Youth Peer Support Specialist

CAYA Collaborative Care; Bowling Green (KY); On-site; USD 38,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

CAYA Collaborative Care in Bowling Green, KY seeks a Youth Peer Support Specialist with lived experience to mentor youth and young adults facing emotional, behavioral, or substance use challenges. You will join a treatment team, promote recovery, self-advocacy, and community living skills while coordinating with families, caregivers, and professionals.

Responsibilities include attending team meetings, supporting wraparound planning, and ensuring timely documentation.

Qualifications

• Must have lived experience related to mental health or substance use recovery.
• Excellent communication and writing abilities for collaboration with families and professionals.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage calendars and notes.
• Willingness to travel within the region and flexible hours.

Responsibilities

• Provide mentoring and support to youth with identified needs.
• Promote socialization, recovery, self-advocacy, and community living skills.
• Collaborate with case management and community partners; participate in wraparound processes.
• Attend weekly supervision in Year 1 and bi-monthly thereafter.
• Support youth in team meetings and advocate for self.
• Maintain timely documentation and notes within 24 hours.

Skills

Lived experience

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Willing to travel

Writing ability

Driver's license

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY:The Youth Peer Support Specialist has lived experience that is related to youth’s emotional, social, behavioral, or substance use treatment. They will provide mentoring and support to youth and young adults with an identified SED and SMI diagnoses.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:Serve as an active member or a consultant of a youths treatment team for obtaining needed supports and services.Promote socialization, recovery, self-advocacy, preservation and enhancement of community living skills for individuals, parents, guardians and caregivers.Assist with provision of wraparound process by collaborating and consulting with targeted case management staff, team members, other professionals and community partners and agencies.Provide encouragement and support to youth and young adults by sharing lived experience.Support youth when attending team meetings to assist in advocating for self.Attend supervision weekly for the first year and 2x monthly (1 x individual and 1 x group) after the first year of certification.Organizational abilities; keeping calendar with appointments and peer notes completed withing 24 hours.Other duties assigned by Supervisor.QUALIFICATIONS:Minimum of a High School Diploma or GED requiredMust be a self-identified person currently or formerly receiving mental services; or a self-identified person in recovery from a substance use disorder, who is committed to the recovery process. Person must identify on the application or cover letter how they have “lived” personal experience leading to an understanding of the needs of persons with mental health & substance use issues.All Youth Peer Support Specialists must successfully complete all the core competency training administered by the statewide family network and are required to seek continuous professional development training in order to maintain professional status and meet Medicaid and/or SIAC requirements.Organizational abilities (i.e. computer work, keep a schedule, phone skills)Willing to work flexible hours and to travel within the region served.Good communication and writing potential, with the ability to communicate and relate well to parents, children and professionals, including ability to listen well, to negotiate, and to remain objective.Ability to work with families from diverse cultural, religious, racial and socio-economic backgrounds.Valid KY Driver’s license.JOB REQUIREMENTS / EXPECTATIONS:Candidates must meet the eligibility requirements for Kentucky Youth Peer Support certification, including any age requirements established by the state.“Title 908, Chapter 002, Regulation 240 (908 KAR 2:240 - Kentucky Youth Peer support Specialist)https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles/908/002/240/Section 2. Eligibility Criteria, first point.”Reliable transportation with insurance is required and be able to transport clients for appointments and community engagement.This position will be held in various settings: clinic, community and client homes.The applicant hired into this role will be evaluated annually. This will be evaluated against company values and program expectations (i.e documentation and productivity, Medicaid regulations)Performance will be evaluated by client outcomes, documentation compliance, and alignment with organizational goals.Ability to stand, walk, bend, and move within clinic and community settings.Ability to sit for extended time for meetings, documentation, and clinic services.CORE VALUES:All employees must be willing to live our company's core values.Integrity – Exhibiting the highest moral, ethical and legal standards. Doing the right thing – even when no one else is looking.Teamwork – Putting team success over personal success. Actively valuing the strengths and talents of others.Trust/Respect– Seeing and believing in the good intentions of others. Interacting with others in a way that makes them feel valued. Listening without judging. Offering understanding and acceptance.Care/Compassion – Demonstrating unconditional kindness, concern and empathy. Exhibiting genuine concern for others.Ownership/Accountability – Taking personal responsibility for one’s work, actions and feelings. Accepting responsibility for and learning from mistakes.