Young Adult Peer Mentor

Vinfen•Everett, MA

20h•Onsite

About The Position

The Youth and Young Adult (YYA) Access Center (AC) Young Adult Peer Mentor (YAPM) is a young adult who supports YYA to engage in services, supports, and community activities; promotes YYA self-determination; and supports a shift in decision-making to the YYA. YAPMs help YYA through life transitions such as educational/vocational pursuits, relationship changes, getting housing, and other aspects of transition to adult roles, aligning with each YYA’s goals. The AC YAPM is essential in welcoming new YYA to services and to the activities offered at the AC, and offers ongoing engagement and support to YYA. Established in 1977, Vinfen is a nonprofit, health and human services organization and a leading provider of community-based services to individuals with mental health conditions, intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and behavioral health challenges. Their services and advocacy promote the recovery, resiliency, habilitation, and self-determination of the people they serve. Vinfen's 3,500 dedicated employees provide a full range of supportive living, health, educational, and clinical services in over 550 sites throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Requirements

A high school diploma or equivalent is required
Experience as a recipient of services for people with psychiatric conditions and be well along in own personal recovery (self-knowledge and habits needed to support one's own health) required.
One year experience working with Youth and Young Adults experiencing co-occurring disorders in addition to psychiatric conditions required.
All applicants must be able to become CPR, First Aid certified within 2 weeks of employment
Certified Peer Specialist or successfully complete the Core Elements of Young Adult Peer Mentoring Training by six months of hire
Must become a Certified Peer Specialist within 1 year of hire.
All candidates must be able to successfully pass a CORI, reference, and driving record check
A valid driver's license must be presented at the time of employment.
Incumbents must be at least 21 years of age.
Must have maintained a valid US driver's license for at least one year.
Must be able to pass a driver's screening background check.
Competent in the use of the Young Adult Peer Mentoring Practice Profile.
Knowledge of both the DMH Child Youth and Family and Adult services systems.
Ability to assist YYA in participating in service planning to meet YYA expressed goals.
Skilled in mediation and conflict resolution.
Willing to use and share their personal, practical experience of recovery process, wellness management, and the personal effort and commitment required for YYA to have a full and satisfying life in the community.
Strong commitments to the right and ability of people served to live, work, have meaningful relationships, and receive the resources and supports needed in their community of choice.
Knowledge of person-centered, strengths-based, recovery-oriented values, principles, and modalities.
Knowledge of Peer Support practices and ethical standards.
Ability to learn and use evidence-based approaches.
Ability to create and maintain supportive, trusting relationships with YYA served by the AC.
Commitment to maintain confidentiality of YYA.
Knowledge of engagement and participatory planning techniques.
Sensitivity to the cultural, religious, ethnic, disability, and gender/gender identity differences of YYA.
Knowledge and use of advocacy techniques.
Respect for and knowledge of legal, civil, and human rights of YYA.
Knowledge of community resources, supports, and services.
Ability to work independently as well as a part of a team.
Ability to use crisis intervention techniques and relapse prevention techniques.
Ability to balance competing priorities.
Ability to make independent judgments and decisions.
Knowledge of personal computer applications and equipment.
Personal, first-hand experience (not just having a friend or family member) being a recipient of the mental health system, which encompasses experiences such as psychiatric inpatient hospitalization, outpatient services/therapy, experience with psychiatric medications, and/or participating in mental health groups in the community. While a formal mental health diagnosis is not required, your involvement with mental health services must be related to your experience with mental health, emotional health and/or trauma resulting in significant life disruption.
Driving is a requirement of this position.
Must maintain a safe driving record, which is subject to annual checks.
If using a personal vehicle, must possess and maintain adequate insurance.
Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, crawl, climb as this is a very physically active position.
Must be able to lift at least 25 pounds using proper lifting techniques or the use of a two-person lift.
Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment such as a calculator, copier, and printer.
Ability to sit, reach, climb stairs, and maneuver through narrow spaces or hallways.
Ability to assist clients with tasks of daily living.
Ability to speak, hear, and communicate with clients, staff, and external representatives.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
NET required.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in a human services discipline strongly preferred
Access to an operational and insured vehicle and willing to use it to transport Youth and Young Adults strongly preferred
Bi-lingual/bi-cultural applicants encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Works with the YYA (if chosen) to enhance skills of self-direction and empowerment.
Shares personal experiences; provide non-directive support, coaching, and modeling to support and improve engagement in services and assist with identifying and accessing existing and new services, service providers, and recovery tools and resources.
Provides individual 1:1 peer mentoring to 5-10 YYA.
Uses the Young Adult Peer Mentoring Practice Profile to define role.
Provides the core staffing for the AC and engages YYA during drop-in hours.
Staffs activities and events held by the AC, supporting the full participation of YYA.
Works collaboratively with TIP Facilitators and other AC staff to welcome YYA "dropping in," offer peer support, and orient to services available at the AC.
Facilitates a regular schedule of peer support groups that address topics relevant to YYA while fostering a non-judgmental, open, and mutual environment.
Assists Peer Leadership Coordinator (PLC) and collaborates with other AC staff to recruit for and support the YA Leadership Council.
Supports PLC and collaborates with other AC staff to plan events and training opportunities for the AC staff, YYA, and the community-at-large based on identified needs of the YYA at the AC and the communities served.
Provides outreach and marketing efforts to educate YYA and other stakeholders in the community about the program and services, including by reaching out directly, creating and distributing marketing materials, and collaborating with other AC staff.
Attends community events and activities to engage with YYA and explain the benefits and supports available to YYA at the ACs.
Assists the AC leadership, clinician, and TIP Facilitator staff with the identification and accessing of existing and new services and service providers that will benefit the YYA.
Helps the YYA to develop supportive relationships and community connections.
Promotes the development of healthy lifestyles and wellness practices, including addressing substance use.
Supports the YYA in the development of self-sufficiency and positive employment behaviors.
Helps the YYA to identify their needs and goals relating to education, employment, family relationships, spirituality, and social recreation, and ensure they are integrated in their service planning.
Helps YYA in communicating and working effectively with service providers, employers, natural supports, family members, and others to achieve their goals.
Helps YYA in developing life skills, finding their voice and identifying and using their strengths.
Uses Gathering and Inspiring Future Talent, Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), motivational interviewing, harm reduction, and other evidence informed/based and best practice models, as trained.
Promotes discovery and recovery as they use their own lived experience in a purposeful, strengths-based way to support YYA.
Inspires hope and future focus in YYA.
Attends in-service trainings and staff meetings.
Helps YYA develop self-advocacy skills, in groups or individually.
Serves as a bridge between the child/young adult-serving mental health service systems on behalf of the YYA.
Helps maximize choices available to YYA as well as their self-determination, and participation and decision-making in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of their services.
Models effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.
Provides crisis intervention, when needed.
Works collaboratively as a cohesive unit with all other AC staff, both within the AC and collaboratively with other area ACs, to deliver services under the leadership of the AC Program Director (PD).
Performs other related duties, as assigned.