WyStepUp Peer Specialist

Job Title: WYStepUp Peer Specialist

FLSA Status: Part Time - non-exempt
Reports to: Corps Officers

Schedule: TBD, PT roughly 29 hours/week
Supervises: N/A

Closing Date: 4/15/2024

Rate of Pay: $17-20/hour

Benefits: Standard; Part-Time, Non-Exempt employees are eligible for but not limited to the following:

• Sick leave benefit - 1 day per month, 12 sick days per year (accrual and availability begins at hire; sick time accrual is pro-rated for part-time hours.)
• Vacation benefit - 10 vacation days per year, accrued at the rate of .0385 hours for each hour worked, excluding overtime (accrual begins at hire but may not be used until the completion of six months of employment; vacation accrual is pro-rated for part time hours.)
• Pension Plan (after one year of continuous service)

GENERAL STATEMENT:

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The Peer Specialist (PS) is an active member of the WYStepUp Program/Team and provides peer support services to participants with mental illnesses & drug/alcohol addictions. Under supervision of the Program Director/Program Manager the PS will function as a role model to peers; exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills; serve as a consumer advocate, providing consumer information and peer support to participants in outpatient and inpatient settings. The PS performs a wide range of tasks to assist peers of all ages, from young adult to old age, in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery process. Recovery resources such as booklets, pamphlets and other written materials will be utilized by the PS in the provision of services.

Using a formal goal setting process, the PS will:

• Assist participants in articulating personal goals for recovery with one-to-one and group sessions. During these sessions the PS will support participants in identifying and creating goals and developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, support, and resources to aid them in achieving those goals.
• Assist participants in working with their Case Manager or Program Team in determining the steps she needs to take to achieve these goals and self-directed recovery.
• Assist participants in setting up and sustaining self-help (mutual support) groups, as well as means of locating and joining existing groups.
• Utilize tools such as the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) to assist participants in creating their own individual wellness and recovery plans.
• Independently or with periodic assistance of higher graded program team members, utilize and teach problem solving techniques with individuals and groups; discussions will be utilized where participants will share common problems in daily living and methods they have employed to manage and cope with these problems. As one who has availed themselves to mental health services and addictions, the PS will share their own experiences and what skills, strengths, supports and resources they use. As much as possible, the PS will share their own recovery story and as the facilitator of these sessions, will demonstrate how they have directed their own recovery.
• Use ongoing individual and group sessions to teach participants how to identify and combat negative self-talk and how to identify and overcome fears by providing a forum which allows group members and PS to share their experiences. By using identified literature, media, etc. participants will gain hope, learn to identify their strengths, and combat negative self-help.
• Support participants vocational choices and assist them in choosing a job that matches their strengths, overcoming job-related anxiety by reviewing job acquisition and tenure.

Utilizing their recovery experience, the PS will:

• Teach and role model the value of every individual's recovery experience.
• Assist the participant in obtaining decent and affordable housing of her choice in the most integrated, independent, and least intrusive or restrictive environment by taking them out to view housing, either driving them or riding with them on public transportation.
• Assist the participant in cleaning up their credit and obtaining a driver's license if needed.
• The PS models effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.
• Serve as a recovery agent by providing and advocating for any effective recovery-based services that will aid the participant in daily living.
• Assist in obtaining services that suit that individual's recovery needs by providing names of staff, community resources and groups that may be useful. Inform participants about community and natural support and how to use these in the recovery process. Community resources may include but are not limited to: Social Security Office, Department of Family Services, local YMCA, Library, restaurants, apartment complexes and other types of housing.
• Assist participants in developing empowerment skills and combating stigma through self-advocacy. This will be accomplished through regular meetings, individual or group sessions. Using role playing/modeling techniques the PS provides opportunities for others to show/demonstrate how they have handled similar problems, how to present themselves in certain situations, or how to handle problems that may arise in interactions with others.
• With assistance from the Program Director/Manager, the Peer Specialist will work with the participants and other program team staff to develop a treatment/recovery plan based on each participant's identified goals. Treatment/Recovery Plans will be reviewed and signed by the Program Director/Manager. The PS will document the following on the participant's treatment/recovery plan:

1. Identified person-centered strengths, needs, abilities, and recovery goals.

b. Interventions to assist the participant with reaching their goals for recovery.

c. Progress made towards goals.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of the recovery process and the ability to facilitate recovery using established standardized mental health & addiction processes/volunteer experience in the substance abuse field.
• 1-year experience in teaching and engaging in basic problem-solving strategies to support individual participants in self-directed recovery.
• Valid Driver's License and Clean MVR as some driving and/or transportation may be required to take participants to medical appoints, job sites, social activities, and other community resources.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office programs, MSWord, Excel, and Access with ability to learn additional software as appropriate.
• Adapt and find ways to assist with our Bay Valley Tech Program (BVT)
• Age 21 or above
• Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to make critical decisions and work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to track multiple tasks efficiently, completing each in a professional and timely fashion.
• Professional judgment and integrity in holding in confidence all information pertaining to beneficiaries, families, and co-workers.
• Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of mental illness & addiction and the ability to assist the participant to address symptoms using strategies such as positive self-talk.
• Knowledge and skills sufficient to use community resources necessary for independent living and ability to teach those skills to other individuals with mental illness or addictions. Community resources may include but are not limited to the social security office, Department of Family Services, local YMCA, Library, restaurants, and housing providers, etc. The PS may accompany participants to community resources to assist them in accessing these resources.
• If in recovery, must have 3 years of continuous sobriety.
• No evidence of existing chemical dependency.