Peer Support Specialist - PACT (Missoula, MT)

Aware Inc.•Missoula, MT

9d•$21 - $26

About The Position

AWARE is seeking a full-time Peer Support Specialist to support participants served by the PACT team in Missoula, Montana. The role uses the specialist’s personal recovery experience to help individuals engage in their recovery, build on their strengths, and participate actively in services. Support may be provided individually or in groups and includes peer counseling, encouragement, practical assistance, mentoring, advocacy, coordination, problem solving, and help accessing daily-living necessities and community resources. The position requires a high school diploma or HSE, past employment experience, and two years of active participation in mental health self-help, peer support, peer advocacy, participant-run organizations, or similar programs. The Peer Support Specialist must be willing to share their recovery story when appropriate and must obtain and maintain the required Peer Support Specialist Case Manager credential, completing the specified training, assessment, application, and test within the stated process. AWARE describes its workplace as supportive and inclusive and offers opportunities for professional growth and development.

Requirements

High school diploma or HSE.
Past employment experience.
Two years of active participation in mental health self-help activities, peer support or peer advocacy programs, participant-run organizations, or similar experiences or programs.
Ability and willingness to disclose a recovery story, where appropriate, to support empowerment.
Good interpersonal communication skills and the ability to empathize with, relate to, and work effectively with participants in mental health services.
Fundamental skills needed to meet the job requirements.
Must complete 40 total hours of training and an assessment no longer than 90 days before submitting the application; after training and assessment, submit the Peer Support Technician Case Manager application, and, once approved, complete and pass the required test.
Must obtain the required Peer Support Specialist Case Manager credential within six months of hire and maintain the credential.

Nice To Haves

Lived experience of mental health challenges that includes experience with psychosis during youth; this is preferred but not required.
Being a young adult is ideal, though a candidate of any age may be considered if they relate well to young people.
Understanding of the community where the team is based and awareness of available community resources.

Responsibilities

Use personal recovery experience to support individuals receiving services in all aspects of their recovery.
Support the PACT team in working with program participants from a strengths-based perspective.
Provide individual and group peer counseling and support, validating participants’ experiences and encouraging responsibility and active participation in recovery.
Provide practical help, mentoring, advocacy, coordination, individualized side-by-side support, problem solving, direct assistance, and supervision to help participants obtain daily-living necessities and services.
Help participants access medical and dental care, legal and advocacy services, financial supports and entitlements, housing subsidies, money-management services, and transportation.
Complete and maintain the required Peer Support Specialist Case Manager credential.