Peer Support Specialist - Young Adult Housing

Salary: $18.79 - $25.12 Hourly
Location : Salem, OR
Job Type: Full-time Regular
Job Number: 070-2023-15
Department: Health and Human Services
Division: HHS - BH - Adult Outpatient MH Svcs
Opening Date: 10/31/2023
Closing Date: Continuous
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: 06
This recruitment has been reopened for additional applicants and will remain open until filled. If you have already applied for recruitment #070-2023-15, you do not need to reapply. New applicants are encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible as this recruitment may close at any time without further notice.
Come share your lived experience with Young Adults! Marion County's Young Adult Rental Assistance Program (YRAP) is looking for a Peer Support Specialist to work with Young Adults who are diagnosed with a serious mental illness and who need housing. You will have the opportunity to use your lived experience regarding your mental health recovery journey and accessing housing with other Young Adults. Your experience will help others live independently and support their mental health recovery. You will also assist linking to community supports, using recovery tools, and act as an advocate. You are an ideal candidate for this position if you have experience with Peer Support, embrace SAMHSA's recovery model, understand individuality in the recovery journey, honor an individual's voice and choice, and appreciate variety in your workday.
Here is what Peer Support Specialists are saying about working for Marion County:

• I have a passion for Peer Support, and I feel like I am in a space to support others with their mental health recovery journey now. - Jason
• I want to give back the support that was given to me and feel like I have a job that matters. -Trisha

This is a fully in-person position. Marion County offers a generous benefits package from health insurance to planning for retirement.

• Health, dental & vision coverage for employee and their eligible family members
• Oregon Public Retirement System (PERS) - Marion County pays 100% of PERS contribution (6% of salary)
• Deferred compensation plans
• Flexible spending account (FSA)
• Competitive salary with seven steps of 5% increases; employees are eligible for a step increase at six months and annually thereafter.
• 10 county observed holidays and 2 personal holidays per year.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES
The Peer Support Specialist provides support, encouragement, and assistance to mental health individuals. The specialist will promote those activities that foster recovery and empowerment by sharing their personal experiences when appropriate, modeling self-help and wellness activities. Act as an advocate who facilitates and connects individuals to services and activities. As a member of the treatment team the incumbent provides expertise, experience, and consultation to the team to promote a culture in which each individual's point of view and preferences are recognized, respected, and integrated into treatment.
SUPERVISION RECEIVEDWorks under the close supervision of a qualified clinical supervisor who assigns work, establishes goals, and reviews the results obtained for overall effectiveness.
SUPERVISION EXERCISEDSupervision of other employees is not a responsibility of positions in this class.
Typical Duties - Duties include, but are not limited to the following
Provide support, encouragement, and assistance regarding housing and mental health to Young Adults enrolled in Marion County Young Adult Rental Assistance Program (YRAP).
Support Housing Stability

• Assist Young Adults with referral to YRAP, as needed.
• Support Young Adults to access affordable housing resources.
• Provide supportive navigation, advocacy, information, and coaching during application processes.
• Share lived experience regarding housing insecurity, and overcoming barriers, when appropriate.
• Minimum monthly check-in with program participants.
• Provide education and/or training to assist Young Adults in acquiring skills that will maintain community stability and independence.
• Support Young Adults to access long-term housing.

Community Linkage

• Provide information to community agencies about YRAP, including program philosophy, referral process, and availability.
• Identify potential program participants who express desire and willingness to increase wellness and independence.
• Facilitate and connect Young Adults to services and activities which build on self-efficacy.
• Support to link with peer and community resources to build natural supports.
• Support and assist Young Adults to strengthen linkages to community peer delivered services.
• Support Young Adults to access and acquire services related to medical, social, educational, transportation, housing, education, employment, and other applicable services.
• Promote linkage to the local community to support personal wellness and ongoing recovery.
• Provide some case management support regarding eligibility and referral requirements for various programs.
• Support Young Adults to develop self-help skills, social skills, and community integration.

Advocacy and Well-being

• Assist Young Adults in developing a Person-Centered Housing Plan, including assessment of needs, self-identifying personal goals, steps to reach goals, increased community integration, identifying natural supports, and identifying supports and community resources regarding mental health recovery.
• Provide expertise, experience, and consultation to promote a culture where individual point of view is recognized, respected, and integrated into treatment.
• Act as a peer advocate.

Support Recovery

• Promote activities that foster recovery, self-efficacy, and empowerment.
• Share personal experiences when appropriate, modeling self-help and wellness activities to empower participants on their mental health recovery journey.
• Provide outreach to engage Young Adults and assist them in overcoming barriers to participating in services, including mental health treatment.
• Offer support to develop personal recovery and wellness goals, explore self-help strategies, review dimensions of wellness, and engage in wellness activities.
• Support engagement and treatment from community providers, including mental health, chemical dependency, and physical health providers.
• Provide information and supportive navigation of the adult behavioral health system, including answering phone inquiries, providing information, and coaching on how to assess services and supports.

