Young Adult Peer Mentor

Vinfen • Lowell, MA

1d • $22 - $22 • 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.

Requirements

• 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.
• Must become a Certified Peer Specialist OR complete the “Core Elements of Young Adult Peer Mentoring” training within 6 months of hire. Must become a Certified Peer Specialist within 1 year of hire.
• One year of experience working with YYA.
• Bi-lingual/bi-cultural applicants encouraged to apply.
• Driving is a requirement of this position. A valid driver's license must be presented at the time of employment.
• Incumbents must be at least 21 years of age, have maintained a valid US driver's license for at least one year, and must be able to pass a driver's screening background check.
• Must maintain a safe driving record, which is subject to annual checks.
• If using a personal vehicle, must possess and maintain adequate insurance.
• CPR required within two weeks of hire
• First Aid required within two weeks of hire
• NET required
• Certified Peer Specialist credential required within 12 months of hire

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in a human services discipline preferred.
• In some cases, experience may be substituted for academic training.

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.

Benefits

• A fully funded 401(a), employer-sponsored retirement plan that requires no employee contribution as well as an employee-funded 403(b) plan
• First-rate Medical, Dental and Vision plans that are open all employees scheduled to work 30 hours per week or more. Plus, we offer a generous employer contribution toward the cost of medical insurance!
• Employer-paid Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Long-Term Disability Insurance (no cost to you!)
• Employer-paid Short-Term Disability Insurance for employees who qualify
• Flexible Spending Reimbursement Accounts (Health and Dependent care)
• Voluntary Term Life, Whole Life, Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Generous paid time off (Employees scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week).

What This Job Offers

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