Peer Support Specialist / Youth Empowerment Project

Youth Empowerment Project

Job Position: Peer Recovery Support Specialist / Youth Empowerment Project

Department: Programs

Work Schedule: 40 hours per week | Typically Monday through Friday | Occasional Weekend and Holiday

Supervisor: Programs Manager

Supervises: None

Description

The Youth Peer Recovery Support role (YPRS) is a key position within the Wolfe Street Foundation (WSF) organization and is a member of the Peer Support Program team. The PRSS will work collaboratively with and under the supervision of the YEP Project Program Coordinator. The YPRS provides non-clinical services intended to aid youth in grades 7-12 with prevention/ recovery support services.

The YPRS will offer peer support to the WSF “YEP Teen Center”, Youth Program Participants who are seeking community support for prevention/recovery from alcohol or substance use/abuse.  The YPRS will facilitate Summer/after-school programming using the “YEP Curriculum” as developed by our Mental Health Partner TOV, refer youth to appropriate treatment services and assist youth with developing their “life” plans during one-on-one meetings.

Major Responsibilities:

• Advocate with compassion for youth program participants in recovery and/or receiving other mental health services.
• Share resources with youth program participants and help them develop life skills.
• Lead recovery group and facilitate the sharing of TOV curriculum during YEP Teen Center program times.
• Develop mentor/mentee relationship with youth program participants.
• Assist youth program participants with goal setting during One-on-One meetings.
• Provide mentorship to youth program participants and support them with developing their educational and employment goals.
• Assist with Crisis Intervention.
• Conduct brief interventions to youth program participants that may have engaged in alcohol and/or drug use prior to arriving onsite.
• Identifies youth participant’s history of alcohol and/or drug use; their treatment history; motivation to change their behavior and other needs to offer appropriate community support services.
• Identifies youth readiness to change and use motivational interviewing techniques and other communication skills to support a plan for reducing or eliminating harmful drug and/or alcohol use.
• Works with other YEP staff, PRSS and TOV Counselors to identify appropriate community support services for youth program participants.
• Assists youth program participants and their family with understanding how to utilize the identified community support services.
• Provides family members with recovery support materials.
• Assists youth program participants in linking to community support services and substance treatment services including securing appointments and transportation.
• Provides continued peer support as needed—"Aftercare”.
• Models coping techniques and self-help strategies.
• Participates in training to continually gain new skills.
• Attends required staff and other meetings.
• Completes required documentation and other reports as necessary.

*Note: This description lists the minimum duty requests. Individuals may be asked to perform additional duties as requested by their supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Compassion for youth program participants who are struggling with a Substance Use Disorder (SUD).
• Good interpersonal skills.
• The ability to work well with youth, WSF staff, TOV staff, healthcare professionals & other partner agencies.
• The applicant must be able to work independently.
• Have great time management skills and the ability to prioritize effectively.
• The candidate must possess listening, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Possess creative problem-solving skills.
• Strong computer skills are required and the ability to provide youth program participant documentation in the provided software system.
• Ability to teach and train youth program participants.

The Peer Recovery Support Specialist will perform other duties as assigned to contribute to the success of the Peer Recovery Support Services Program at the Wolfe Street Foundation.

Qualifications

Peer Recovery Support Specialists will have the following education/certification qualifications:

• A High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent (required)
• Registration as a Peer in Training (PIT) with Arkansas peer certifying authority (required)
• Certification as a Peer Recovery Support Specialist (PR) in Arkansas (preferred)
• Peer Recovery Support Specialists will have the following experience and preferred skills:
• Experience working in a peer recovery, treatment, or professional addiction services setting.
• Experience working as a team to accomplish a goal.
• Experience working with electronic and/or paper documentation to track notes and contacts.
• Self-starting, initiative-taking attitude with a high degree of self-motivation
• Passion and compassion for the recovery community and peers

Compensation

Full-time Peer Recovery Support Specialists will earn an hourly wage of $13 to $16.50 depending on education and experience. The Wolfe Street Foundation also offers complete and comprehensive healthcare coverage and paid time off benefits to all full-time employees.

Volunteer Opportunity

In pursuit of a peer certification and under the appropriate supervision, peers may volunteer to serve as a Peer Recovery Support Specialist at the Wolfe Street Foundation to meet required in-service hours. Volunteering at the Wolfe Street Foundation in this capacity does not secure for the volunteer any preference in hiring processes, nor does it guarantee the availability of future paid work. The Wolfe Street Foundation hires Peer Recovery Support Specialists as funding is available to best serve our peer participants and pursue our mission.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $15.00 - $16.50 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Application Question(s):

• Who is your Peer Support Supervisor?
• Are you a proficient user of Microsoft 365 Office and Outlook?

License/Certification:

• peer recovery support specialist (PR) Arkansas certification (Preferred)
• registration as a Peer in Training (PIT)? (Preferred)

Ability to Relocate:

• Little Rock, AR 72212: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $13 - $17