Youth Peer Support Specialist

About Delaware Guidance Services

Delaware Guidance Services for Children and Youth, Inc. (DGS) is the largest provider of outpatient behavioral health services to children and families in Delaware. We operate offices in Wilmington, Newark, Dover, Lewes, and Seaford, and we are the only statewide not-for-profit outpatient behavioral health organization for children and adolescents accredited by JCAHO. In 2020, we were honored as a Compassionate Champion for our dedication to serving youth and families using a trauma-informed approach.  

Through DGS, clients and families have access to outpatient counseling, group therapy, parent-child interaction therapy, and school-based services. Our community-based service lines serve youth and families who require a more intense therapeutic protocol. DGS' 24-hour statewide Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) dispatches skilled crisis intervention clinicians to provide immediate care to children experiencing behavioral health crises. Therapeutic options are available for a wide range of diagnoses including depression, anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, traumatic stress-related disorders, and suicidal ideation. In 2021, DGS clinicians provided over 54,000 direct care hours to children, youth, and families in Delaware. Over 93% of clients report improvement in their level of functioning following treatment, and therapeutic benefits derived from trauma-informed care extend to clients' siblings, caregivers, classmates, and peers.  

Our client population is racially and ethnically diverse; 80% of DGS clients are Medicaid recipients and 90% have household incomes under $30,000. Many of our clients present with significant treatment challenges including learning impacts due to missed school and negative economic impact due to parental missed work. We provide care to anyone in need, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay for care. DGS also provides services specifically tailored to meet the unique behavioral health care needs of child welfare-involved families and foster youth

Why Work at Delaware Guidance Services? 

DGS strives to build a collaborative, flexible, and client-focused work environment. Employee wellness is a top priority. In addition to offering flexible work arrangements, DGS offers a comprehensive and competitive employee benefits package including the following:

• Competitive Compensation
• Incentive Pay for Specific Roles
• Generous Paid Time Off (starting at 44 days of paid leave a year)
• Up to 8% Annual Contribution to Your Retirement Fund
• Free Professional Development Opportunities
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance 
• Life and Long-term Disability Insurance

Job Description 

Summary/objective 

Under the supervision of the Crisis Clinical Coordinator, the Youth Peer Support Specialist will provide peer mentoring services, include peer counseling, mentoring, support, and advocacy according to the needs, interests and perspectives of youth receiving services from the Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) program due to an identified crisis. The ultimate goal of peer mentoring is to engage the youth in the support available, advocate for the needs of the youth, and assist in transitioning into other support services that may be needed in the community.

The focus of the Youth Peer Support Specialist is to support the youth during the risk assessment that occurs when a request is made to the MRSS program and to provide ongoing mentoring while the MRSS case is open. The Youth Peer Support Specialist will work closely with the MRSS crisis clinician to help the youth achieve their goals and find stability in the community.

In addition, the incumbent is responsible for documentation of mentoring services provided from intake through discharge. This position is available due to grant funding that will end on September 30, 2025.

Essential functions:

Risk Assessment Mentoring

• Maintain professional, trauma-informed, and empathetic interactions during crisis interactions with children, families, and stakeholders
• Use critical thinking and risk management skills when connecting with youth during mentoring
• Understand and utilize knowledge about warning signs and risk factors associated with suicide risk and risk of harm to others
• Develop comprehensive skills in providing support for youth in crisis

Case Management

• Provide individual peer support and counseling
• Share lived experience related to recovery, when appropriate
• Conduct routine home visits
• Communicate with and provide appropriate documentation to the DPBHS team, as needed
• Communicate with appropriate stakeholders to maintain a systems-based approach to assisting with the youth's stabilization
• Maintain complete, accurate, and timely documentation

General Responsibilities

• Uphold professional standards of peer mentoring and the mission of the organization
• Maintain a quality code of conduct, ethics and professionalism 
• Provide goal-directed and team-oriented services 
• Communicate effectively and professionally with all stakeholders 

Competencies/ Capabilities:

• Reliability & Flexibility 
• Customer Service
• Written and Verbal Communication
• Collaboration and Teamwork

Supervisory responsibilities: None

Work environment: Community-Based, Office location in Lewes or Wilmington

Travel required: Travel to locations where the client resides or is located

Minimum qualification:

• Lived experience as a youth who experienced support due to behavioral health needs
• Young Adult ages 18-24 years old
• High School Diploma or Equivalent 
• Valid driver's license and satisfactory driving record

EEO: 

Delaware Guidance Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Other duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.