Certified Peer Specialist - Youth

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The Certified Peer Specialist ~ Youth will work as an integral team member to provide support to young adults ages 10 to 24. The Peer Support Specialist will support and expand services provided by View Point Health Clinician. Services implemented through this role will include but are not limited to ongoing individual and collective recovery support groups, knowledge of community resources and identification of referral opportunities, and resources to support mental health advocacy in communities being served. Youth ages 10-24 receiving care for thoughts of suicide and behaviors at View Point Health will be screened by providers with a comprehensive risk assessment conducted for persons identified at risk for suicide. These individuals will receive evidence-based, trauma informed care that specifically treats suicidal ideation and behaviors.

Youth peer support is a strength-based rehabilitative service provided to youth who are living with mental health, substance use and/or co-occurring health condition. The one-to-one service rendered by a CPS~Y models recovery by using lived experience as a tool for the service intervention within the scope of their knowledge, skills and education. This service intervention is expected to increase the targeted young person’s capacity to function and thrive within their home, school, and communities of choice. The service exists within a full family-guided, youth-driven system of care framework and enables response to the needs of the youth across several life domains, incorporating formal and informal supports, and developing realistic intervention strategies that complement the youth’s natural resources and environment. The services are geared toward promoting self-empowerment of the youth, enhancing community living skills, and developing and enhancing natural supports

One of the primary functions of the Youth Peer Support service is to promote youth and family recovery. While the identified youth is the target for services, recovery is approached as a family journey towards self-management and developing the concept of wellness and functioning while actively managing a substance use and/or chronic mental health condition, which enable the youth to be supported in wellness within his/her family unit. Youth are supported by the CPS-Y in learning to live life beyond the identified behavioral health condition, focusing on identifying and enhancing the strengths of the youth and the family unit. As a part of this service intervention, a CPS-Y will articulate points in their own recovery stories that are relevant to overcoming obstacles faced by the youth-recipient of behavioral health services and promote personal responsibility for recovery as the youth/family define recovery

Duties& Responsibilities:

•     Travel is required in Newton and Rockdale counties in your personal vehicle to meet with young adults at home and community locations.
•     Work hours may vary depending on client schedules and needs.
•     Attending weekly team meetings to identify and address additional client needs.
•     Receive specialized training in order to facilitate training or groups to clients and / or community partners.
•     Maintain accurate, timely and detailed documentation to meet View Point Health, state and federal grant reporting requirements.
•     Maintain CPS~Y credential through ongoing state sponsored professional development activities and trainings.
•     Other duties may be assigned. 

 Minimum Qualifications:

•  High School Diploma
• Willingness to share personal lived experience of suicidal thoughts or behaviors with youth and young adults with thoughts or behaviors related to suicide.
•  Must be credentialed as a Certified Peer Specialist ~ Youth (CPS~Y) certification or eligible for CPS~Y certification and be prepared to apply for certificate training program.

Requirements/Competencies:

• Must be credentialed as a Certified Peer Specialist ~ Youth (CPS~Y) or eligible for CPS~Y certification and prepared to apply for certificate training program. 
•  Must be between 18 ~ 30 years of age (if already credentialed or between ages 18 ~ 26 if not already credentialed).
•  Must have a mental health condition, substance use disorder or a co-occurring diagnosis and a strong desire to identify themselves as a person living with a mental illness or substance use diagnosis and past personal experience with suicidal thoughts and / or behaviors.
•  Must be able and willing to actively seek and manage your own appropriate care, discuss your own personal story in a safe and appropriate way and be well-grounded in recovery wellness.
•  Must have reliable transportation.
• Must have valid Georgia driver’s license and clean Motor Vehicle Record in accordance with company policy.· 
• Must be self-motivated.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours.
• Must pass a criminal background check (including fingerprinting).
•     Must pass a pre-employment drug screen and are subject to random drug screens throughout employment 

Benefits (for qualified employees):

• State Health Benefits Package (medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, long-term care, legal services, flexible spending accounts)
• Paid New Hire Training
• Company contributes additional 7.5% of salary to 401(a) Retirement Plan
• No employee deduction for Social Security
• Additional benefits such as legal services, Employee Assistance Program and discounted tickets to attractions, shopping, technology, and travel
• Supervision, training, and continuing education opportunities available

View Point Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer:  View Point Health recruits qualified candidates for positions in View Point Health programs throughout its service area. It is the policy of View Point Health to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination or harassment of any type without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.