Youth Peer Support Specialist - Certified

Easterseals MORC•Auburn Hills, MI

20h

About The Position

Easterseals MORC is hiring a Certified Youth Peer Support Specialist to support young people using firsthand lived experience with mental health challenges and treatment. The specialist builds relationships with youth, families, and others involved in a youth’s care; participates on treatment teams; and helps youth take an active role in meetings and treatment planning. The role includes teaching self-advocacy, problem-solving, and independent-living skills; providing support during difficult or crisis situations; facilitating youth groups; and helping youth work toward treatment-plan goals. The specialist also provides education about youth culture and perspectives, challenges bias and stigma, and collaborates with youth and community partners—including schools, faith communities, and human-services organizations—to develop natural supports, reduce service barriers, and improve or create services in response to youth needs. The role requires attending training and completing required documentation in accordance with Agency and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services requirements.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Current Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) certification, which must be maintained.
Meet MDHHS criteria for Youth Peer Support Specialists: be age 18 through 28; have lived experience of mental-health challenges as a youth and experience receiving mental-health services or supports as a youth or young adult; self-identify as an individual with a mental-health condition that has resulted in substantial life disruption; have personal experience navigating mental-health treatment and support systems; demonstrate firsthand understanding of recovery and resiliency and willingness to use one’s recovery story to support others; and meet all MDHHS CPSS certification requirements.
Valid Michigan driver’s license and current auto insurance, which must be maintained.

Responsibilities

Attend required training to enhance skills and meet Agency guidelines and requirements established by MDHHS and other agencies governing Agency operations.
Build and foster relationships with youth, families, and others working with the youth.
Participate as part of the treatment team, meet youth needs, and complete required documentation and paperwork.
Prepare youth to participate in their meetings and treatment-planning processes, including Wraparound, Family Centered Planning, IPOS, and IEP meetings.
Teach self-advocacy, problem-solving, and independent-living skills.
Provide support during difficult or crisis situations.
Provide community education about youth culture and perspectives.
Interrupt bias, promote acceptance, and reduce mental-health stigma.
Empower youth to help others understand their unique mental-health needs.
Collaborate with youth and internal and external partners, including schools, faith communities, and human-services organizations, to develop natural supports, eliminate service barriers, enhance existing services, or develop services based on youth needs.
Co-facilitate youth groups focused on treatment-plan goals.
Provide consultation and education to individuals and groups and use problem-solving techniques to help youth improve or maintain functioning.
Serve as a role model and actively support youth in meeting treatment-plan goals.

Benefits

Low-cost dental, health, and vision insurance.
Dependent care reimbursement.
Up to 5 days of paid FMLA for maternity, paternity, foster care, and adoption.
401(k) retirement plan.
Paid leave options.
Up to $125 bonus for taking 5 days off in a row.
10 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays.
Wellness programs.
Bonuses and extra incentives.
Mileage reimbursement at the IRS rate.
Free financial planning services through LoVasco Consulting Group and SoFi partnerships.
Student loan repayment options.
Pet insurance.
Employer participates in Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).