Mhaao - Bridge Team (Cultural Specific) Peer Support Specialist

Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO)

EVOLVE Multnomah County – Culturally Specific Bridge Team PSS

Job Description

Pay: $25 an hour.

FTE: 1.0 (40 hours per week)

Benefits: This is a benefited position as outlined in the MHAAO Employee Handbook

TITLE: FORENSIC PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST

REPORTS TO: EVOLVE PROGRAM SUPERVISOR

DEPARTMENT: EVOLVE Peer Delivered Services – Multnomah County

Persons of color, LGBTQIA+ and members of all other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

JOB SUMMARY:

Provides holistic, person-centered, trauma informed and strength-based support to individuals with mental health and/or co-occurring addiction challenges, involved in the Criminal Justice System. Support may begin at any point from initial contact with law enforcement, incarceration, inpatient treatment program, hospitalization (including Oregon State Hospital), or court involvement to getting reestablished with home and community.

Duties and responsibilities:

1. Participates as a valuable member of a comprehensive multidisciplinary treatment court team. Works collaboratively with both the mental health court and forensic diversion staff as a team member.
2. Arrange initial meetings with individuals who have been referred for Forensic Peer Support Services.
3. Meet with individual in the community/their home/while incarcerated to establish and maintain a positive and trusting relationship.
4. Following the direction of the individuals served, assist them in exploring strategies that increase satisfaction with the eight dimensions of wellness and recovery goals.
5. Assist individuals with identifying and engaging various community resources and supports including 12-step/recovery/addiction/mental health support groups and/or navigation of the criminal justice/court system.
6. Offer individuals educational opportunities to explore new resources and information.
7. Work with individuals to maintain accurate records that support their needs and goals and record progress toward set goals.
8. Ideally, following a timeline that works for them, assist individuals with progressing out of structured Peer Support services and into more natural and mutually beneficial relationships.

Qualifications for position: Identifies as having lived experience of mental health challenges, the criminal justice system and addiction recovery; has received an Oregon Health Authority (OHA) approved Peer Support Specialist Training and Certified Recovery Mentor (CPM) training and is certified in Oregon as a Peer Support Specialist and CRM or able to within 3 months of hire.

Expectations: MHAAO strives to honor cultural and spiritual diversity in the communities we serve as well as honoring Voice and Choice through trauma-informed practices. Being committed to Social Justice means being committed to constantly assessing our organizational values and the extent to which we are modeling or falling short of them. It also means listening to feedback from our stakeholders and others who have interacted with our organization and taking the time to understand and reflect on those interactions. This commitment is extended from the organization, as well as each employee of MHAAO.

Background Check: A criminal background check will be conducted by MHAAO in accordance with the MHAAO background check policy. A criminal record does not necessarily exclude an individual from employment with MHAAO.

Skills and knowledge required:

• PSS and CRM trained and certified.
• Understanding of Person-Directed Planning.
• Understanding of confidentiality and HIPAA laws.
• Understanding of Mandatory Abuse Reporting requirements.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Computer skills that include data entry and Microsoft Office.
• Training and knowledge of trauma and trauma-informed services.
• Understanding of programmatic procedures for unusual incidents, and all safety protocols.

Qualities:

• Culturally specific experience.
• Possess an absolute belief in every persons’ ability to learn, grow, and recover.
• Value a person’s right to make their own decisions.
• Value people as the “experts” in their own lives.
• Possess insight pertaining to personal biases and worldview and how they may interfere with effectively working with individuals representing a variety of cultures and beliefs.

The above accountabilities represent work performed by this position and are not all-inclusive. The omission of a specific accountability will not preclude it from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical extension of the position.

Employment with Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon is "at-will." This means employees are free to resign at any time, with or without cause, and Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or advance notice. As an at-will employee, it is not guaranteed, in any manner, that you will be employed with Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon for any set period of time.

Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment opportunities at Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon are based upon one's qualifications and capabilities to perform the essential functions of a particular job. All employment opportunities are provided without regard to race, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, national origin, age, Veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.