Peer Educator

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Retirement with company matching

Paid time off accrual

Job summary

The Harris Center is seeking a Peer Educator to support treatment teams by delivering peer-led education, training support, and recovery-oriented curricula. This role focuses on developing peer programs, assisting in staff training, and coordinating with community resources to empower consumers.

Ideal candidates will have lived mental health experience, relevant certifications, and the ability to navigate EMR systems and collaborate with diverse teams across multiple sites in Harris County,

Qualifications

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Responsibilities

• Engages in face-to-face contact with peers to help assess their needs, provide peer support, education and help facilitate referrals to social services.
• Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary team. Maintains open communication with medical director, program/unit director and other professional staff.
• Provides peers and their families with information on community and Agency resources.
• Responsible for accurate and timely collection, entry and maintenance of required program data.
• Develops and delivers wellness and recovery-oriented group curricula for peers served.
• Builds collaborative relationships within the community and maintains open, ongoing communication with The Prosumers partners to successfully fulfill contractual responsibilities in the role of Prosumers Ambassador.
• Encourages peers to attend consumer meetings/support groups and supports their efforts to develop empowerment skills through self-advocacy.
• Advocates for peers to ensure that needs are met both within the Agency and the community.
• Partners with peers to identify their individual needs, navigate available resources, and connect with and coordinate the care and services that support their wellness and recovery goals.
• Provides communication to all staff ongoing efforts to develop consumer-led education groups, and coordinates access to these groups through all providers.
• Comply with agency policies and procedures, accrediting/regulatory bodies and performance contract documentation requirements.
• Performs other related duties as assigned and adapts to changing work requirements. Demonstrate flexibility to meet the on-going needs of the Agency.

Job description

Peer Educator

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD (“The HARRIS CENTER”) is looking for a Peer Educator to join our team! Supports the treatment team in providing medication training and support to consumers. This includes developing and maintaining peer programs, peer lead education groups, and other peer to peer initiatives that build resiliency an develop and enhance consumer skills. Assists trainers in developing and maintaining training materials for new and existing staff.

Your Role In Action

• Engages in face-to-face contact with peers to help assess their needs, provide peer support, education and help facilitate referrals to social services.
• Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary team. Maintains open communication with medical director, program/unit director and other professional staff.
• Provides peers and their families with information on community and Agency resources.
• Responsible for accurate and timely collection, entry and maintenance of required program data.
• Develops and delivers wellness and recovery-oriented group curricula for peers served.
• Builds collaborative relationships within the community and maintains open, ongoing communication with The Prosumers partners to successfully fulfill contractual responsibilities in the role of Prosumers Ambassador.
• Encourages peers to attend consumer meetings/support groups and supports their efforts to develop empowerment skills through self-advocacy.
• Advocates for peers to ensure that needs are met both within the Agency and the community.
• Partners with peers to identify their individual needs, navigate available resources, and connect with and coordinate the care and services that support their wellness and recovery goals.
• Provides communication to all staff ongoing efforts to develop consumer-led education groups, and coordinates access to these groups through all providers.
• Comply with agency policies and procedures, accrediting/regulatory bodies and performance contract documentation requirements.
• Performs other related duties as assigned and adapts to changing work requirements. Demonstrate flexibility to meet the on-going needs of the Agency.

Education

What qualifications you will need:

• Bachelor degree in human services (e.g., psychology, social work, sociology) required.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• Must be a Certified Peer Specialist / have equivalent certification or must take the Certified Peer Specialist training within 1 year of hiring.

Experience

• Lived experience of having at least 12 months treatment history from one of the severe and persistent mental health/substance use diagnosis
• Must self-identify as a user of Mental Health Services with no crisis services utilized within a year, and no hospitalization within a year. May consider one stay within a year if it was a short duration.
• Background check is required.
• Prefer experience of being in a mental health crisis.
• Prefer experience with non-traditional housing.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• In good standing with the credentialing agency for Certified Mental Health Peer Specialist in the state of Texas.
• Familiar with navigation of the Mental Health Public System.
• Computer literate, able to learn and navigate EMR and other necessary programs and applications.
• Strong communication, listening, and positive interpersonal skills.
• Effective time management skills and organizational skills.
• Able to work collaboratively with others in a teamwork environment.
• Work well within office and field settings.
• Self-directed.
• Able to follow the Policy and Procedures of The Harris Center for Mental Health & IDD.
• Group affiliations a strong plus, i.e., NAMI, DBSA, AA, NA, etc.

What We Have To Offer

• The Harris Center not only offers a competitive salary but also a suite of excellent benefits designed to enrich your life both professionally and personally.
• Imagine a future with a robust retirement plan complemented by our generous company matching – a testament to our investment in your long-term financial well-being.
• Experience the unique advantage of our prior service credit, accelerating your journey towards a more substantial Paid Time Off accrual, empowering you to enjoy well-deserved breaks.
• Enjoy Cell Phone Discounts, exclusive entertainment deals through Tickets at Work, and a free Headspace subscription for mental wellness.
• Additionally, our Employee Assistance Program supports your overall well-being.
• Take advantage of significant financial relief through student loan forgiveness as a valued member of The Harris Center team.
• As a qualifying entity, our employees are eligible for various student loan forgiveness programs, designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with higher education.

What Else You Should Know

• The ideal candidate will be based at 5901 Long Dr. Houston, TX, 77087
• This posting is associated with position #2493-96701

About Us

The HARRIS CENTER is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The Harris Center provided care to over 96,000 people in fiscal year 2023!

As part of its mission to transform the lives of people with behavioral health and IDD needs in the third largest county in the United States, The HARRIS CENTER provides a full continuum of services at 86 different sites across Harris County. In addition, services are provided in more than 40 different languages as well as sign language to better serve what is one of the most diverse and multi-cultural communities in the nation.

By utilizing the unique expertise of its more than 2,500 employees, The Harris Center is committed to meeting the behavioral health and IDD needs of Harris County residents and giving them hope to live to their fullest potential.