Youth Peer Support Specialist

JOB TITLE: Youth Peer Support Specialist

TIME/HOURS: Full-time (40 hours a week)

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

WAGES/SALARY: $18.00

BENEFITS: Eligible

SUPERVISOR: Family & Youth Services Manager

PROBATIONARY PERIOD: 3 months

ABOUT US: ASK Family Services (ASK) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting families with youth with mental health or developmental challenges. We use our lived experience to help them understand and navigate community services and systems, and empower them to use their voices effectively to achieve their goals.

Start Date will be December 1, 2025

To APPLY you must be & provide:

1. Must be a young adult between 18 and 28 years of age.

2. Cover letter detailing your personal mental health lived experience

2. Resume

JOB SUMMARY:

The Youth Peer Support Specialist (YPSS) will provide support and resources to youth/young adults with serious emotional disturbances (SED) and/or serious mental illness (SMI) who are receiving services in our local behavioral health system. The YPSS will act as a key member of the treatment team by working collaboratively with systems the youth/young adult is involved in and providing individual support to help them develop skills to improve their functioning and quality of life. This can include self-advocacy, problem-solving, relationship-building, and overall life skills.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Attend all required training to enhance skills and meet agency guidelines as required by the Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and other agencies governing the agency's operation.

2. Provide community education about youth/young adult culture and perspective

3. Actively engage as a treatment team member to meet youth and/or young adult needs, and complete all required documentation and paperwork in the required timeframe.

4. Help the youth/young adult prepare to participate fully in their meetings, such as the treatment planning process (including Wraparound, Family-Centered Planning meetings (IPOS), school meetings, etc.). ..

5. Model self-advocacy, problem-solving, and independent living skills for the youth/young adults assigned to your caseload.

6. Validate and normalize experiences and empower youth/young adults to find and use their voices effectively during “rough” or “crisis” times.

7. Interrupt bias and promote a stance of acceptance while reducing stigma about mental health.

8. In collaboration with the youth and/or young adult, work with other internal and external partners (e.g., schools, faith community, other human services organizations) to develop natural supports to eliminate barriers to services, enhance existing community services, or develop new services based on their needs.

9. Serve as a role model and active participant in supporting youth/young adults in meeting their treatment plan goals. Meet them where they are to help them feel empowered, supported, and validated in their treatment.

10. Support youth/young adult in feeling empowered to drive their treatment.

11. Assist with CAY meetings (monthly), events, and other activities.

12. Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. You must be a young adult between 18 and 28 years of age.

2. Willing and able to self-identify and share their personal experience with mental health services as a youth and their lived experience to help youth and young adults.

3. Have experience receiving services as a youth in complex, child-serving systems (behavioral health, child welfare, juvenile justice, special education, foster care, etc. . .).

4. High School Diploma/GED

5. Must be eligible and complete the required training in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) approved curriculum and ongoing training model through the Association of Children’s Mental Health (ACMH).

6. Working knowledge of children’s mental health challenges within the System of Care.

7. Have the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, including oral and written communication, listening, time management, and organizational skills.

8. Ability to use a laptop, Microsoft Office, and respond to emails regularly

9. Have the ability to work successfully with diverse individuals, families, youth, and community agencies.

10. Ability to work flexible hours, including evening/weekend availability and overnight travel.

11. Have a valid driver’s license and a reliable insured vehicle to perform job activities.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $18.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Mileage reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $18