Behavior - Natural Helper SAPTA

SDAIHC; San Diego, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

San Diego American Indian Health Center is seeking a Natural Helper to provide culturally grounded peer support and practical assistance. The role bridges community members with health and social services, supporting SAPTA grant activities and coordinating with licensed staff.

Responsibilities include building relationships, offering mentorship, guiding resource navigation, and maintaining confidential records consistent with HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalency.

Responsibilities

• Build trusting relationships with community members, youth, and families in need of guidance or resources.
• Provide culturally relevant peer support and mentorship to individuals in stress or recovery.
• Help clients navigate health, wellness, and social service systems with referrals to behavioral health, SUD treatment, and case management services.
• Participate in outreach activities and community events to promote health and wellness.
• Collaborate with case managers and program staff to ensure coordinated care and follow-up.
• Support development of coping strategies and culturally rooted self-care practices.
• Maintain confidentiality and accurate documentation per SDCHC policies and 42 CFR Part 2.

Skills

Communication skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalency

Job description

San Diego American Indian Health Center, 2630 First Avenue, San Diego, California, United States of America

Job Description

Posted Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 7:00 AM

We are an FQHC community health center dedicated to embodying the values central to American Indian cultures. This includes respect for our patients, acknowledgement of the whole person, and a focus on working together to ensure health for the individual, and therefore the community. We invite persons of all tribes, ethnic backgrounds and walks of life to experience the comprehensive care we deliver and to contribute to the services we provide for children, youth, families, adults, and elders.

Natural Helper serves as a trusted community member who provides peer support, encouragement, and practical assistance to individuals and families. This role bridges the gap between the community and health or social service systems by offering culturally grounded support, promoting wellness, and connecting people to available resources. When funded under the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPTA)Grant, the Natural Helper provides culturally responsive peer support and system navigation as a component of substance use disorder (SUD) prevention, treatment, and recovery support services, in coordination with licensed clinical and behavioral health staff.

Natural Helpers use their lived experience, strong community relationships, and knowledge of local and cultural traditions to help others overcome barriers, improve health outcomes, and strengthen personal and cultural identity.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Primary Functions:

• Build trusting, supportive relationships with community members, youth, and families in need of guidance or resources.
• Provide culturally relevant peer support, mentorship, and encouragement to individuals experiencing stress, isolation, or other life challenges, including individuals experiencing, or in recovery from, substance use or co-occurring mental health challenges.
• Help clients navigate health, wellness, and social service systems, including referrals to behavioral health, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery support, medical, dental, or case management services.
• Participate in outreach activities, community events, talking circles (including recovery-focused circles such as Wellbriety/Red Road), and educational workshops that promote health and wellness.
• Collaborate with Case Managers, Community Health Workers, and program staff to ensure coordinated care and follow-up.
• Offer guidance in developing coping strategies, healthy communication skills, and self-care practices rooted in cultural traditions.
• Maintain confidentiality and accurate documentation of interactions, following SDCHC policies and HIPAA regulations. Complete required grant data collection and reporting within required timeframes and maintain records in compliance with 42 CFR Part 2 (confidentiality of substance use disorder patient records).
• Attend regular team meetings, trainings, and supervision to strengthen knowledge in trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, and cultural competency.
• Promote awareness of Native culture, values, and traditions as protective factors in wellness and healing.
• Serve as a peer role model, drawing appropriately on lived experience consistent with peer support best practices and SDCHC guidance on boundaries and self-disclosure.
• Provide warm handoffs, appointment reminders, accompaniment, transportation coordination, and other engagement and retention support for patients referred to SUD treatment and recovery services, including outreach to SAPTA Grant priority populations
• Provide peer support as an adjunct to—not a substitute for—clinical behavioral health and SUD treatment, working in coordination with licensed clinical staff under the direction of the Behavioral Health Director.
• Ensure that participation in cultural or spiritual components of support is voluntary and that patients are informed of their right to decline such services, consistent with SAMHSA Charitable Choice requirements (42 CFR Part 54/54a).
• Provide peer support in collaboration with Western medical, dental, and behavioral health providers, reinforcing—never contradicting—clinical treatment plans, and encouraging patients to maintain engagement with their medical and behavioral health care alongside cultural and traditional supports.
• Other Duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The qualifications below represent the required knowledge, skills, and/or ability. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Recognized as a Natural Helper by San Diego Community Health Center and respected as a trusted, supportive presence within the local urban AI/AN community.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Native American cultural values, traditions, and protocols, and experience providing informal support, mentorship, or helping services within Native communities.
• Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries, confidentiality, and ethical conduct in a peer support role.
• Ability to work respectfully with diverse tribal backgrounds and urban AI/AN populations.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, particularly across cultural and generational lines.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, as needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Affiliation with or endorsement by tribal organizations or cultural councils.
• Experience working in a health, behavioral health, or community wellness setting.
• Knowledge of social determinants of health and historical trauma affecting Native communities.
• Basic understanding of Medi-Cal or IHS service documentation, or willingness to learn.
• Completion of, or willingness to complete, Community Health Worker, Peer Support Specialist (e.g., Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist certification), or Wellbriety facilitator training.
• Personal lived experience of recovery from substance use, and the ability to share that experience appropriately in a helping role, a plus.

