Peer Support Specialist (25-168)

Kent County CMH Authority•Grand Rapids, MI

13h•$17 - $23•Onsite

About The Position

Network180 employees make a difference in people’s lives every day, making our community a better place to live. We are the behavioral health community organization responsible for the delivery of mental health, substance abuse treatment coordination, and developmental disabilities services for Kent County. We need individuals who are passionate about making a difference by helping others. We are seeking a Peer Support Specialist. The Peer Support Specialist will assist individuals in understanding and using mental health and substance use disorders services. The Peer Support Specialist will model competency in recovery and demonstrate on-going coping skills.

Requirements

High School diploma or general education degree (GED).
Must be at least 18 years of age.
Certification as Peer Support Specialist or able to obtain certification within first year of employment by meeting the following requirements: 1. Primary diagnosis of a mental health condition; 2. A strong personal knowledge of what it is like to have first-hand lived experience with a mental health condition that has caused a substantial life disruption; 3. Have been a recipient of mental health treatment and/or services for at least one year, with a substantial life disruption due to their mental health condition; 4. Have personal experience in navigating complex mental health treatment services.
Possession of a valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation for job related use.
Ongoing stability of symptoms and recovery with ability to help others who may be experiencing behavioral health symptoms/crisis.
Knowledge about mental illnesses and/or substance use disorders as well as about recovery and crisis planning.
Computer skills, including word processing, spreadsheets, email, and data entry skills.
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
Excellent problem-solving skills.
Work effectively in a multicultural environment and skills and capabilities of bridging language/cultural barriers to Network180 services within diverse communities.

Responsibilities

Provide professional communication and excellent customer service to individuals in multiple settings that may include a Network180 site location, the individual’s residence, a physician’s office, or other community location.
Provide consumer information about services and how they are delivered.
Use one’s personal recovery story to facilitate the mentoring, encouraging and inspiring of hope to the individual served.
Develop and facilitate/co-facilitate peer support groups and classes, as needed.
Link, advocate or provide services to designated consumers utilizing recovery ideals and models.
Assist with maintaining and developing resources for community use, including pamphlets, books, website, educational, and training materials. Identify additional resources as requested. Develop and implement a plan for sharing this information with consumers and families.
Assist consumers in transitioning to and between provider and community services.
Provide one to one support to consumers waiting for hospitalization.
Provide support to consumers during the time intervals between referral to services and start of follow up services.
Follow up with consumers who miss scheduled appointments.
Work with peer support specialists, recovery coaches, and other interested parties to further develop peer supports services at Network180 and within the community.

Benefits

Four health insurance plans
100% employer paid dental and vision insurance plans
13 paid holidays
Generous PTO
Professional development
Tuition reimbursement
Professional License reimbursement
Defined contribution retirement plan
Employee Assistance program
Life and voluntary life insurance options
Short and Long term disability
Approved site for loan forgiveness (based on position and department): NHSC, STAR Loan Repayment, Behavioral Health Loan Repayment, MI Kids Now Loan Repayment and much more!