Child & Family Peer Support Specialist (PSS / PWS) - CF043

Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest, Inc. (NARA); Portland (OR); On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

NARA Northwest is seeking a Child & Family Peer Support Specialist to work in Gresham, OR, in-person, Monday–Friday, 9:00am–5:30pm, with occasional evenings and weekends.

The role emphasizes using lived experience to connect program participants with resources across health, legal, financial, housing, and transportation.

Join a mission-driven team dedicated to culturally appropriate services for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and others in need.

Qualifications

• Must openly identify as a person who has lived experience receiving mental health services.
• Provide expertise from a mental health client perspective to the team.
• Offer mentoring, advocacy, coordination and direct support for daily living needs.
• Help clients access resources: medical/dental care, housing, entitlements, and transportation.

Responsibilities

• Identify as a person with lived experience to inspire hope and support recovery.
• Serve as a role model and share life experiences to aid recovery.
• Provide mental health perspective consultations to the team for each client.
• Help clients obtain necessities such as medical/dental care, legal aid, housing, and transportation.
• Promote client rights and participation in self-help and consumer advocacy.

Skills

Lived experience in mental health

Mentoring

Advocacy

Care coordination

Job description

Title: Child & Family Peer Support Specialist

Location: Child & Family - 620 NE 2nd St., Gresham, OR 97030

Schedule: This is an in-person position, Monday through Friday, 9:00am - 5:30pm. Occasional evenings and weekends required.

Wage Range: $21.58 – $29.24 hourly, Non-Exempt

If you are a motivated and dedicated Peer Support Specialist looking for an opportunity to contribute to an organization making a positive impact, we want to hear from you!

At NARA Northwest, you’ll find a supportive work environment where every team member is valued and respected. Whether you’re passionate about healthcare, behavioral health, education, or social services, there’s a place for you to make a meaningful difference.

Company Mission

The mission of NARA NW is to provide education, physical, mental health services, and substance abuse treatment that is culturally appropriate to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and anyone in need.

About The Company

At NARA NW, we deliver services and support to Native American and Alaska Native communities, helping individuals lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.

With over 450 employees across a variety of programs—including medical and dental care, addiction treatment, housing assistance, and enrichment initiatives NARA NW offers numerous opportunities for growth and advancement, all while making a tangible, positive impact on the lives of others.

Position Overview

The Child & Family Peer Support Specialist is responsible for acting as a role model through sharing lived experiences and helping connect program participants to resources around physical and mental health, financial/legal assistance and transportation.

What You Will Do

• Must openly identify as a person who has lived experience receiving mental health services.


• Act as a role model to inspire hope and share life experiences as appropriate to the recovery process.


• Provide expertise and consultation from a mental health client perspective to the entire team concerning each client’s unique and subjective experience and perceptions.


• Provide practical help and supports, mentoring, advocacy, coordination, side‑by‑side individualized support, problem‑solving, direct assistance and supervision to help clients obtain the necessities of daily living including medical and dental health care; legal and advocacy services; financial support such as entitlements (SSI, SSDI, veterans’ benefits); housing subsidies; money‑management services (e.g. payee services); and transportation.


• Collaborate with the team to promote a team culture in which each client’s point of view, experiences, and preferences are recognized, understood, and respected, and in which client self‑determination and decision‑making in treatment planning are maximized and supported.


• Collaborate with the team to ensure the protection of client’s rights to help clients improve their knowledge of client rights and grievance or complaint procedures.


• Increase awareness of and support client participation in consumer self‑help programs, culturally specific services and consumer advocacy organizations that promote recovery.