Part Time

The Young Adult Peer Mentor shares lived experience of mental health/substance abuse challenges with purpose and intent to inspire hope and motivation in TAY/YA who is struggling with similar concerns. Develop healthy relationships with the TAY/YA to include listening from a peer perspective, encouraging the TAY/YA’s unique gifts/strengths, and fostering their communication with family, friends, natural supports, providers, and others.

Flexible Support Services is a program to assist children and youth diagnosed with serious emotional disturbance (SED) and their families. Services are provided within the scope of the wraparound model, which includes fmaily-driven services, formal and natural supports, and professionals in a team approach.

In addition, the Young Adult Peer Mentor provides strength-based, peer-to-peer education, coaching, modeling, guidance, and support to Transitional Age Youth (TAY)/Young Adult (YA) in a variety of settings, including home, school, community, group home, and other out-of-home settings.

Are you a young adult who has personal experience living with and recovering from mental health needs, substance use, and/or traumatic life concerns which caused challenges in one or more areas of life; and has been trained to share their lived experience of these challenges with purpose and intent to benefit the TAY/YA? Then this may be the job for you!

Responsibilities

• Meet and engage with new FSS Parents/Caregivers in a timely and family-friendly manner.
• Share personal experiences with purpose and intent to inspire hope and motivation in TAY/YA. 
• Support/coach/model for TAY/YA how to effectively communicate with family, friends, allies, natural supports, providers, and others.
• Support Youth to identify their strengths using vision mapping and visual boards/collages to develop their vision, treatment goals, and life goals.
• Work with the TAY/YA’s team or other supports to ensure that their vision and goals guide treatment decisions; focus on aspirational life goals (education, employment, healthy relationships, and independence); and support them in building the skills needed to be successful.
• Role model and support TAY/YA on discerning when and how to share lived experience effectively and safely.
• Promote self-care through modeling healthy habits and decision-making, sharing resources and strategies that have been helpful to you and may be of help to the TAY/YA being served.
• Collaborate with the TAY/YA, family, treatment providers, supports, school, and other service providers to ensure that there is continuity of the Young Adult Peer Mentoring service approach with other services and that Young Adult Peer Mentoring services are integrated and clinically coherent (including, but not limited to, action plan development, crisis support, and problem solving in partnership with the TAY/YA, Parent/Caregiver, and other service and support persons as necessary). 
• Link TAY/YA to peer support services such as Young Adult Resource/Community Centers/Youth Advisory Groups.
• Support TAY/YA through the achievement of self-efficacy and empowerment.
• Attends and actively participates in weekly supervision with FSS Director; monthly group supervision and consultation; quarterly and behavior rehearsals. 
• Attends all required training as outlined in YAPM training plan. 
• Complete weekly progress notes, action plan goals and other required documentation in a timely manner, adhering to the highest quality standards.
• Provide other interventions commensurate with the Young Adult Peer Mentor’s credentials, experience, and training.
• Encourage TAY/YA in participating in monthly and annual consumer satisfaction surveys for FSS.
• Perform duties consistent with DMH/BAMSI policies and procedures.
• Execute duties to reflect reasonable safety standards. 
• Universal/standard precautions must be utilized and training obtained in areas that constitute risk.
• Perform other related work duties as needed or as assigned by supervisor and/or designee.

EDUCATION/CREDENTIALS:  

• A young adult who has personal experience living with and recovering from mental health needs, substance use, and/or traumatic life concerns which caused challenges in one or more areas of life; and has been trained to share their lived experience of these challenges with purpose and intent to benefit the TAY/YA. 
• Must have valid driver’s license in state of residence and own means of transportation. 

EXPERIENCE:  

• Experience with various state systems, including DMH, DCF, DDS, and DYS a plus. 

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES: 

• Ability to be strengths-based and accepts TAY/YA unconditionally without judgment or blame for the challenges they face.
• Must be flexible and able to respond to TAY/YA who may be under stress and, at times, in crisis
• Able to multitask and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Administrative, organizational, computer, professional writing, and oral communication skills a plus.
• Willingness to travel up to 80% of the time, in-state within BAMSI region