Position Title

Part - Time Youth Peer Support Specialist - S.J. - Angelina Mental Health Clinic - Lufkin, Nacogdoches, & Livingston, TX

Position Number

P #1240

General Description

Burke is seeking to hire a Youth Peer Support Specialist (YPSS) to expand youth-driven wraparound services for young people, increase youth engagement, and expand capacity for youth voice across our agency and community. Youth Peer Support Specialists are not clinicians, but they are people who have availed themselves of mental or behavioral health services in their past, who will share their own experiences and what skills, strengths, supports and resources they used in their recovery and wellness. As much as possible, peers will share their own recovery stories and will demonstrate how they have directed their own recovery and wellness processes. Their story, skill and maturity will demonstrate that they are a credible role model and coach to the clients served by Burke. By sharing their own lived experience, youth peers help youth to enhance wellness, create strategies for self-empowerment, and take concrete steps towards building fulfilling, self-determined lives for themselves.

Burke will assist the YPSS in becoming certified as a peer provider, to provide guidance and training towards a successful peer approach and guidance on expectations and limitations.

Essential Responsibilities:

1. Provide support to youth who choose to engage with the youth peer support specialist, through using your story, skills, strengths and resources to demonstrate how you directed your own recovery, to assist them in developing their recovery and wellness process.

2. Develop authentic, meaningful relationships with individuals and families through empathy, listening, and collaborating with genuine curiosity and interest.

3. Actively gather and share information about community resources and assist the youth to identify and build their community and natural support.

4. Promote self-advocacy by assisting youth in articulating their personal goals and desires.

5. Support the care team by maintaining open and frequent communication with the care team, reporting safety and other concerns to the team. Collaborate with care team to ensure that services and agency culture are youth-driven, youth-friendly, culturally and linguistically competent, trauma-informed, and responsive to the needs of the youth who are served.

6. Participate in regularly scheduled supervision.

7. Job responsibilities may frequently require travel across the community and work inside the family home, schools, and other community settings. There may also be occasional travel outside of the region.

Education

Required: Graduation from an accredited high school or its equivalent.

Experience

Required: Have personal lived experience navigating behavioral health systems, demonstrate strong interpersonal communications skills and the ability to empathize with, relate to, and effectively partner with youth and team members. Demonstrate a strong understanding of boundaries in relationship to being a coach and mentor. Understanding principles of self-care. Have the willingness to disclose their lived experience, where appropriate, for the purpose of empowerment.

Preferred: Will understand the local community, including resources that are available and effectively collaborating, partnering, and advocating alongside youth.

Licenses/Certifications

Required: Valid Texas driver's license.

Special Requests or Comments

Required: Must be physically able to complete Satori Alternative to Managing Aggressive Behavior (SAMA), CPR, and First Aid training modules. Must have a driving record insurable by Burke's insurance administrator. Must be willing to share stories of your lived experience as a recipient of mental health services.

Physical Requirements

Required: Sight, hearing, talking, lifting up to 25 pounds, walking, driving a vehicle, and hand/finger dexterity.

Hours

Monday - Friday; available to work flexible hours (29 hours or less) that are convenient for youth and families.

Salary

$12.50 an hour (additional .50 per hr. when certified)