School At Risk Youth Peer Support Specialist

Salary: $41k - $43K annual DOE

TITLE:  School AtRisk Youth Peer Support Specialist working full-time, 40 hours per week, 12 months a year. This position will work out of the Heartland South Sioux City office serving the South Sioux City, NE schools.    

MAIN FUNCTION:

The School AtRisk Youth Peer Support Specialist will be an individual who has had direct experience with mental health services and will utilize those experiences to collaborate with, coach and challenge individuals to view their life situations as an opportunity for growth and change within each individual’s recovery. The School Youth Peer Support Specialist will aid mental health providers and youth to move toward self-advocacy in the attainment of their own, culturally specific life goals.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work closely with school-based therapists to coordinate and enroll students in mental health services
• Meet with parents to complete documentation needed to establish mental health services for students
• Facilitate small groups each week in the school setting
• Interact, build rapport, and connect with youth by sharing common experiences, modeling resiliency and recovery
• Support youth involved with DHHS, the justice system, education system, youth, and family services
• Assist youth in understanding components of recovery, resiliency, and in applying skills to achieve life goals
• Provide individualized direct support to youth through empowerment and building confidence, with the overall goal to increase independence
• Work cooperatively and effectively with individuals/groups from diverse populations
• Attend youth case meetings (when requested) and other meetings as appropriate/assigned
• Locate available resources, trainings, or skill-building opportunities that will help and individual young person to achieve his/her goals
• Serve as a resource for youth served during scheduled appointments or designated drop-in hours
• Travel is required

The School AtRisk Youth Peer Support Specialist is expected to:

• Participate in all required trainings; expected certification training within one year of hire
• Communicate promptly and in advance – e.g., notify supervisor of schedule/changes/cannot attend a scheduled meeting
• Report any concerns that arise when working with youth as specified in mandated reporting training
• Be able to model and maintain healthy boundaries with youth in order to promote accountability and independence, while consistently offering support

 

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS:

The School AtRisk Youth Peer Support Specialist will have a minimum of an AA Degree. Other qualifications include: · Identification as having direct experience with mental health and/or substance use services past or present and be able to bring this experience to ensure services, supports, and goals are driven by the youth · State of Nebraska Peer Support Specialist Certification preferred, must become certified within one year of hire. · Pass Criminal and Transportation Background Check, Valid Driver’s License. Multilingual preferred, but not required.

BENEFITS:

2-3 weeks paid vacation per year.

12 paid sick days per year.

2 paid personal days per year.

1 paid mental health day per year.

9 paid holidays per year.

3 paid training days per year.

Bereavement Leave.

Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

Paid life insurance policy.

Medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts.

Aflac.

Employee Assistance Program.

3% matching retirement plan after 2 years of employment.

Flexible schedule.