YOUTH PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST - 32 HRS*

Muskegon-County,-Mi; Muskegon (MI); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Muskegon County is seeking a Youth Peer Support Specialist to provide welcoming support, skills coaching, and group facilitation for individuals living with mental health challenges and/or developmental disabilities.

The role involves building trusting relationships with clients, families, and staff, transporting clients as needed, and documenting activities to support community participation and recovery goals.

Qualifications

• Be a high school graduate or have a GED.
• Be a young adult, ages 18–28, with lived mental health experience who used services as a youth.
• Be willing to identify as someone who has received behavioral health services.
• Hold a valid Michigan driver's license or obtain within 30 days of hire.
• Have reliable transportation to perform duties.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and co-facilitate groups and activities for clients.
• Build relationships with individuals, families, and staff; document activities.
• Transport clients when required and maintain records using basic software.

Skills

Lived experience with mental health

Group facilitation

Communication skills

Willingness to self-identify as a past

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

*Note: Applicants in this position will not be scheduled more than 32 hours per week.

A Youth Peer Support Specialist, under general review of various HealthWest program supervisors, provides a welcoming atmosphere, skills training, and instruction to individuals receiving services who may be living with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and/or substance abuse issues. An employee in this class coordinates and/or co-facilitates groups including group outings into the community, motivating individuals toward greater community inclusion, and achieving personal goals; and/or co-facilitating groups in skills training, dual diagnosis, recovery issues, substance abuse issues, and other groups as assigned. A Youth Peer Support Specialist facilitates individual’s care by building relationships and meeting with the individuals receiving services, their guardians, families, support systems, AFC staff, and other key persons in the individual’s life. This employee transports individuals receiving services, completes necessary documentation which includes communicating effectively in both oral and written form and maintaining accurate records, including utilizing basic computer software and performs other related duties as assigned.

• 1. Be a high school graduate or have a certificate of completion of the General Educational Development (GED) test;
• 2. Be a young adult, ages 18 through age 28, with lived experience with mental health challenges, who received mental health services from a Community Mental Health Agency as a youth or young adult;
• 3. Be willing and able to self-identify as a person who has received or is receiving behavioral health services and is prepared to use that experience in helping others;
• 4. Possess a valid Michigan driver’s license or be able to obtain on within 30 days of employment;
• 5. Must have reliable transportation that may have to be used to carry out job duties of this classification.

Post Hire Training Requirements

• 1. Must be eligible and willing to be trained in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services approved curriculum and ongoing training model for Youth Peer Support Specialist and obtain certification approved by the State of Michigan as a Peer Specialist within 18 months of employment.

Preferred but not Required

• 1. Bilingual candidates highly desired.
• 2. Lived experiences with mental illness/developmental disabilities/substance use disorders valued.
• 3. Individuals with experience in Armed Services valued.
• 4. Has experience receiving services as a youth in complex, child serving systems (behavioral health, child welfare, juvenile justice, special education, etc.) preferred.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

An employee in this class performs generally sedentary work activity requiring the occasional lifting of objects weighing thirty-five (35) pounds or less.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

A Youth Peer Support Specialist works within the Client Services offices and program location of HealthWest, with considerable travel required throughout the County by use of personal resources.

EVALUATION CONTENT

Applicants for County employment may be subject to a post-offer criminal background check, depending on the nature and assignment of the position. When such check is conducted, an offer of employment is contingent upon the results of the criminal background check. Appointees must satisfactorily complete a probationary period before the appointment will be considered permanent.

APPLICANT REVIEW PROCEDURE

Any applicant is entitled to a review of any determination or action taken by the County regarding the applicant’s employment application. Inquiries should be directed to the County Human Resources Department.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this recruitment is to establish an eligible list from which to fill present and future vacancies in this classification in the County system. For each opening, the Department Head has her/his choice of the candidates who meet the required minimum entrance qualifications. This list remains in effect for three months unless exhausted or extended.

MUSKEGON COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

MUSKEGON COUNTY HAS ADOPTED A VETERANS PREFERENCE POLICY THAT

RECOGNIZES QUALIFYING MILITARY SERVICE