Peer Mentor Specialist

Native-American-Youth-and-Family-Center-; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 28,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

NAYA Family Center in Portland, OR is seeking a compassionate Peer Mentor Specialist to support young adults 18–24 facing homelessness and housing instability. You will provide recovery-oriented peer support, model healthy living, and connect youth with services while collaborating with housing and health teams.

With authentic lived experience and knowledge of Native American communities, you will guide youth through resources, appointments, and community programs, using harm reduction and

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Knowledge of Native American history and Urban Indian communities.
• Experience with homelessness and housing instability.
• Knowledge of substance use and recovery.
• Personal experience with addiction or issues affecting youth impacted by substance use.
• At least one year of clean and sober time.
• CRM/PSS/PWS or equivalent certification or ability to obtain within 60 days.
• CPR/First Aid/AED certification or ability to obtain and maintain.
• At least six months of experience performing duties similar to this position.
• Experience with diverse populations, particularly Native communities or tribal organizations.
• Strong communication and boundary/confidentiality; respectful, non-judgmental approach.
• Comfort with recovery-oriented and harm reduction approaches.

Responsibilities

• Provide recovery engagement and peer support to youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
• Serve as a positive role model for healthy, sober living.
• Build relationships with youth where they spend time and create engagement opportunities.
• Provide information about NAYA programs and community resources.
• Help facilitate substance-free recreational and social activities on/off site.
• Support youth with benefits, counseling, health care, recovery, and other services appointments.
• Introduce youth to Alcohol & Drug Specialists, case managers, and other providers.
• Encourage follow-through with appointments and ongoing check-ins.
• Help navigate mental health services and housing options.
• Connect youth with recovery groups, LGBTQ+ support, and other networks.
• Advocate for youth to access services and resources.
• Collaborate with case managers and health professionals.
• Participate in crisis prevention and intervention as needed.
• Co-facilitate youth activities with NAYA staff.
• Represent NAYA and raise visibility for the Youth Housing Program.
• Maintain documentation of services and outcomes.
• Coordinate wraparound services with NAYA programs.
• Maintain participant data in required databases and assist reporting.
• Participate in trainings and cross-department projects.
• Foster a safe environment for community members and staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Peer support

Active listening

Communication skills

Confidentiality

Cultural competence

Recovery-oriented approach

Harm reduction

Public speaking

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

CPR/First Aid/AED certification or ability to obtain within 60 days

Tools

MS Word

Excel

Email

Databases

Web research

Job description

Description

NAYA Family Center is seeking a compassionate, authentic, and community-minded Peer Mentor Specialist to join our Youth & Education Services Department and Youth Housing Program. This role provides peer-based support to young adults ages 18–24 who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability and are impacted by substance use. As a Peer Mentor Specialist, you'll build trusting relationships with youth, provide recovery-oriented support, encourage healthy decision-making, and help young people connect with services and resources that support their goals. You'll serve as a positive role model for clean and sober living while using a recovery-oriented and harm reduction approach that meets young people where they are.

You'll work closely with the Alcohol & Drug Specialist, case managers, behavioral health providers, and other community partners to strengthen engagement and support youth as they navigate recovery, housing, health care, and other services. This position is ideal for someone who brings authentic peer experience, understands the realities facing young people experiencing homelessness and housing instability, and wants to use that experience to help others move forward. Pay for this position is $20.00–$22.00 per hour.

Who You Are

• You have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• You have knowledge of Native American history and understand the diversity of local American Indian and Alaska Native communities and the Urban Indian experience.
• You understand the experiences, lifestyles, and challenges faced by young people experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
• You have knowledge of issues related to substance use and recovery.
• You bring personal experience with drug or alcohol addiction or knowledge of issues affecting youth impacted by substance use.
• You have at least one year of continuous clean and sober time and are comfortable using your experience to support and encourage others.
• You hold a current Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM), Peer Support Specialist (PSS), Peer Wellness Specialist (PWS), or equivalent certification, or have the ability to obtain the required certification within 60 days of hire and maintain the certification.
• You have CPR, First Aid, and AED certification, or the ability to obtain and maintain these certifications.
• You have at least six months of experience performing duties similar to those of this position.
• Experience working with diverse populations is strongly preferred, particularly experience working with urban or reservation-based Native American communities or within a tribe, board, or other Native-serving organization.
• You build trusting relationships with youth through active listening, respect, clear communication, and a non-judgmental approach.
• You understand the importance of maintaining professional boundaries and confidentiality while building genuine connections with youth.
• You are comfortable using a recovery-oriented and harm reduction approach.
• You remain calm and use good judgment when supporting young people experiencing distress or challenging circumstances.
• You are comfortable working with people from diverse backgrounds and are committed to respecting cultural and human diversity.
• You are able to communicate effectively with both young people and adults, including through verbal, written, active listening, and public presentation skills.
• You have basic computer skills, including email, Microsoft Word, Excel, databases, and web-based research.

What You'll Do

• Provide recovery engagement and peer support to youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
• Serve as a positive role model for healthy, clean, and sober living while respecting each young person's individual goals and choices.
• Build relationships with youth in the places and settings where they spend time and create opportunities for meaningful engagement.
• Provide information about NAYA programs, community services, recovery resources, support groups, and other available resources.
• Help facilitate positive, substance-free recreational and social activities both on and off site.
• Support youth with appointments related to benefits, counseling, health care, recovery, and other services.
• Introduce youth to Alcohol & Drug Specialists, case managers, behavioral health providers, and other service providers.
• Encourage youth to follow through with appointments and services and provide ongoing check-ins and support.
• Help youth navigate mental health services, homeless youth programs, the Oregon Health Plan, transitional and permanent housing options, recovery resources, and other systems.
• Connect youth with individualized support networks, including recovery community support groups, AA/NA, LGBTQ+ support groups, spiritual support, and other appropriate resources.
• Advocate for youth and assist them in accessing and successfully utilizing services and treatment resources.
• Establish collaborative working relationships with case managers, mental health care providers, and other professionals supporting homeless youth.
• Participate in crisis prevention, intervention, and support as needed.
• Co-facilitate youth activities and programming with NAYA staff.
• Represent NAYA and create visibility for the Youth Housing Program in the community.
• Maintain timely and thorough documentation of participant services and outcomes.
• Coordinate wraparound services with other NAYA programs and staff.
• Maintain participant information in NAYA and contractually required database systems and assist with periodic reporting.
• Participate in NAYA trainings, meetings, cross-departmental projects, and other activities that support program outcomes.
• Contribute to fostering a safe and secure environment for community members and staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

NAYA is committed to building a work environment that respects and inspires every community member. Our mission is to serve Urban Native youth and families, so we strongly encourage members of the Native community to apply. We encourage applications from members of other historically marginalized groups as well, including women, people of color, those with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and those who have served in the military.