Peer Support Specialist - PACT (Missoula, MT)

Aware•Missoula, MT

4d•Onsite

About The Position

AWARE is looking for a passionate individual to join their team as a peer support specialist. The support provided helps adults, children, and families become active and vital members of their community while focusing on personal growth. AWARE is a compassionate and fully engaged team dedicated to providing the best possible care to clients. The company emphasizes a culture of care and seeks individuals who share this commitment. They offer competitive compensation and benefits, as well as opportunities for professional growth and development.

Requirements

A High School Diploma or HSE is required.
Past employment experience.
Two years of active participation in mental health self-help activities, peer support or peer advocacy programs, or participant run organizations or similar experiences or programs.
Possess the ability/ willingness to disclose their recovery story (where appropriate) for the purposes of empowerment.
Must obtain required certification (Peer Support Specialist Case Manager, complete within 6 months of hire date) including: Complete 40 total hours of training, an assessment completed no longer than 90 days prior to sending in the application, PST will be assessed by AWARE's LCSW, LCPC, LMFT, LAC, physician, psychologist, or an advanced practice registered nurse until they reach mastery level in certain areas; Once the 40 hours online training and the assessment is complete, then the PST submits the noted PST Case Manager Application; Once application is approved, PST will complete and pass required test; PST Case Manager must maintain credential.

Nice To Haves

Lived experience of mental health challenges includes experience with psychosis during his or her youth (personal experience with psychosis is not required).
Ideally the Peer Specialist is a young adult; however, a Peer Specialist of any age may be considered for the position, if he or she relates well to young people.
As much as possible, the Peer Specialist should understand the community in which the team is based with an awareness of available community resources.
Possesses the fundamental skills to meet the job requirements.
Demonstrate good interpersonal communications skills and the ability to empathize with, relate to and effectively work with participants of mental health services.

Responsibilities

Utilize personal recovery experience as a tool to both support individuals receiving services from the team in all aspects of their recovery.
Support the PACT team in working with program participants from a strengths-based perspective.
Provide peer counseling and support, drawing on common experiences as a peer, to validate clients’ experiences and provide guidance and encouragement to take responsibility and actively participate in their own recovery on an individual and group basis.
Provide practical help and supports, mentoring, advocacy, coordination, side-by-side individualized support, problem solving, direct assistance, and supervision to help clients obtain the necessities of daily living including medical and dental health care, legal and advocacy services, financial supports such as entitlements, housing subsidies, money-management services, and transportation.