available for families, children, and adults with serious behavioral health needs, such as schools, social services, and other systems.

Ability to: Learn the basic principles of the behavioral health system and effectively work within the system; represent and advocate for the consumer perspective within the community and behavioral health system; understand the cultural and social factors affecting behavior patterns; effectively communicate the workings of the behavioral health system to service consumers, parents, family members, and caregivers; establish and maintain working relationships with a wide range of community agencies and organizations; obtain and record accurate information for case documentation and other reports.

Certified Peer Support Specialist

Knowledge of: The needs and difficulties faced by ethnically diverse consumers, families, and caregivers of behavioral health and/or substance abuse consumers; the public and/or private agency services available for families, children, and adults with serious behavioral health needs, such as schools, social services, and other systems; the self-help and consumer-oriented treatment models; and methods to effectively communicate with consumers, families and caregivers, the community, and the behavioral health treatment team.

Ability to: Understand the principles of the behavioral health system and effectively work within the system; effectively represent and advocate for the consumer perspective within the community and behavioral health system; understand and articulate the cultural and social factors affecting behavior patterns; effectively communicate the workings of the behavioral health system to service consumers, parents, family members, and caregivers; establish and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of community agencies and organizations; obtain and record accurate information for case documentation and other reports.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to remain standing for long periods, with or without reasonable accommodation, depending on departmental needs.
• Must be able to independently lift and move items weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation, depending on departmental needs.

Pay

• Peer Support Specialist Trainee: $20.2151-$27.7092 per hour
• Certified Peer Support Specialist: $24.2363-$32.9854 per hour

Schedule

Work schedules vary depending on program and operational needs.

About the team

Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health is a leading provider of mental health and substance use services in Riverside County. With a dedicated team of professionals, including psychiatrists, clinicians, peer specialists, and paraprofessionals, RUHS-BH serves over 45,000 individuals annually. We are committed to delivering culturally competent, evidence-based care across all ages. Our programs, including Mental Health Services, Substance Use Services, and the Public Guardian’s Office, address the diverse needs of our community. At RUHS Behavioral Health, you’ll join a compassionate, innovative team where your skills make a real difference. We offer opportunities for growth, collaboration, and meaningful impact.

For more information, please visit www.ruhealth.org/behavioral-health.