Family Peer Support Specialist

Lifeworks Austin • Austin, TX

390d • $45,760 - $45,760

About The Position

The Family Peer Support Specialist at LifeWorks Austin provides essential support services and education to individuals through group facilitation, individual mentorship, and community collaboration. This role utilizes a trauma-informed, strengths-based model to promote recovery and wellness among clients, particularly those facing challenges such as chronic homelessness, mental health issues, and substance use. The position is full-time and non-exempt, offering a pay rate of $22.00 per hour, with various benefits included.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED
• 2 years of related individual and group support experience
• State certification as a qualified Peer Support Specialist
• Completion of the Youth and Young Adult Peer Support Training within 6 months of hire
• Lived experience with trauma and substance use or mental health challenges
• Record of maintaining own recovery over the past 2-year period
• Proficient level experience with Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, and Outlook
• Experience with databases

Nice To Haves

• Peer Support Specialist (Mental Health Peer Specialist, Recovery Support Peer Specialist) Texas Certification
• 1+ years' work experience as a Certified Peer Specialist/Peer Supporter
• Completed Youth and Young Adult Peer Support Training

Responsibilities

• Provide client-centered, healing-centered peer support services to diverse individuals who may have experienced chronic homelessness, systems involvement, mental health challenges, substance use challenges, a history of trauma, early pregnancy/parenthood, etc.
• Promote recovery, resiliency, and accountability to help others initiate or achieve long-term recovery to enhance quality of life, health, and wellness.
• Meet with individual clients to establish a safe, healthy relationship for learning, problem-solving, and participating in community activities; assist clients in building a network of support; make referrals and coordinate client services as appropriate.
• Facilitate support groups in community sites through the implementation of program curricula, experiential activities, presentations and discussions, field trips, and/or skill-based activities.
• Plan, develop, and provide recovery-related presentations and outreach on various topics, such as substance use and disease prevention/intervention, health/mental health promotion, trauma and recovery, community resources, relationship-building, and coping strategies.
• Advocate for clients within the community and internally to ensure that client needs are recognized, represented, and addressed.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with agency staff and community contacts such as referral sources, recovery community organizations, peer-run programs in non-recovery organizations, and other service providers.
• Maintain up-to-date online documentation of client services and contacts by frequently entering into the agency database.
• Document client progress toward recovery goals.
• Comply with all requirements outlined by funding sources, licensure and accrediting bodies, the program, and the agency.
• Use crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques to assist clients in mental or emotional crisis.

Benefits

• Health savings account
• Paid holidays
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• Retirement plan

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED