Youth Peer Support Specialist
About The Position
The Youth Peer Support Specialist assists clients aged 13–25 in emergency, outpatient, or inpatient settings with recovery and community living. The role draws on the specialist’s personal experience with mental illness, substance use, or co-occurring disorders and recovery to provide support, coaching, advocacy, and hope. The specialist helps young people identify goals, build self-care and support systems, navigate services, and participate in decisions affecting their lives. The position also involves facilitating groups and community events, contributing to clinical team discussions, transporting clients when needed, and completing documentation in accordance with agency and applicable program standards. This is a full-time, non-exempt position based in Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; some evenings may be required depending on agency or client needs. Pay is $16.42–$18.82 per hour, depending on experience.
Requirements
- High school diploma, GED, or HSE.
- Must self-identify as a former or current consumer of mental health, behavioral health, substance use, or co-occurring disorder services.
- Must hold, or be eligible to obtain within 75 days of starting, a valid Certified Peer Specialist Credential from the Missouri Credentialing Board.
- Must be eligible to obtain a Youth Peer Specialist credential.
- Must hold a valid driver’s license: Class E for Missouri residents or Class D for Illinois residents; the listed license must be obtained on the start date.
- Must have current continuous auto insurance.
Responsibilities
- Provide one-on-one support, coaching, and advocacy.
- Share stories of hope and personal recovery experience to promote resilience and serve as a role model.
- Empower and support youth in meeting their needs and identifying goals and next steps.
- Maintain a positive attitude toward the agency and its clientele.
- Assist young people as they navigate traditional systems.
- Promote young people’s active participation in conversations with system partners and other professionals.
- Encourage young people to work toward systems change.
- Facilitate groups and coordinate community events for young people.
- Promote services that support youth integration into their communities.
- Engage in decision-making and policy-planning discussions at local, state, and national levels.
- Help clients identify individual warning signs and develop relapse-prevention strategies to avoid hospitalizations.
- Assist clients in developing support systems and self-care skills, including self-advocacy, coping, and social skills.
- Participate as a clinical team member and provide the client’s point of view at team meetings, treatment-planning meetings, and psychiatric visits.
- Transport clients in an agency or personal vehicle when necessary and appropriate to program requirements.
- Document services according to clinical policies and procedures, DMH, CARF, other applicable federal or state program requirements, and agency standards.
Benefits
- 24 paid days off during the first year, plus a day off for the employee’s birthday.
- Seven paid holidays.
- Competitive health, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance.
- Company-paid life and LTD insurance.
- Retirement auto-enrollment.
- Employee referral program.
- Additional benefits may be available; benefits may vary depending on hours worked.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Education Level
High school or GED
