What are the responsibilities and job description for the Peer Mentor position at Opportunity Development Centers, Inc.?
Job Description
Salary:
Position Description
Job Summary: Peer Mentors support people with developmental disabilities to live, work and belong in their community. Peer Mentors help people to be independent. Peer Mentors help people with their person-centered plans. Peer Mentors share their life experiences. Peer Mentors share their experiences with services to help people be more self-directed. Peer Mentors support people to learn problem-solving and self-advocacy skills. Peer Mentors help people build their self-esteem and self-confidence.
Peer Mentors work with people to:
Create plans for their work together and the steps they will take to help the person meet their life goals.
Prepare for their Person-Centered Planning (PCP) meetings and provide support at the meeting.
Help connect people to resources for public benefits, housing, employment, transportation, training and education, advocacy, and recreation.
Build a positive, trusting relationship to discuss problems and challenges and build on what is working.
Qualifications And Requirements
Must be 18 years old.
Must have an intellectual/developmental disability (IDD)
Must be willing to share personal experiences to guide and support others.
Experience receiving disability-related supports and services.
Understand and be able to explain rights to the person they are mentoring.
Obtain certification as a Peer Mentor through the Certifying Agency
Ability to work in-person and virtually.
Preferred experience:
Ability to be excited, honest, and upbeat with people.
Ability to listen closely and work to find solutions to problems.
Ability to support people to develop Self-Determination skills.
Ability to find services and resources.
Knowledge about local agencies
Ability to develop relationships with agencies.
Reporting Relationship:
Reports to the Supervisor at the Agency employing the Peer Mentor
Duties and Responsibilities:
Duty 1: Peer Mentor (70% of their work time)
Create a good relationship with a person who has selected them as their Peer Mentor
Share part of their story and get to know the persons hopes and dreams.
Develop a Plan with the person. This plan must have a list of goals and action steps.
Assist the person in building a circle of support and connect with community resources to
help meet their goals.
Serve as an advocate with family members and friends to assist the person in having selfdirection.
Participate in the person-centered planning process, if the person wants help.
Spend time with the person to support them to reach their goals.
Medicaid reporting: Write down the date of your meetings, the length of time of your
meeting, what you discussed, if it was in-person or virtual meeting.
Duty 2: Ongoing Peer Mentor Training and Networking (15% of their work time)
Attend training with the agency, community or through advocacy organizations to
improve your mentor skills in person-centered planning, independent facilitation, selfdetermination,
community inclusion, employment, and transportation resources.
Maintain contact with the Peer Mentor group through monthly and quarterly conference
calls and scheduled meetings.
Encourage Self-Determination as an option for all people through public speaking at
conferences, training and other events, when asked.
Provide group peer to peer education on self-advocacy, self-determination, and rights.
Agency Requirements (10% of their work time)
Attend agency new employee training and new employee orientation.
Complete all State, County, and agency training requirements.
Follow all agency policies and procedures, including code of conduct and ethics.
Educational Support (5% of their time)
Share information at meetings for people, staff, and funders about the role of a Peer
Mentor and potential support and services available.
Salary:
Position Description
Job Summary: Peer Mentors support people with developmental disabilities to live, work and belong in their community. Peer Mentors help people to be independent. Peer Mentors help people with their person-centered plans. Peer Mentors share their life experiences. Peer Mentors share their experiences with services to help people be more self-directed. Peer Mentors support people to learn problem-solving and self-advocacy skills. Peer Mentors help people build their self-esteem and self-confidence.
Peer Mentors work with people to:
Create plans for their work together and the steps they will take to help the person meet their life goals.
Prepare for their Person-Centered Planning (PCP) meetings and provide support at the meeting.
Help connect people to resources for public benefits, housing, employment, transportation, training and education, advocacy, and recreation.
Build a positive, trusting relationship to discuss problems and challenges and build on what is working.
Qualifications And Requirements
Must be 18 years old.
Must have an intellectual/developmental disability (IDD)
Must be willing to share personal experiences to guide and support others.
Experience receiving disability-related supports and services.
Understand and be able to explain rights to the person they are mentoring.
Obtain certification as a Peer Mentor through the Certifying Agency
Ability to work in-person and virtually.
Preferred experience:
- lives or has lived independently (not in your family home)
- has or has had a job in the community, and
- is actively involved in your community.
Ability to be excited, honest, and upbeat with people.
Ability to listen closely and work to find solutions to problems.
Ability to support people to develop Self-Determination skills.
Ability to find services and resources.
Knowledge about local agencies
Ability to develop relationships with agencies.
Reporting Relationship:
Reports to the Supervisor at the Agency employing the Peer Mentor
Duties and Responsibilities:
Duty 1: Peer Mentor (70% of their work time)
Create a good relationship with a person who has selected them as their Peer Mentor
Share part of their story and get to know the persons hopes and dreams.
Develop a Plan with the person. This plan must have a list of goals and action steps.
Assist the person in building a circle of support and connect with community resources to
help meet their goals.
Serve as an advocate with family members and friends to assist the person in having selfdirection.
Participate in the person-centered planning process, if the person wants help.
Spend time with the person to support them to reach their goals.
Medicaid reporting: Write down the date of your meetings, the length of time of your
meeting, what you discussed, if it was in-person or virtual meeting.
Duty 2: Ongoing Peer Mentor Training and Networking (15% of their work time)
Attend training with the agency, community or through advocacy organizations to
improve your mentor skills in person-centered planning, independent facilitation, selfdetermination,
community inclusion, employment, and transportation resources.
Maintain contact with the Peer Mentor group through monthly and quarterly conference
calls and scheduled meetings.
Encourage Self-Determination as an option for all people through public speaking at
conferences, training and other events, when asked.
Provide group peer to peer education on self-advocacy, self-determination, and rights.
Agency Requirements (10% of their work time)
Attend agency new employee training and new employee orientation.
Complete all State, County, and agency training requirements.
Follow all agency policies and procedures, including code of conduct and ethics.
Educational Support (5% of their time)
Share information at meetings for people, staff, and funders about the role of a Peer
Mentor and potential support and services available.
