** Peer Support Specialist - in-CIRCLE Program - Hattiesburg, MS**

**Job Category****:** Clinical, Social, Community & Health Services **Requisition Number****:** PEERS01566 Showing 1 location **Job Details**

**Description**

The responsibility of the Peer Support Specialist is to serve as a representative of, and advocate for, youth and their families with behavioral health treatment needs who are youth of the in-CIRCLE, PMHC, and Day Treatment programs. The Peer support specialist is also responsible for supporting families' emotional well-being with empathy and personal experiences of overcoming challenges to help families have hope. The Peer Support Specialist is responsible for maintaining communication among families, the community, Child Protective Services and clinic staff. He/She will also provide information to assist and support educational and training initiatives for family members.

Requirements: The Certified Parent/Caregiver Peer Support Specialist is a biological parent, adoptive parent, or relative caregiver with permanent legal custody who is raising or has raised a child with an emotional, social, behavioral, and /or substance use disability; and whose child has received services from a children/youth mental health provider. The Specialist will provide support and guidance to parents/caregivers in navigating the child serving systems and advocating with them to help their child/youth. Must possess at least a High School Diploma or GED equivalent. Must also be able to successfully complete the Department of Mental Health Certified Peer Specialist trainings and certification exam for certification as a Peer Support Specialist (CPSS). You will be required to make application for certification within the first 30 days of employment. Must have the ability to listen to and problem solve with families individually or in a group setting. Must have excellent organizational skills, experience in diverse communication styles and the ability to work with teams. Must be dependable. Must have a positive attitude.

Transforming Lives

Through commitment to our core values:

The **voice** of our children and families always comes first.

**Relationships** matter.

We take great **joy** in service to others.

Our families and our communities deserve our **very best**.

**Qualifications**

**Skills**

**Behaviors**

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**Motivations**

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**Education**

**Preferred**

High School or better.

**Experience**

**Preferred**

Experience as a parent or legal guardian of a child who has/ or has had behavioral issues and has navigated through the mental health system of Mississippi or a former recipient of mental health services in Mississippi

**Licenses & Certifications**

**Required**

Peer Support Spec

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractors legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)