Childrens Youth Peer Specialist

Jefferson Blount St Clair Mental Health Authority; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

Jefferson Blount St Clair Mental Health Authority is seeking a Youth Peer Specialist in Birmingham, AL. The role involves working with youth experiencing serious emotional disturbances, providing guidance and facilitating recovery-oriented activities.

Applicants must have a strong personal connection to mental health issues, a High School Diploma or GED, and certification as a Certified Peer Specialist. The position is part-time, requiring flexibility to work afternoons and weekends based on youth needs.

Qualifications

• Must have lived experience with a mental illness as a child or adolescent.
• Must obtain Certified Peer Specialist certification from DMH.
• Must have reliable transportation and an acceptable driving record.

Responsibilities

• Participate in one-on-one meetings with supervisor.
• Attend treatment team meetings with the youth.
• Facilitate small groups focused on recovery topics.

Skills

Lived experience with mental illness

Dependency and honesty

Ability to connect with youth

Facilitation skills

Transportation reliability

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Overview

Job Details

Job Location: Children’s Main Office - BIRMINGHAM, AL 35213

Position Type: Part Time

Education Level: High School

Job Shift: Day

Job Classification: Youth Peer Specialist - Jefferson County

About the Role

Children’s Services is currently seeking applicants who are interested in sharing their lived experience during childhood or adolescence with serious emotional disturbance or mental illness with youth that are working in treatment. Peers will assist in addressing the critical domains of functioning for youth, to include working, learning, living, belonging and healing through a strengths-based team process that facilitates progress and strengthens resiliency.

Responsibilities

• Participate in one-on-one meetings with supervisor to discuss ideas, difficulties, suggestions, and expectation weekly.
• Participate as an equal and active member of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Attend treatment team meetings with the youth to promote the individual’s use of self-directed advocacy goals.
• Promote self-determination, recovery, resilience, self-advocacy, and self-direction. Assist the youth in identifying strengths, wellness goals, setting objectives, goal planning and identifying barriers.
• Facilitate small groups (3-5 individuals) focused on recovery topics such as coping techniques, health teaching, spirituality, and social interaction.
• Plan and research for small groups and interest activities.
• Facilitate interest activities centered on group interests; activities should be voluntary and may be used as a reward.
• Participate in one-on-one relationship building with youth; activities to be conducted in the community.
• Provide intensive support through a personalized balance of social, recreational, skill teaching and linkage development services for individual relationships with youth.
• Facilitate understanding between youth and clinician.
• Provide alternate, experience-based points of view.
• Provide accurate documentation as stipulated by program demands in an electronic medical record.
• Other tasks assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications

• Must have lived experience with a mental illness or a serious emotional disturbance as a child or adolescent.
• High School Diploma or GED.
• Must obtain Certified Peer Specialist certification from DMH.
• Have reliable transportation, maintain car insurance, and acceptable driving record.
• Must have experience with serious emotional disturbance and/or mental illness that closely resemble the experience of the youth.
• Must be dependable.
• Must be teachable and honest.
• Must be able to connect to youth in a community and/or residential settings on a one-on-one basis.
• Must be a good role model and be in active recovery for their own mental illness.
• Must be willing to become certified through the Department of Mental Health as a Certified Peer Specialist and a Youth Certified Peer Specialist upon hire.
• Should have a personal vehicle readily available to you.
• Should be energetic and passionate.
• Should be open to job requirements and have the ability to facilitate groups and activities.
• Should be available to work afternoon/early evening hours or weekend hours due to the school schedules of youth.