Certified Peer Support Specialist/Trainee - Transitional Age Youth

County of Riverside•Throughout Riverside County, CA

14h•$20 - $33•Onsite

About The Position

Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health is recruiting a Certified Peer Support Specialist or Trainee to support the Friday Night Live - Prop 64 Division. The position provides peer-to-peer outreach, engagement, and supportive services to youth and Transitional Age Youth (TAY) in Riverside County. It focuses on substance-use prevention, early intervention, education, and leadership development, particularly reducing youth cannabis and other substance use and improving access to behavioral health and community resources. The position follows a Monday–Friday, 5/40 schedule, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM. The hourly salary range is $20.2151–$27.7092 for a Peer Support Specialist Trainee and $24.2363–$32.9854 for a Certified Peer Support Specialist. A valid California Driver’s License and CalMHSA Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification may be required depending on the position and program assignment. Trainees must obtain Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification within two years of their start date. Certified Peer Support Specialists must hold California State Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification before their start date and renew it every two years. Both classifications require a high school diploma, GED equivalency, or high school proficiency certificate, along with current or previous recovery experience as a consumer of behavioral health and/or substance abuse services.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED equivalency, or high school proficiency certificate.
Current or previous recovery experience as a consumer of behavioral health and/or substance abuse services.
For the Trainee classification: obtain Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification within two years of the employee start date; failure to obtain certification may lead to termination.
For the Certified Peer Support Specialist classification: hold California State Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification before the employment start date and recertify every two years; failure to maintain valid certification may lead to termination.
A valid California Driver’s License may be required, depending on the position or assignment.
Knowledge of the needs and difficulties faced by ethnically diverse behavioral health and/or substance abuse consumers, caregivers, and families.
Knowledge of public and private agency services available to families, children, and adults with serious behavioral health needs, including schools and social services.
Ability to learn or understand behavioral health system principles and work effectively within the system.
Ability to represent and advocate for the consumer perspective within the community and behavioral health system.
Ability to understand cultural and social factors affecting behavior patterns; Certified Peer Support Specialists must also be able to articulate those factors.
Ability to communicate how the behavioral health system works to service consumers, parents, family members, and caregivers.
Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with community agencies and organizations.
Ability to obtain and record accurate information for case documentation and other reports.
For the Certified Peer Support Specialist classification: knowledge of self-help and consumer-oriented treatment models and methods for communicating effectively with consumers, families, caregivers, the community, and the behavioral health treatment team.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience engaging with youth or Transitional Age Youth (TAY).

Responsibilities

Use appropriate self-disclosure of lived experience to build rapport and support engagement with youth and TAY, in line with California Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist requirements.
Conduct peer-to-peer outreach, engagement, and support for youth and TAY in school and community settings.
Deliver cannabis and substance-use prevention education and assist with youth-focused prevention activities, including Friday Night Live leadership and engagement programs.
Help youth and TAY access, navigate, and connect with behavioral health, substance-use, educational, and community resources.
Participate in school outreach, community events, presentations, trainings, conferences, and prevention campaigns, representing youth and TAY perspectives and promoting program initiatives.
Assist with youth engagement activities, leadership development, and peer-led discussions or groups related to prevention, wellness, resiliency, and decision-making.
Use culturally responsive, youth-appropriate communication to promote understanding, acceptance, and trust in diverse communities.
Collaborate with schools, behavioral health programs, community organizations, and County partners to support youth and TAY engagement and resource connections.
Help youth articulate needs, goals, and concerns and develop advocacy skills and participation in wellness and prevention activities.
Foster connections to positive peer networks, community involvement, and pro-social opportunities for youth and those who support them.
Maintain documentation, outreach logs, program records, and data according to program expectations and Medi-Cal/County standards.
Monitor and respond to youth and TAY satisfaction with services, engagement experiences, and the program environment.
Contribute to youth-focused prevention materials, activities, and resources that support program goals and youth leadership.