SENIOR CERTIFIED PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST

County of Riverside; Riverside (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 82,000; Full time

Job summary

Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health in Riverside, CA is seeking a Senior Certified Peer Support Specialist to support the Mental Health Services Act Family Advocate program. Candidates will draw on lived experience and Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification to provide family-centered support across Riverside County.

The role involves outreach, psychoeducation, navigation of behavioral-health resources, and collaboration with clinical teams to promote recovery-oriented practices.

Qualifications

• High school diploma, GED equivalency or high school proficiency certificate required.
• One year as a Medi-Cal Certified Peer Support Specialist, or two years of direct full-time peer support work with an out-of-state certification; Medi-Cal certification within six months of start date.
• CALMHSA state certification preferred; prior Certified Peer Support Specialist experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide meaningful self-disclosure regarding lived experience supporting a family member with behavioral health or substance use challenges.
• Conduct community outreach across Riverside County to engage underserved families and improve access to behavioral-health services.
• Reduce linguistic and cultural barriers by providing support, education, and resources to families who may have difficulty navigating mental-health services.
• Deliver psychoeducation presentations to families and community groups (25–60 participants per month).
• Provide individualized, person-centered guidance to families of adults with serious mental illness, helping them navigate behavioral-health systems and services.
• Promote equitable access to services by building trust and advocating for families’ needs within the system.
• Collaborate with clinical teams, Outreach & Engagement staff, and community partners to support family involvement in treatment and recovery planning.
• Represent and communicate the family perspective to support trauma-informed, recovery-oriented practices.
• Support the recognition, acceptance, and integration of cultural and social factors that influence behavioral-health experiences for families.
• Participate in community events, trainings, and outreach activities in a leadership or representative capacity.
• Assist families in articulating concerns, preparing for meetings, and navigating service discussions.
• Document all outreach, engagement, psychoeducation, and family-support activities as required.

Skills

Lived experience disclosure

Education

High school diploma/ GED

CALMHSA state certification

Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification

Job description

Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health is seeking a qualified Senior Certified Peer Support Specialist to support the Mental Health Services Act Family Advocate program in Riverside, CA.

Senior Family Advocates draw upon their lived experience supporting a family member with behavioral health or substance use challenges, along with their formal Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification, to provide individualized, person-centered support to families across Riverside County. In this role, incumbents conduct community outreach, reduce linguistic and cultural barriers, and engage hard-to-reach or underserved families who may struggle to access mental-health services. Senior Family Advocates deliver psychoeducation presentations, assist families in understanding the behavioral-health system, and promote equitable access to care.

They collaborate closely with clinical teams, model recovery-oriented and trauma-informed practices, and help families navigate resources, treatment processes, and system-level supports. Senior Family Advocates serve as role models within the peer workforce, offering guidance and support to other Family Advocates while ensuring services reflect RUHS-BH values of hope, empowerment, inclusion, and resilience.

Competitive candidates will possess a CALMHSA state certification and prior Certified Peer Support Specialist work experience.

Schedule: 9/80, Monday-Friday, Every other Friday or Monday off.

Meet the Team!

Riverside University Health System – Behavioral Health is a leading provider of mental health and substance use services in Riverside County. With a dedicated team of professionals, including psychiatrists, clinicians, peer specialists, and paraprofessionals, RUHS-BH serves over 45,000 individuals annually.

We are committed to delivering culturally competent, evidence-based care across all ages. Our programs, including Mental Health Services, Substance Use Services, and the Public Guardian’s Office, address the diverse needs of our community.

At RUHS Behavioral Health, you’ll join a compassionate, innovative team where your skills make a real difference. We offer opportunities for growth, collaboration, and meaningful impact.

If you’re passionate about advancing your career while improving mental health in Riverside County, RUHS Behavioral Health is the place for you!

For more information, please visit www.ruhealth.org/behavioral-health

• Provide meaningful self-disclosure regarding lived experience supporting a family member with behavioral health or substance use challenges, in accordance with State Peer Support Certification requirements.
• Conduct community outreach throughout Riverside County to engage underserved, lower-income, or hard-to-reach families and improve access to behavioral-health services.
• Reduce linguistic and cultural barriers by providing support, education, and resources to families who may have difficulty understanding or navigating mental-health diagnoses and services.
• Deliver psychoeducation presentations to families and community groups (averaging 25–60 participants per month) to increase understanding of mental illness, recovery, and available supports.
• Provide individualized, person-centered guidance to families of adults with serious mental illness, helping them navigate behavioral-health systems, resources, and treatment processes.
• Promote equitable access to services by building trust, fostering engagement, and advocating for families’ needs within the behavioral-health system.
• Collaborate with clinical teams, Outreach & Engagement staff, and community partners to support family involvement in treatment and recovery planning.
• Represent and communicate the family perspective within the behavioral-health system to support trauma-informed, recovery-oriented practices.
• Support the recognition, acceptance, and integration of cultural, social, and linguistic factors that influence behavioral-health experiences for families.
• Participate in community events, trainings, workshops, and outreach activities in a leadership or representative capacity.
• Assist families in articulating concerns, preparing for meetings, and navigating formal or informal service discussions.
• Document all outreach, engagement, psychoeducation, and family-support activities as required.

Education

Possession of a high school diploma, G.E.D. equivalency or high school proficiency certificate is required.

Experience

Depending on the assignment, current or previous recovery experience as a consumer of behavioral health and/or substance abuse services or as a family member/caregiver of a former or current behavioral health consumer.

AND

One year as a Medi-Cal Certified Peer Support Specialist, or an out of state peer support certification holder with two (2) years of direct full time peer support work experience, with the understanding that Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification is required within six (6) months of the employment start date.

Knowledge of

The basic principles and practices of leadership and training; the needs and difficulties faced by clients, caregivers and families of behavioral health and/or substance abuse consumers; the public and/or private agency services available for families, children and adults with serious behavioral health needs, such as schools, social services and other systems; the self-help and consumer oriented treatment models; methods to effectively communicate with consumers, families and caregivers, the community, and the behavioral health treatment team.

Ability to

Act in a lead capacity; understand the principles of the behavioral health system and effectively work within the system; effectively represent and advocate for the consumer perspective within the community and behavioral health system; understand and articulate the cultural and social factors affecting behavior patterns; effectively communicate the workings of the behavioral health system to service consumers, parents, family members, and caregivers; develop and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of community agencies and organizations; obtain and record accurate information for case documentation and other reports.

Other Requirements

Possession of a valid California Driver's License may be required. A valid Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification must be obtained within six (6) months of the employment start date. Employees holding a Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification must be recertified every two (2) years. Failure to maintain a valid Medi-Cal Peer Support Certification may lead to termination.