Drop-In Center Youth Peer Support Specialist - Port

RiverValley Behavioral Health; Henderson (KY); On-site; USD 34,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Comprehensive benefits (health, dental

Vision, Telehealth)

Paid time off + 9 holidays

Retirement plan options

Tuition reimbursement + free CEUs

Clinical supervision

Wellness & employee assistance

Mileage reimbursement for work related

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Job summary

RiverValley Behavioral Health in Henderson, KY is seeking a Youth Peer Support Specialist for the PORT drop-in center. This role uses lived experience to empower transition-aged youth (16-25) and helps ensure youth voices are heard in care planning.

The position offers both full-time and part-time afternoon shifts, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for professional growth within a mission-driven behavioral health organization.

Qualifications

• Must have lived experience as a youth with emotional, social, or behavioral health challenges.
• Meets age criteria 18-35 and has completed relevant training.
• Experience in leadership and advocacy within behavioral health.

Responsibilities

• Provides support to youth through sharing lived experiences in accessing mental health/ behavioral health supports.
• Uses lived experiences to teach through experience and serves as a role model for youth.
• Supports Youth who attend the PORT in making their voices heard.
• Supports and guides youth in understanding youth culture, developing self-advocacy measures, and developing relationships with community partners to access services more fully.
• Maintains up to date knowledge of youth-related mental and behavioral health issues.
• Maintains timely completion of required trainings, supervisions, meeting attendance, etc., at state and organizational levels
• Meets requirements of being a transition aged youth or young adult, between 18 to 25, but can continue until age 35.
• Maintains, in a comprehensive manner, all required documentation pertinent to role, in written and/ or Avatar formats.
• Fosters collaborative working relationships among leadership and management teams and programs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership & advocacy

Communication skills

Community partner relations

Decision making

Role modeling youth behaviors

Lived experience in system

Education

High School diploma or GED

Kentucky Family Leadership Academy training

Job description

Job Summary: Full time and Part Time afternoon position available!

The Youth Peer Support Specialist for Transition Aged Youth (TAY) Drop-in Center (The PORT), uses relevant personal experiences to serve as a role model for the youth. They ensure Youths voices and choices are heard and help drive the TAY model of care. This person will themselves have received state-funded services from at least one child-serving agency and will demonstrate leadership and advocacy abilities in the field of behavioral health.

The Port is located in Henderson, KY and serves as a drop-in center offering mental health resources and other supports for transition age youth aged 16- 25. The Port provides youth with access to computers, recreational activities, gaming systems, exercise equipment, and laundry facilities, along with mental health counseling, job placement services, life skills training, and peer supports.

Essential Functions:

• Provides support to youth through sharing lived experiences in accessing mental health/ behavioral health supports.
• Uses lived experiences to teach through experience and serves as an appropriate role model for youth.
• Supports Youth who attend the PORT in making their voices heard.
• Supports and guides youth in understanding youth culture, developing self-advocacy measures, and developing relationships with community partners in order to eventually advocate for themselves and access services more fully.
• Maintains up to date knowledge of youth-related mental and behavioral health issues.
• Maintains timely completion of required trainings, supervisions, meeting attendance, etc., at state and organizational levels
• Meets requirements of being a transition aged youth or young adult, between 18 to 25, but can continue providing services as a Youth Peer Support Specialist until the age of 35.
• Maintains, in a comprehensive manner, all required documentation pertinent to role, in written and/ or Avatar formats.
• Fosters collaborative working relationships among members of the leadership and management teams and programs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Why Choose RiverValley?

RiverValley is now a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), expanding access to high-quality, integrated care in the communities we serve. Join a mission-driven organization committed to clinical excellence, professional growth, and meaningful impact.

We offer:

• Competitive pay
• Comprehensive benefits (health, dental, vision, Telehealth)
• Paid time off + 9 holidays
• Retirement plan options
• Tuition reimbursement + free CEUs
• Clinical supervision
• Wellness & employee assistance programs
• Mileage reimbursement for work related travel
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) - eligible employer

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• High School diploma or GED.
• Meets the criteria as a youth having lived with an emotional, social, behavioral, and/ or substance use disability.
• Must be between the ages of 18-35.
• Successfully completed the Kentucky Family Leadership Academy, or plan on completing the training if offered a position

Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrates experience with leadership and advocacy in the behavioral health field, both with individuals and groups.
• Demonstrates effort at self-directed leadership development.
• Good communication skills, both oral and written.
• Demonstrates relevant knowledge of pertinent community partners.
• Ability to make appropriate decisions and manage conflict.
• Ability to model appropriate behaviors for youth accessing service.