MATTER Outreach Peer I

Zepf Center has been serving the Lucas County community for nearly 50 years. We are the leading provider of behavioral health and substance use disorder services in Northwest Ohio. Services include adult and child psychiatric, substance abuse, case management, residential, Crisis Care, and therapy programs, as well as career development and wellness services. Zepf Center also offers primary care medical services to our patients to contribute to their continuum of care. Zepf Center is a trauma-informed agency and environment for both patients and staff.

We are currently seeking a full-time MATTER Outreach Peer to support others in recovery from mental illness and/or substance use disorder. They will serve as a role model, mentor, advocate, and motivator to recovering individuals to help prevent relapse and promote long-term recovery. The Peer Support Specialist must demonstrate an ability to share personal recovery experiences and to develop authentic peer-to-peer relationships in an affirming, culturally competent, and trauma-informed manner.

Peer Support Specialists work directly with persons served both individually and in group settings. Services provided may occur within a Zepf location, in the individual’s home, or in the community setting.

Specific Position Overview

MATTER Outreach/ Intake - Peer Support Specialist –will be responsible for engaging, educating, and retaining clients through the Zepf Center intake process. This position will coordinate with various departments to improve client experiences and create a welcoming responsive atmosphere.

• This position may involve, SUD, MH, Family and Youth peer contact.
• Assist in the collection of intake and demographic data.
• Assist in the transportation of clients through the facility.
• Coordinate with Matter Outreach staff.
• Support and assist intake Dept. staff.
• Leverage peer experience to welcome clients and create recovery vision.
• Introduce clients to various Zepf Center programs and services.
• Create a welcoming and supportive client experience.
• Engage in follow up and tracking phone calls, email, and text, contacts.
• Will review program and group rules- finalize program orientation.

Assist in selection of group times and counselors.

Explain rights and responsibilities of treatment programs.

Obtain final signatures and set date and time for program start.

Essential Duties of this position include but are not limited to:

• Provides motivation and education to persons served at each phase of the recovery journey from engagement, to planning, treatment, stabilization, and sustained wellness.
• Links persons served to services, resources through referrals and outreach.
• Coordinates or assists in crisis intervention and stabilization through safety planning and harm reduction.
• Uses in-person contact, phone, text, and email to maintain ongoing open communication with persons served increases this contact during periods of crisis, significant change, or when transitioning from one level of care to another.
• Works with persons served to address ambivalence and/or barriers to fully engaging in available services and resources and helps develop a plan for moving forward.
• May facilitate or co-facilitate recovery and/or skill-building groups (ex: AA, WHAM, NEW-R, etc.).
• Uses open-ended questions, assessments, and other tools to assist persons served in identifying goals, supports, barriers, interests, and coping skills.
• Engages persons served in discussions and activities intended to enhance recovery and wellness across all domains of their lives (ex: home, community, workplace, school).
• Works in collaboration with all members of the individual’s treatment team.
• Amplifies the voice/advocates for persons served who may feel overwhelmed navigating systems.
• Builds on individual successes to promote self-advocacy in persons served.
• Assists persons served in connecting with vital community supports and mutually beneficial self-help groups.
• Ability to form and maintain trusting relationships with persons served that are intended to be long-term.
• Documents/captures services provided in the electronic health record within the designated timeframe.
• Ability to transport or meet persons served for appointments, meetings, interviews, wellness activities, social events, and to access community resources.
• Serves as a mandated reporter (required to report known or suspected abuse or neglect of a child, vulnerable adult, elderly individual, or animal)

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Foundational knowledge in mental health and/or substance use disorders (provided by Zepf).
• Demonstrated commitment to the recovery community (NAMI, AA/NA, etc.).
• Desire and ability to become a Certified Peer Supporter within the first 12 months of employment. 40 hours of in-person training over a 5-day period and an additional 16 hours of online training.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends based on the needs of the persons serviced and agency staffing.
• Reliable transportation to/from work and between locations is essential.
• Must be proficient with a computer and able to enter electronic services notes on a regular basis.