Peer Mentor

Wayside Youth & Family Support Network • Waltham, MA

4d • $21 - $24 • Onsite

About The Position

Wayside Youth & Family Support Network is hiring a Young Adult Peer Mentor for its Program for Assertive Community Treatment for Youth (PACT-Y) at the Waltham site. PACT-Y is a Massachusetts Department of Mental Health-funded, intensive, self-contained, community-based program serving youth and their families. The Peer Mentor works with youth, young adults, caregivers, providers, and a collaborative multidisciplinary team to coordinate care and support recovery. The role involves sharing relevant lived experience, providing emotional and social support, mentoring youth, encouraging engagement and participation in treatment, helping youth navigate systems and access resources, and strengthening family and community supports. The position requires driving in the community and offers a Monday–Friday schedule with flexible scheduling. The salary range is $20.50–$24.00 per hour, depending on experience and certification, plus a $2,000 sign-on bonus, prorated for part-time employment. Wayside provides training in Motivational Interviewing, Courageous Conversations, the Attachment, Regulation and Competency Model (ARC), Trauma Informed Practice, Substance Use Intervention, and Risk and Safety Assessment.

Requirements

• Lived experience of mental health, emotional health, and/or trauma resulting in significant life disruption.
• Willingness to share a recovery story in the context of peer support.
• High school degree or GED.
• Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle.
• Talent for connecting with people.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to assess and manage risk.
• Flexibility, creative thinking, and ability to adapt to competing priorities.
• Excellent boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Work with youth, young adults, caregivers, providers, and a multidisciplinary team to coordinate care.
• Share lived experience as an example of hope for youth and families experiencing distress.
• Provide emotional and social support to people receiving services.
• Support individuals in making positive life changes and developing recovery skills.
• Mentor individuals through recovery and support their goals and decisions.
• Work directly with youth and promote their engagement in services.
• Encourage youth to have an active voice in their treatment.
• Help youth navigate systems, understand available resources, and access supports.
• Support and empower youth with skills and strategies for their behavioral health needs.
• Promote and strengthen families’ natural supports to foster a welcoming, supportive community for youth.
• Respect the rights of youth, particularly regarding cultural competency.
• Collaborate with community-based organizations to provide services and care for clients.
• Drive in the community as required by the position.

Benefits

• $2,000 sign-on bonus, prorated for part-time; half paid after six months of employment and half after one year.
• Comprehensive benefits, including exceptional medical benefits.
• Tuition and training reimbursement.
• PTO package with three wellness days.
• Nine paid holidays.
• Up to three weeks of vacation in the first year.
• Free training and CEUs.
• Financial health supports.
• Career development opportunities.

What This Job Offers

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