Documentation

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of clinical records in accordance with Federal, State, County, and treatment program requirements under the direction of the clinical supervisor. Meet performance expectations for time and billing standards.
• Gather data for reporting requirements.

Miscellaneous

• Participate fully as a member of the Marion County ABH team as a supportive, reliable, positive, collaborative, and professional team member during the development of individual treatment planning, team meetings, and crisis intervention.
• Work with a team and supervisor for clinical supervision, treatment planning, staff and departmental meetings, and trainings.

Response Level 2: In the event of an emergency, employee makes a reasonable effort to report to work. Employee may be required to perform duties outside of their regularly assigned duties. Employee may be requested to work an extended or flexible schedule. Staff at this response level must complete Incident Command System 100 and 700 on-line or in-person training.
Requirements for the Position
EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING
As defined by OAR 309-019-0105 (81) "Peer Support Specialist" means an individual providing peer delivered services to an individual or family member with similar life experience under the supervision of a qualified clinical supervisor and a qualified peer delivered services supervisor as resources are made available.

1. A self-identified person currently or formerly receiving mental health services.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Applicants will be asked to discuss recovery experiences during the interview process.
• Must successfully complete a Mental Health approved Peer Support training program within six (6) months of hire.
• The finalist for this position will be required to pass a criminal history background check; however, conviction of a crime may not necessarily disqualify an individual for this position.
• Must possess a current driver's license in the applicant's state of residence and an acceptable driving history. Marion County will obtain a copy of the driving record for all qualified applicants from Driver and Motor Vehicle Services and review the driving record according to the Marion County policy and procedure for Driving on County Business. The policy can be found at:
• This is a safety sensitive/special needs position. Final candidates selected for this position will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screen, including testing for marijuana. The Marion County Drug and Alcohol Use and Testing Policy can be found at:
• This position may be subject to the following: Must not be excluded from participation in the federal health care programs (Medicaid, Medicare and other federally funded programs that provide health benefits); AND must not be excluded from participating in federal procurement (Federal Acquisition Regulation) and non-procurement activities (Executive Order No. 12549).
• This position is represented by a union.
• This is a full-time position, which is eligible for overtime.
• Typical Work Schedule: This position will work 40 hours with five 8-hour shifts, scheduled with flexibility depending upon the needs of the department and program.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Understanding of approaches to support others in recovery andresiliency and demonstrates efforts at self-directed recovery.
Knowledgeable of community resources and how to connect individuals to those resources.
Ability to understand and carry out directions and instructions; ability to maintain confidentiality; interest and skill in providing services to individuals; ability to speak, read and write English; ability to provide documentation consistent with department standards for quality and timeliness; willingness to work hours conducive to reaching the identified population; ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with individuals, coworkers, and other agencies.
Will be asked to discuss recovering experiences during interview process.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTSOperates a motor vehicle; sees using depth perception; stands; sits; moves about the work area; bends forward; climbs 1 floor of stairs; lifts, pushes, pulls, moves carts and carries items weighing up to 5 lbs.; operates a keyboard; speaks with a clear and audible voice; reads a 12 pt. font; hears a normal speech level; works in areas that may be exposed to heat, cold, humidity, and noise. This position will go into homes in the community and may be exposed to secondhand smoke, uneven ground and/or dust, and household cleaning chemicals, i.e., bleach, cleaners.
Additional Information and/or Attachments
We offer the following retention bonus, prorated based on FTE:

• $1,250 bonus after 6 months of continuous employment
• $1,250 bonus after 12 months of continuous employment

We offer tuition assistance for employees interested in professional development towards a profession in behavioral health.

• Up to $7,500 to reimburse for tuition, licensure and/or other educational expenditures. According to the Marion County policy administrative policies regarding tuition payments.

PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS
Marion County is a qualifying public employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, full-time employees working at the County may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan. Questions about your loan eligibility should be directed to your loan servicer or the US Department of Education.
VETERANS' PREFERENCE
Applicants are eligible to use Veterans' Preference when applying with Marion County in accordance with ORS 408.225, 408.230, and 408.235 and OAR 105-040-0010 and 105-040-0015. Preference will be awarded only if the applicant meets the minimum requirements of the position and attaches the required documentation at the time of application.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR VETERANS' PREFERENCE

• One of the following:
  • MEMBER COPY 4 of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214 or 215); OR
  • Letter from the US Department of Veterans Affairs indicating receipt of a non-service connected pension; OR
  • Certification that discharge or release from active duty under honorable conditions will take place not later than 120 days after the submission of the certificate.

• In addition to one of the above documents, Disabled Veterans must also submit one of the following:
  • A copy of their Veterans disability preference letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs; OR
  • Certification that medical separation from active duty under honorable conditions will take place not later than 120 days after the submission of the certificate.

You can request copies of your military service record through the National Archives website at
Marion County is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, Veteran and Disability employer committed to increasing the diversity of its workforce.
Marion County offers a generous benefits package to regular employees working 50% or more of the regularly scheduled work week and their eligible dependents. Temporary employees and part-time regular employee...