Lives Change Here! We are GROWING…Columbia River Mental Health Services provides comprehensive behavioral health and recovery services that transform the lives of children, adults and families in the communities of SW Washington. We are the largest and oldest not-for-profit provider of mental/chemical dependency treatment in southwest Washington with 200 employees and a history dating back to 1942.

Our Mission: Providing behavioral health and recovery services that transform the lives of children, adults, and families in the communities of SW Washington.

Why Work Here?

CRMHS offers AMAZING benefits aside from health and wellness (medical/dental/vision etc.) Work life balance benefits: 12 paid holidays per year, 3 paid floating holidays, accure up to 24 days of PTO days in the first year that grows year after year. Career development: $325 annual allowance for career development and education with an additional 40 hours of paid time off for career development/education! And so many More!

Starting Pay Range - $20.80 - $22.93/hr

Summary:

Provides support services as part of an integrated team to consumers who are involved in behavioral health treatment services. Provides direct peer support to participants to assist them on their identified goals. The Substance Use Disorder Peer Support Specialist is responsible for a wide range of scheduled activities to assist consumers in exercising control over their own lives and recovery process (e.g., promoting socialization, self-advocacy, developing natural supports and maintenance of community living skills). The Peer Support Specialist will model competency in recovery and ongoing coping skills for other consumers. Peer support services may include but are not limited to self-help support groups, assisting in securing safe/stable housing, direct case management, environmental crisis support/intervention related to substance use, drop-in centers, and sharing of the peer counselor’s own life experiences. Services will be provided both in and out of the agency. Transporting and assisting clients to navigate and access community services and agencies are required.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Assist consumers in articulating personal goals for recovery.
• Assist consumers in determining the objectives the consumer needs to take in order to reach his or her recovery goals.
• Lead as well as teach consumers how to facilitate Recovery Dialogues.
• Assist consumers in setting up and sustaining self-help (mutual support) groups.
• Assist consumers in completing recovery environment related goals.
• Assisting consumers in reducing barriers to starting/remaining in treatment.
• Utilize and teach problem solving techniques with individuals and groups.
• Teach consumers how to identify and combat negative self-talk based on their experience.
• Support the vocational choices consumers make and assist them in overcoming job-related anxiety.
• Assist consumers in building social skills in the community by accessing community resources and services.
• Assist non-consumer staff in identifying program environments that are conducive to recovery; lend their unique insight into substance use disorders and what makes recovery possible
• Attend treatment team meetings to promote consumer’s use of self-directed recovery tools.
• Provide group and individual services to individuals based on the “lived experience”.
• Provide outreach services to engage potential and current participants in services.
• Coordinate individual social and health services for program participants with the goal of housing and employment.
• Provide paperwork assistance for the team and Program Manager.
• Maintain confidentiality of all information concerning participants.
• Lead peer support and program orientation groups in conjunction with other team members.
• Establish and maintain effective communication with participants
• Ability to empathize and to encourage client participation in the treatment process

• Engage consumers through their own recovery journey.
• Bring the consumers perspective to meetings and etc.
• Assist individuals to navigate services and systems based on their own experiences.
• Use that navigation as a vehicle to discuss recovery.

Non-Essential Job Functions:

• Supports Agency mission, goals and objectives.
• Attend staff and planning meetings as scheduled.
• Maintain communication and cooperative working relationships both within the agency and community at large.
• Navigate other systems based on their experiences to utilize this as a means to engage and share their lived experience.
• Attend relevant seminars, meetings, and in-service trainings whenever offered.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education, Licensing and Experience:

• High school diploma
• Certification specializing in WA State Peer Support

PER THE STATE OF WASHINGTON MANDATE - ALL HEALTHCARE EMPLOYEES MUST BE EITHER COVID-19 VACCINATED / HAVE A MEDICAL/RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION.

IF EXTENDED AN OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT WITHIN OUR COMPANY, CANDIDATE MUST PROVIDE PROOF TO BE COMPLIANT (COVID VACCINE CARD/MEDICAL OR RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION) IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE HIRING PROCESS.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Columbia River Mental Health Services is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to diversity and inclusion, and we seek applicants from all backgrounds to join our teams. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity, or any other factor protected by law. We encourage our employees to bring their authentic selves to work and do not tolerate discrimination at the workplace.