Youth Peer Mentor

The Center for Human Development, (CHD), is seeking Youth Peer Mentors for Crisis, Crisis-Stabilization, and Outpatient Programs in our new Community Behavioral Health Clinic located in Chicopee, MA. Take this opportunity to join an exciting new Program! This is a Full Time role with a schedule of Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm.

Your role as a Youth Peer Mentor:

The Youth or Young Adult Peer Mentor is in a position to provide role modeling to youth experiencing symptoms of mental health disorders within the Community Behavioral Health Center’s Mobile Crisis Intervention and Crisis Stabilization Programs. Working with one individual at a time, the Youth Peer Mentor will work with clients on life skills, specifically teaching skills to help youth successfully cope with a behavioral health diagnosis. These staff must have lived experience in coping with a mental health challenge and be willing to use their experience to support and strengthen others.

Some position duties could include:

• Discloses their own recovery story with the express goal of communicating hope
• Models self-help and self-advocacy, utilizing the principles outlined by the Peer Code of Values and Competencies
• Develop a helpful, confidential and supportive relationship with clients and provide informal guidance, act as a sounding board, and build client's confidence and hope.
• Help to set short term goals and motivate the person toward stabilization and recovery
• Shares information about community resources, including other peer-run groups, housing and benefit resources, and community events
• May assist in arranging services to which the individual is being referred
• Accompanies and facilitates participants’ engagement in community activities and resources of their choice, including but not limited to connections with the Recovery Learning Community
• Upon the request of the individual supported, the Peer Specialist / Recovery Coach offers support and advocacy in treatment settings such as at IAP meetings or other appointments

REQUIRMENTS and SUCCESS FACTORS:

• Lived experience with a psychiatric diagnosis and/or substance use
• Completion of the Recovery Coach Academy or Certified Peer Specialist preferred
• Demonstrated ability to engage and build respectful and collaborative relationships with peers, providers, and external agencies
• Experience in advocacy or peer support preferred
• High school diploma or GED required, college degree preferred.
• Ability to pass Red Cross, CPR, and First AID Certification.
• Valid Driver’s License and reliable vehicle for work purposes
• Basic computer skills.

Pay rate: $20.00/hr. complimented with a phenomenal benefits that includes Dental, Health and Life insurance. Paid time off, earned vacation time and paid holidays just to name a few.

AT CENTER FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT (CHD), Care Finds A Way:

The Center for Human Development (CHD) provides a broad range of high quality, community-oriented human services dedicated to promoting, enhancing, and protecting the dignity and welfare of people in need. At CHD we are celebrating differences, inclusion is not just a policy- it is a daily practice. Multicultural, multilingual, and fluent in sign language, CHD is a reflection of those we serve.

CONNECT WITH OUR TEAM TODAY!

If this sounds like the right job for you, do not wait - apply today to join our team. We look forward to hearing from you!

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)