Peer Specialist - RESTORE

Position Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Family Treatment Team (FTT) Program Manager, the Certified Peer Specialist-Youth (CPS-Y) delivers a comprehensive range of recovery-oriented support services to youth and families. Utilizing their own lived experience with mental health recovery, the CPS-Y serves as a dedicated advocate and role model, empowering clients to direct their own wellness journeys. The CPS-Y works collaboratively with families to identify personal recovery goals, leverage inherent strengths, and build actionable pathways toward long-term stability and resilience.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

Direct Client Support & Skill Building

• Wellness Planning: Partner with youth and families to design, implement, and maintain individualized Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP).
• Emotional Regulation: Teach evidence-based techniques and coping mechanisms to help youth manage intense emotional responses and navigate behavioral challenges.
• Communication Training: Instruct families on how to mitigate negative self-talk and replace destructive communication patterns with positive interaction strategies.
• Social & Life Skills: Facilitate structured activities and coaching to improve clients' problem-solving skills, social interactions, and community integration.
• Vocational Guidance: Support youth in identifying, exploring, and pursuing viable career paths and educational opportunities.

Resource Coordination & Advocacy

• Agency Liaison: Advocate fiercely for youth and families across external systems, including local schools, the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS), and the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).
• Resource Mapping: Connect program participants to critical community resources, stable housing opportunities, and local healthcare services.
• Natural Supports: Guide parents and guardians in identifying, establishing, and utilizing their own community and peer-led support networks.
• Logistical Support: Arrange or directly provide safe transportation for clients to attend critical medical, therapeutic, and community appointments.

Clinical Collaboration & Administration

• Interdisciplinary Participation: Actively contribute to client intake assessments, multidisciplinary treatment team planning, and crisis intervention protocols.
• Clinical Modeling: Act as a strategic resource for clinical staff by using personal recovery insight to identify and advocate for program improvements that maximize client wellness.
• Compliance & Documentation: Maintain meticulous, timely documentation of all billable and non-billable client interactions, family engagements, and collateral contacts within the Electronic Health Record (EHR).
• Confidentiality: Uphold the strictest compliance with HIPAA and confidentiality regulations, ensuring signed releases of information are securely obtained prior to disclosing any healthcare data.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or General Education Development (GED) equivalent.
• Age Requirement: Minimum of 18 years of age at the time of application.
• Lived Experience & Credentialing: Must be currently credentialed as a Certified Peer Specialist - Youth (CPS-Y) or meet all state eligibility requirements for certification. Eligibility requires personal, lived experience with a documented diagnosis of mental illness, addiction, or a co-occurring dual diagnosis, alongside a strong willingness to self-identify publicly as a person in recovery.
• Core Skills: Demonstrated high proficiency in reading comprehension and professional written communication, as evaluated through the required pre-employment assessment.
• Leadership & Recovery Grounding: Proven experience in leadership, peer advocacy, or program governance. Candidates must demonstrate that they are well-grounded in their personal recovery process, fully adhering to standard CPS and CARES ethical guidelines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in psychology, social work, counseling, or a closely related human services field.
• Certification: Active and verified state Certified Peer Specialist - Youth (CPS-Y) credential at the time of hire.
• Experience: A deep-seated commitment and documented dedication to working within a family-centered care model, including serving both youth and adults navigating serious mental illness (SMI).

Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations

• Mandatory Credentialing: Maintenance of an active Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) credential is a mandatory condition of employment. Selected candidates hired under "eligible" status must successfully obtain state certification within the designated probationary period to retain the position.
• Logistics: Valid driver's license and reliable personal transportation to facilitate community-based and in-home client treatment.