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Position Title: Peer Support Specialist
Department: Mobile Crisis Response (MCR)
Reports to: Mobile Crisis Response Lead/Program Supervisor
Location: Garfield Park

About the Program:
The Mobile Crisis Response (MCR) program will add to our continuum of care, enhancing our ability to provide timely and effective crisis intervention and support to individuals and families in our community. This program will operate with an after-hours crisis line, providing round-the-clock support for individuals in need, highlighting our unwavering commitment to ensuring help is available at any time and emphasizing our dedication to serving the most vulnerable and those in urgent need of assistance.

Position Objective and Summary:
The Peer Support Specialist will provide hope-filled engagement and support to individuals in crisis, assist individuals in advocating for their choices, needs, and rights, serve as a bridge between individuals and clinical staff, and provide resources and guidance to help individuals navigate behavioral health and community support systems.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Ability to self-transport within the community within 60 minutes of receiving a crisis call. The Peer Support Specialist will work collaboratively with the members of the crisis team.
• Assist clients with symptom management and recovery by modeling wellness, personal responsibility, self-advocacy, and hopefulness through the sharing of his or her story, in the process role modeling how the needs of individuals can be met.
• Help other providers to better understand and empathize with each client's unique experience and perceptions.
• Provide guidance and encouragement to clients to actively participate in their own recovery. Teach clients self-advocacy skills.
• Promote personal growth and development with mental health issues.
• Assist, teach, and support clients regarding activities of daily living, vocational skills, housing access, maintaining financial support, and building support networks.
• Provide side-by-side support, coaching and encouragement to help clients socialize and carry out leisure-time activities in the evenings, weekends and holidays. Organize and lead individual and group social and recreational activities and provide other opportunities to practice social skills.
• Link clients to other external sources of help when needed.
• Assist clients in identifying with other consumers who have done well in recovery.
• When appropriate, share with clients his/her own experiences with mental illness and recovery.
• Attend and participate in team meetings and supervision meetings.

Documentation and Reporting

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all client interactions and support activities.
• Assist in data collection and analysis to monitor program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
• Prepare and submit reports to the MCR Team Lead as required.

Client Empowerment

• Encourage and empower clients to take an active role in their recovery and stabilization.
• Provide education and information to clients and their families about available resources and support.
• Support clients in developing coping strategies and life skills.

Education /Job Experience/Certification:

• High School Diploma or GED. Bachelor's degree in social work, Psychology, Counseling, Human Services, or a related field preferred.
• Has individual lived experience, or experience as a caregiver of a child, with behavioral health needs.
• Demonstrates the ability to work within agency structure, accept supervision, and participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary team, when applicable; and
• Must be at least 21years of age and hold a valid Drivers License.

Special Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Strong understanding of community resources and social services.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to handle high-stress situations with professionalism and composure.
• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities.
• Firm understanding and ability to document and report writing.
• Comfortability working in an emotionally charged environment.

Work Environment: This position requires work on-site and off-site in the community. This position requires some evening, and weekends work hours. This is not a hybrid position.