Working Conditions:

• May involve indoor and outdoor activities, including participation in ceremonies or gatherings.
• Occasional travel may be required to provide services at events or satellite locations.
• May involve contact with smoke, sacred herbs, or ceremonial instruments.

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalency.

Preferred:

• Experience serving a multinational, multicultural population.
• Familiarity with Community Health Clinics and/or Indian Health Clinics.

Special Conditions of Employment:

• Maintains a valid driver’s license, clean driving record, and current auto insurance in accordance with state requirements.
• Possesses reliable and insured transportation suitable for work-related travel as needed.
• CPR/BLS Certification: Maintain a current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA), the American Red Cross, or an equivalent organization. Certification must include an in-person, hands-on skills assessment; online-only certifications are not accepted.
• Annual Background Checks: Consent to annual background checks as a condition of continued employment, to ensure compliance with organizational standards and eligibility requirements.
• For-Cause Drug Screening: Comply with drug screening requirements when initiated by the organization for cause, to support a safe, compliant, and drug-free workplace.
• Ongoing Compliance Requirements: Maintain up-to-date compliance with all required annual renewals, including certifications, physical examinations, TB testing, and mandatory regulatory trainings as assigned by SDCHC, including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 confidentiality training.
• Grant-Funded Position: This position is funded in whole or in part by federal grant funds, including the SAMHSA Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant. Continued employment in this position is contingent upon the availability of grant funding, and this position will end upon the expiration, termination, or non-renewal of grant funding, unless alternative funding is identified and approved by SDCHC.
• Time and Effort Reporting: Maintain accurate time and effort documentation consistent with 2 CFR 200.430, including allocation of time between grant-allowable activities and activities that must be supported by non-federal funds.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: continue

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and meticulous records.
• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Able to deal effectively with a diversity of individuals.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with all during work.
• Must be reliable and trustworthy.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite or related programs.
• Able to communicate professionally in person and in writing.

Physical and Mental Requirements:

• Able to lift/move up to 40 pounds, move from place to place.
• Able to sit at a desk and work on a computer for prolonged periods.
• Able to stand, bend and reach for prolonged periods.
• Ability to do math, organize and prioritize workload, work effectively and efficiently under stress.
• Ability to supervise, multitask, understand, and follow instructions.

Customer Service:

• Actively supports, promotes, and works to fulfill the Mission, Vision, and core values of SDCHC.
• Provides excellent internal and external customer service.
• Demonstrates SDCHC’s Standards of Customer Service Behavior: Compassion, Attitude, Communication, Appearance, Sense of Ownership, and Teamwork.
• Participate in ongoing customer service training.
• Every action seeks to promote SDCHC as a top service organization.

Quality Management:

• Contribute to the organization's success by participating in quality improvement activities.
• Complies with all SDCHC policies and procedures and proactively participates in implementing new initiatives.
• Participate and ensure continuous quality improvement process as directed by clinic leadership.

Safety:

• Ensures regulatory compliance and adherence to policies and procedures related to safe work practices.
• Participate in infection prevention through appropriate use of infection control measures during patient treatment and patient interactions.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements for maintaining physical spaces, equipment, and supplies.
• Uses all appropriate equipment and/or tools to ensure workplace safety.
• Immediately reports unsafe working conditions.

Privacy/Compliance:

• Maintains privacy and security of all patients, employees, and volunteers' information and access to such information. Such information is accessed on a need-to-know basis for business purposes only.
• Complies with 42 CFR Part 2 requirements governing the confidentiality and disclosure of substance use disorder patient records, including consent requirements for disclosures.
• Compliance with all regulations regarding corporate integrity and security obligations. Reports on unethical, fraudulent, or unlawful behavior or activity.
• Upholds strict ethical standards.

Flexibility:

Available for all shifts and, when required, can work evenings and weekends.

Disclaimer:

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions. It does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. This job description is subject to change at any time.

Preference is given to qualified American Indian/Alaskan Natives under the American Indian Preference Act (Title 25, U.S. Code Section 472, 473, and 473a). Besides the above, the San Diego Community Indian Health Center is an equal-opportunity employer.

Acknowledgement:

San Diego Community Indian Health Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, religion, color, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class, political affiliation, or belief.

Preference is given to qualified American Indian/Alaskan Natives in accordance with the American Indian Preference Act (Title 25, U.S. Code Section 472, 473 and 473a). In other than the above, the San Diego American Indian Health Center, is an equal opportunity employer.

San Diego American Indian Health Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, religion, color, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability or any other protected class, political affiliation, or belief.

San Diego American Indian Health Center, 2630 First Avenue, San Diego, California, United States of America