What are the responsibilities and job description for the Youth Peer Support Specialist position at Ozark Center?
Job Description Summary:
The Youth Peer Support is responsible for providing rehabilitation and recovery support to youth enrolled in our CPR services. The Peer Support will provide mechanisms and resources to help involve youth in all levels of the System of Care (SOC) including: providing youth leadership, cultivating opportunities for youth voice, and integrating youth voice into services and organizational programming. The Peer Support provides services to individuals impacted by a variety of behavioral health (addiction/substance use and mental health) issues. The Peer Support recognizes that the individuals we serve often times have experienced trauma that affects their development and adjustment. They demonstrate a warm and welcoming, empathic, hopeful attitude while conveying a philosophy of dual recovery. They will be trained in trauma-informed care and will work to provide services in an environment that is sensitive and responsive, which will prevent victimization, abuse, or trauma as a result of the care received. They reports to the Clinical Director.
Education:
- High School Diploma or Equivalent
Responsibilities:
- Educate youth, family members, service providers, and stakeholders about the importance and value of authentic youth voice in individual treatment planning, service delivery, system design, and governance throughout their time in services.
- Address concerns and opportunities for change voiced by youth to improve services, foster hope, reduce stigma, and emphasize the value of engagement in a manner that only a peer with lived experience could provide.
- Identify and help connect youth with professional/personal development opportunities, support groups, and community resources.
- Create, organize, and identify awareness-raising opportunities and participate in relevant committees/ workgroups to advocate and support youth with mental health challenges.
- Provide moral support during crisis or other crucial periods.
- Appropriately submit required documentation, attend meetings, and participate in other activities as defined by the treatment team, family, and youth.
- Provide outreach to youth in the community with the purpose of engaging them into services, identifying barriers, and providing support and resources to the youth.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Other duties may be assigned.
Physical Requirements:
- Typical physical demands include sitting, bending, stooping, and occasional lifting.
- Requires normal range of hearing and manual dexterity to operate telephone.
- Requires the ability to work under stressful conditions and to work irregular hours.
- TB test upon hire.
