Youth Peer Support Specialist- Per Diem

Community Concepts • Paris, ME

8d • $0 - $16 • Hybrid

About The Position

This position provides guidance and encouragement as youth navigate challenges related to education, employment, healthcare, housing, and daily living. The Youth Peer Support Specialist is a young adult with lived experience navigating mental health challenges and/or youth-serving systems who provides peer-based support to youth through shared experiences, mutual respect, and recovery-oriented practices. This position can be based out of the Rumford or South Paris Office, with a service area of Oxford County, is per diem and up to 15 hours per week, and schedule must meet the needs of individuals and/or families, and may include some evenings, occasional weekend coverage.

Requirements

• Lived experience navigating mental health challenges and/or youth-servicing systems (such a children’s behavioral health, foster care/child welfare, or juvenile justice)
• Valid Driver’s License
• Pre-employment background checks: Maine Background Check Center (SBI, Direct Care Worker Registry, Maine and National Sex Offender Registry, fraud, and federal debarment), DHHS- Child and Adult Protective, and DMV must be completed upon offer of hire and as a condition of continued employment; valid driver’s license and travel within the service area is required.

Nice To Haves

• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• One year or paid or unpaid peer support experience preferred

Responsibilities

• Ability to obtain Maine Youth Peer Support (YPS) Certification within 6 months of hire
• Build supportive, recovery-oriented relationships with youth by utilizing lived experience to foster hope, resilience, and empowerment.
• Provides ongoing peer support, encouragement, mentoring, and advocating to youth and, when appropriate, their families.
• Assist youth in identifying personal goals and developing skills to increase independence and self-advocacy.
• Participate in planning and problem-solving with youth and treatment team members to support goals identified in the treatment plan.

Benefits

• Earned Time Off
• Flexible Schedule
• Mileage Reimbursement
• Paid Training Opportunities Provided
• Community Concepts is a qualified employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

What This Job Offers

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