Peer Support Specialist

Easterseals MORC • Auburn Hills, MI

401d

About The Position

The Peer Support Specialist at Easterseals MORC plays a crucial role in supporting individuals with mental health conditions by sharing personal recovery experiences and facilitating their journey towards wellness. This position emphasizes a person-centered approach, integrating mental and physical health care, and advocating for self-directed care. The specialist will engage with beneficiaries to develop recovery goals, provide supportive services, and connect them with community resources, all while promoting a culture of recovery and resilience.

Requirements

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Have a high school diploma, General Education Diploma (GED), or provide college transcripts in lieu of a high school diploma or GED.
• Primary diagnosis of a mental health condition.
• Have 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.
• Has 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.
• Have personal experience in navigating complex mental health treatment services.
• Self-identifies as having a mental health condition with a substantial life disruption and shares their recovery story in supporting others.

Responsibilities

• Share mental health story through lived experience of moving from hopelessness to hope.
• Co-facilitate with the beneficiary in development and implementation of recovery goals in the individual plan of service.
• Integrate physical and mental health care, including the development of wellness plans.
• Develop, implement and provide health and wellness supports to address preventable risk factors for chronic conditions.
• Advocate and assist with opportunities to engage in self-directed care.
• Develop, implement and facilitate support groups.
• Provide supportive services during and after crises.
• Support beneficiaries in completing psychiatric advance directives.
• Assist in accessing benefits and utilizing public assistance.
• Navigate challenging and complex systems of care.
• Link and engage the beneficiary to community resources and formal/informal supports.
• Assist with vocational assistance and support.
• Promote, improve and educate whole health and self-management of chronic conditions.
• Provide housing assistance and support.
• Actively engage with individuals who have criminal justice involvement.
• Apply and model the five stages of recovery to assist beneficiaries in achieving their personal recovery goals.
• Attend team meetings and receive assignments from supervisor, team leader or designee.
• Assist team and staff in identifying program environments that are conducive to recovery.
• Promote individual decision-making and participate in the person-centered planning process.
• Assist individuals in determining goals and objectives that will help reach recovery.
• Assist individuals in creating relapse prevention strategies (WRAP).
• Teach and role model the value of recovery and model effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.
• Attend agency in-services including First Aid/CPR, Therapeutic Crisis Management, Diversity, Infectious Disease and other relevant topics.
• Report and document service activity according to Easterseals MORC's Operations Manual, Medicaid Provider Manual and Michigan Mental Health Code.
• Willingness to travel to various locations within Oakland County.

Benefits

• 3 weeks of Personal Time Off (PTO) and 3 floating holidays, in addition to 10 observed holidays.
• Flexible hours and a culture that values professional development, community service, and collaboration.
• Competitive salary with bonuses and extra incentives.
• Comprehensive salary and benefits package including Medical/Dental/Vision coverage with company contribution.
• Flexible Spending Account and Voluntary Dependent reimbursement options.
• Access to resources centered on well-being, including free access to the Calm app.
• Traditional and 401k options for retirement savings.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Employer.

What This Job Offers

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