Youth Peer Specialist

Overview

Children's Outpatient Services provides treatment for children and adolescents and their families and is intended to improve and maintain a child’s or an adolescent’s stability in the community. Treatment focuses on problem resolution, symptom reduction, stabilization and / or prevention of movement to a higher level of care. Services include individual, family and group therapy, medication evaluation and management, case management, in home intervention, case consultation and summer day treatment services. The type of treatment is highly variable and depends upon the individual’s existing symptoms and developmental level.

Responsibilities

Primary Job Functions

• Participates in one-on-one meetings or treatment team meetings to discuss ideas, difficulties, suggestions, and expectations
• Provides social interaction, both individually and as a group, to develop social and recreational skills and to help participants develop insight into their mental illness
• Promotes recovery-oriented skills to help achieve goals created in the treatment plan
• Establish linkages that result in the participant’s active use of resources in the community
• Assist participants in developing empowerment skills through self-advocacy and advocates on behalf of participant when needed
• Assists staff  and participants in understanding recovery and share unique experiences leading toward rehabilitation
• Serve as a role model to help staff in understanding recovery and share unique experiences leading toward rehabilitation
• Plans and conducts peer support groups focusing on topics related to recovery
• Other tasks as assigned by supervisor

Clincal Record Keeping

Supervision and Consultation

Courteous and respectful attitudes towards participants, visitors and co-workers :

Administrative and Other Related Duties Assigned :

Qualifications

High school diploma or its equivalent

Must be a current or former recipient of mental health services with a DSM-5 diagnosis, for no less that one year before the age of 21.

Ability to identify as a participant of mental health services and speak openly regarding personal diagnosis and treatment

A valid driver’s license, a good driving record, reliable transportation and verifiable vehicle liability insurance

Ability to attend DMH-approved Peer Specialist training for certification; demonstrated experience with and knowledge of the Alabama public mental health system

Knowledge of youth / young adult specific competencies, outlined below, to be attained within six (6) months of employment :