Peer Support Specialist - Ascent (First Episode Psychosis)

North Range Behavioral Health; Greeley (CO); On-site; USD 37,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous PTO and paid holidays

Multiple medical, dental, and vision

Health Reimbursement Account

Retirement plan with employer matching

Loan forgiveness opportunities

Employee referral bonuses

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

North Range Behavioral Health in Greeley, CO seeks a Peer Support Specialist for the Ascent program focused on First Episode Psychosis. Join a collaborative team delivering early intervention, coaching, and recovery-oriented services to teens and young adults.

You will work with therapists, case managers, and families to support treatment goals, build skills, and promote engagement in services. A strong emphasis on lived experience guides compassionate, person-centered care and community

Qualifications

• Must have high school diploma or GED.
• Lived or relational experience similar to the population served, including mental health or substance use history.
• Actively engaged in personal recovery or resiliency plan for at least one year.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct services to clients under supervision.
• Use lived experience and recovery-oriented practices to support clients.
• Coordinate with therapists and clinical team to support treatment goals.
• Help clients access benefits and community resources.
• Identify barriers to recovery and promote wellness habits.
• Coach clients in practical life and behavioral skills.
• Support medication awareness and communicate with providers.
• Document progress notes and maintain electronic health records.

Skills

Empathy

Recovery-oriented practices

Lived experience

Coaching/mentoring

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Tools

Electronic Health Records

Driver's license

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Intensive Services Campus - Greeley, CO 80631

Salary Range: $17.60 - $24.59 Hourly

Peer Support Specialist

Ascent

First Episode Psychosis

Program: Peer Support Specialist

Education Requirements: High School Diploma/GED

Employment Type: Full-Time

Location: Greeley, CO

Posting Closes: 10.31.2026

At North Range Behavioral Health, we believe no one should face mental health challenges alone. Our compassionate team provides comprehensive, person-centered care, supporting individuals, families, and communities to thrive. We’re proud to be a leader in behavioral health services across Weld County, offering programs for all ages and backgrounds. Our work is grounded in collaboration, trauma-informed care, and evidence-based practices, creating meaningful, lasting impact every day.

Why North Range Behavioral Health?

Because your work should matter – and here, it truly does!

Vision:

Where Hope Begins, and Change Is Possible

Mission:

North Range Behavioral Health provides compassionate, comprehensive care for people who face mental health and addiction challenges.

Values:

• Customer First: We help our customers achieve recovery every day.
• Compassion: We treat everyone with kindness, empathy, and dignity.
• Collaboration: We build strong relationships, internally and externally, to ensure effective care for customers.

QualificationsAbout the Role:

The Ascent team at North Range Behavioral Health provides early, specialized support for teens and young adults who experience unusual thoughts or behaviors, including hearing or seeing things others do not, often referred to as First Episode Psychosis (FEP). Research shows that early identification and intervention significantly increase the likelihood of recovery and reduce the need for hospitalization. The Ascent program is designed to meet individuals early in their journey and support them in building meaningful, self-directed lives.

Clients are supported by a collaborative, community-based team that includes a therapist, case manager, peer support specialist and weekly psychiatric oversight. The peer support specialist brings lived experience to the team, offering authentic connection, hope, and encouragement through a peer-to-peer relationship that helps clients feel understood, empowered, and engaged in services.

Ascent emphasizes skill-building and resiliency, helping clients develop tools for illness management while working toward the life they want to live. Peer Support Specialist play a vital role, offering authentic connection through shared lived experience and fostering hope and engagement. Through early intervention, compassionate care, and a person-centered approach, the Ascent program empowers teens and young adults to move forward with confidence, connection, and purpose.

This position includes eligibility for a monthly performance bonus.

What You Will Do:

• Provide direct services to clients with the guidance of an Administrative or Clinical Supervisor.
• Use lived experience, empathy, and recovery-oriented practices to model hope, resilience, and effective coping strategies, supporting clients through coaching, role modeling, and appropriate self-disclosure.
• Partner closely with therapists and the clinical team to coordinate services, respond to client needs, and support treatment goals while helping prevent crises, deterioration, or hospitalization.
• Help clients access benefits, community resources, and supportive services by coordinating care with internal programs and external partners.
• Support clients in identifying barriers to recovery or resiliency, recognizing warning signs, and building health habits that promote wellness and reduce the risk of relapse or crisis.
• Coach clients in practical life and behavioral skills, assist with problem-solving, and support activities of daily living, while offering a compassionate, listening ear.
• Promote medication awareness and effective communication with medical and mental health providers; assist clients in developing wellness, recovery, or crisis plans (e.g., SAMHSA tools, Psychiatric Advance Directives).
• Provide encouragement and support to clients and, when appropriate, their families or support systems.
• Advocate for clients across settings such as schools, nursing facilities, healthcare systems, and family environments.
• Lead or support social, recreational peer support, or consumer-run groups that foster connection and community.
• Maintain timely, accurate documentation, including progress notes and electronic health records, ensuring services are ethically delivered and appropriately billed.

You’re a Great Fit If You:

• Brings empathy, lived experience, and passion for supporting others.
• Have a High school diploma or equivalent combination of education and experience, with the ability to read, write, and communicate effectively.
• Lived or relational experience similar to the population served, including experience with mental health challenges, substance use, co-occurring conditions, or child family systems.
• Actively engaged in personal recovery or resiliency plan for at least one year.
• Strong motivation to support and inspire others in their recovery journey.
• Demonstrated respect for individual strengths, independence, and self‑determination.
• Valid Colorado driver’s license with an insurable driving record.

Perks and Benefits:

• Generous PTO and paid holidays
• Multiple medical, dental, and vision plans at no cost to employees
• Health Reimbursement Account
• Retirement plan with employer contributions
• Loan forgiveness opportunities
• Employee referral bonuses
• Professional development opportunities

Our Commitment to Equity:

North Range Behavioral Health is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and supportive workplace for all. We welcome applicants of every background, including race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, and all other legally protected characteristics. We believe a diverse team strengthens our ability to serve our community.