Peer Support Specialist - Bureau of Justice Assistance

Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO)

Peer Support Specialist/Certified Recovery Mentor Bureau of Justice Assistance

PAY: $25 an hour

FTE: 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week)

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

TITLE: Peer Support Specialist/Certified Recovery Mentor –Multnomah Co. Jail

REPORTS TO: EvolvePeer Program Manager

DEPARTMENT: EvolvePeer Delivered Services

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

Job Summary

The Peer Support Specialist (PSS)/Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM) will provide support to people who are participating in and referred through the Multnomah County Health Department’s Comprehensive Opioid Abuse Site-based Program (COAP) based at the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC). The PSS/CRM offers addiction and/or co-occurring mental health and addiction recovery peer support as a peer who has had similar life experiences and acts as a positive role model.

MHAAO strives to honor cultural and spiritual diversity in the communities we serve as well as honoring voice and choice through trauma-informed practices. A vital aspect of this position is to reflect the diverse communities in Multnomah County and MHAAO is seeking candidates who reflect this commitment.

Peer support services are community-based, holistic, person-centered, trauma-informed and strength-based support and are offered to individuals with legal system involvement, and/or mental health and addiction experiences who are referred via Multnomah County COAP program staff.

The PSS/CRM position will be a part of the COAP team, a multidisciplinary jail team in Multnomah County. A primary function of this position will include supporting individuals who are currently in custody or being released from the MCDC as they transition back into their communities and connect with recovery programs that offer medication-supported recovery if desired. This may include going with individuals being served community-based appointments for addiction or mental health services. The PSS/CRM will support positive engagement in the criminal justice system by providing support and motivation through the entire continuum of criminal justice involvement and model appropriate advocacy within the system.

PSS/CRM will be expected to attend weekly COAP team meetings in support of the individuals being served. PSS/CRM will facilitate access and connection to community resources, harm-reduction services, medication assisted treatment, recovery and support meetings and increase resource awareness and social connectedness. The PSS/CRM will maintain consistent and timely communication with program staff in their role as an advocate for the individual being served, as well as maintaining encounter notes in the Peerlink database.

Engagement with peer support services is completely voluntary. The PSS/CRM will meet frequently (at least 2x weekly) during initial transition and re-entry. After that, frequency of encounters will be self-directed by the individual being served while supporting progress toward goals. The peer mentor will work to ensure that a dependable, trusting relationship is created that maintains confidentiality while working within system guidelines.

Qualifications

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.

Education: High school diploma or equivalent required.

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.

Experience: It is an essential function of the position to identify as having lived experience of incarceration, addiction and/or co-occurring mental health challenges and to be navigating a life of recovery. It is also vital to understand the effect of trauma on health, coping, and other aspects of individual needs as well as the principles of recovery, self-direction, and trauma-informed care.

The ideal candidate for this position will be familiar with and/or have lived experience of the criminal justice continuum, including arrest, detention, probation, post-prison/parole and re-entry. The PSS/CRM will be familiar with recovery principles, recovery communities, and resources that are supportive of people with SUD.

Qualities

• Possess an absolute belief in every person’s ability to learn, grow and recover.
• Value a person’s right to make their own decisions.
• Value people we serve 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 cultural, ethnic, language and life experiences.
  
  

Licensure/Certification: Oregon Health Authority(OHA)Peer Support Specialist (PSS) certification and MHACBO Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM) certification is required but may be applied for within 1 month of hire. This position requires at least 2 years of addiction recovery.

Valid Oregon Driver’s License and proof of automobile insurance required. Reliable transportation necessary.

Skills

Bilingual/bicultural highly valued.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team.

Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Computer and keyboard skills and ability to navigate electronic systems applicable to job functions.

General Accountabilities And Essential Functions

• Collaborates with individuals to create a person-directed plan. T raining will be provided in the use of these tools.
• Participates in regular peer support supervision sessions.
• Assistance and support accessing and navigating legal, mental health/SUD services.
• Introduction and connection with local recovery groups and activities.
• Support with accessing harm-reduction services.
• Support in developing community roles/natural supports.
• Learning and practicing self-advocacy.
• Support with reconnecting/visiting with family/children.
• Addressing basic needs of shelter/housing, food, physical wellness, and entitlements/benefits.
• Support when/where needed in navigating any systems involvement and resource connection.
• Support with physical health related goals and connecting to community resources and programs that work toward this aim.
• Education and employment support.
• Document services in a program database in a manner that assures compliance with policies, program procedures and local, state, and federal regulations. Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation as required by program deliverables.
• As appropriate, openly identifies as a person who has lived the experience of legal system involvement, addiction and/or co-occurring mental health challenges and is able to appropriately share own recovery story with individuals being served.
• Acts as a positive role model for individuals being served and exploring their own path to wellness and recovery.
• Acts as an advocate for individuals being served when appropriate, both within the organization and also with other entities.
• Respects and honors patient rights and responsibilities and demonstrates professional boundaries and ethics. Adheres to mandatory abuse reporting laws and HIPAA requirements.
  
  

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.