Youth Peer Support

YOUTH PEER SUPPORT - CADILLAC
Northern Lakes Community Mental Health Authority (NLCMHA) recognizes the value of and employs people with lived experience and believes strongly in Recovery and a Culture of Gentleness. To this end, this position requires a commitment to creating and maintaining a culture that "Expects Recovery" and "Encourages Gentleness."

Is a young adult, age 18 through 28, with lived experience who received mental health services as a youth. Will work under the direction of the Operations Manager for Child and Family Services and in conjunction with the Child and Family Services Team to support youth empowerment, assisting youth in developing skills to improve their overall functioning and quality of life, and working collaboratively with others involved in delivering the youth's care. Will work with the youth and the youth's service providers to meet needs as identified in the IPOS, with the goals being mutually identified in active collaboration with the youth receiving services. Engages the youth in services to support and assist the youth with community integration, improving family relationships and resolving conflicts, and making transition to adulthood. Provides services in home and/or community.

Essential Functions

• Intended to provide service to children, youth, and young adults who are middle school age to 26 years of age.
• Work within NLCMHA's child and family provider team to ensure that services are provided consistent child and family needs, and agency, program and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) identified service system needs.
• Work with a multi-disciplinary team to develop safety and support plans for those experiencing a mental health crisis.
• Complete documentation of all job tasks as identified
• Provide interventions as part of the treatment team to enable the youth improve family relationships, resolve conflicts, integrate into the community, assist with transition to adulthood, community integration, as identified in the Individual Plan of Service (IPOS).
• Empowers youth to obtain community resources and increase confidence and competence, assisting youth in developing skills to improve their overall functioning and quality of life.
• Serves as example and mentor. Is non-judgmental, encouraging and instills hope.
• Learns youth's story, culture, strengths and concerns.
• Is knowledgeable about NLCMHA services, guidelines and regulations and provides information to youth.
• Uses experience and knowledge to expand opportunities for choice and voice in services for child and family.
• Builds partnerships with youth, parents and professionals, promotes mutual respect.
• Works directly with youth in their home and community, implementing the specific aspect of the IPOS or treatment intervention. Meets MDCH provider qualifications and follows relevant guidelines (e.g. within Medicaid regulations). Maintains relevant training requirements.
• Will maintain a working knowledge of current trends and developments in the mental health field by reading books, journals and other relevant materials.
• Use a family driven, youth guided approach to collaborate with children and their families in assessing their needs and identifying resources needed to overcome challenges and prevent them from reoccurring.
• Must be able to work with intangible information, uncertainties or missing information to assess and consider in the course of linking and coordinating treatment.
• This position is expected to utilize complex interpersonal and communication skills on a frequent basis. This includes group services and formal presentations.
• Services provided will occur in the office or community setting, including the home environment.

Qualifications

• Ages 18 through 28
• Youth with lived experience who received mental health services as a youth
• Youth who is willing to self-identify as a person who has or is receiving behavioral health services and is prepared to use that experience in helping others
• Youth who has experience receiving services as a youth in complex, child serving systems preferred (behavioral health, child welfare, juvenile justice, special education, etc.)
• Able to relate and socially interact, communicate with and engage others.
• Able to partner with youth, families, professionals, community in order to plan and implement services and training.
• Able to integrate own experience when it is helpful
• Supports youth strengths in problem solving and solution seeking.
• Demonstrates comfort working with people having different life experiences and from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and cultures
• Maintains a respectful, non-judgmental attitude toward all
• Has a good written, verbal and listening skill.
• Knowledgeable of community resources
• Basic computer competency
• Accepts direction, guidance and assignments of the supervisor and the treatment team.

PAY:
$23.36/hr - $26.23/hr

Benefits

• Medical Insurance (4 options)
• Dental Insurance (2 options)
• Vision Insurance (2 options)
• Health Savings