Peer Specialist, PACT Youth, Springfield

CSO is looking for a Peer Specialist for our PACT-Youth team in Springfield. 

Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) is an evidence-based intensive outpatient treatment program designed to assist youth overcome the barriers to their recovery from severe and persistent behavioral health disorders.

Starting salary: $38,000-$44,000/year

As a Peer:

You Will:

• Provide a specialty expertise based on sharing one's lived experience of mental health challenges with purpose and intent to inspire hope and motivation in a young adult who is struggling with similar concerns
• Build relationships and collaboration with others by making connections and maintaining trust with young adults and their family members, providers, other adult allies, and young adult peer group through respectful curiosity; listen for understanding, validate young adults' experiences, communicate in clear and positive ways, share information with respect for confidentially, openly consider the perspectives of others, manage conflicts honestly, and treat all colleagues fairly
• Role model by demonstrating, through actions, words, and manner, the types of behavior that will contribute to young adults' success and personal growth; offer hope, role modeling of recovery, and vision of a full and meaningful life for persons served
• Support young adult's vision and goals; collaborate with young adults and their care teams to encourage a vision for the future based on young adults' aspirations, promote goals that align with the vision, create a plan to reach the goals, and end services in a purposeful transition that encourages independent sustainability
• Demonstrate safe, professional, and ethical behavior requires that PACT-Youth mentors adhere to practices that promote integrity and dignity while working with young adults; demonstrate professional behavior which centers around communication, accountability, and learning opportunities; demonstrate rigorous attention to professional boundaries
• Assist with access to treatment and/or supports for achieving sustained recovery. When needed, serve as liaison between person served and providers or the recovery community
• Provide motivational counseling, prompting, and intensive support to consumers during psychiatric crises or periods of transition
• Provide education and support with identifying community resources including appropriate mental health, addiction and medical services, and accessing services of choice
• Provide crisis and intervention treatment services as members of treatment team
• Promote peer values as defined in Young Adult Peer Mentor Training and Certified Peer Specialist Training, including self-determination, mutuality and reciprocity, individual respect and dignity, easy to understand language, and non-judgmental attitude
• Act as member of treatment team in accordance with treatment goals and planned activities/interventions and effectively communicate with other team members regarding client care
• Develop and maintain knowledge of community resources for sharing with individuals and supporting actions for recovery

Your Background:

• Lived experience as someone served by the mental health/behavioral health service system and a willingness to share knowledge and experience of recovery
• High school diploma and minimum of one year of sustained recovery
• Must have or be willing to complete the Massachusetts Certified Peer Specialist training
• Computer proficiency
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation

Bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

We also seek applicants who embody CSO's values by being:

• Positive -- maintaining resiliency and focusing on solutions
• Respectful -- collaborating and effectively communicating
• Insightful -- demonstrating self-awareness and effectively priority setting
• Conscientious -- taking accountability and applying feedback

What We Offer:

Competitive salaries, full health and dental coverage, free CEUs for in-house training, ample paid time off, a 403B retirement savings plan, employee referral bonuses, group rate supplemental insurances, a premier employee assistance program, personal cell phone plan discounts, and a flexible, supportive work environment fostering collaboration.

Our Agency:

Clinical & Support Options, Inc. is a dynamic behavioral health organization serving Western Massachusetts for over 50 years. With offices across Springfield, Northampton, Greenfield, and beyond, we're dedicated to providing comprehensive support to individuals and families. Join our team of over 650 multi-disciplinary staff and become part of a collaborative environment where excellence is fostered internally and partnerships are forged externally with community organizations. At CSO, you'll find a flexible and supportive work environment that encourages collaboration and growth. Join us and make a positive impact on thousands of lives in our communities!

CSO was voted a "Healthcare Industry Top Workplace" in 2023, 2024 and 2025. We are the fastest-growing Behavioral Health agency in Western Massachusetts. CSO has consistently received high marks on their internal employee satisfaction survey, noting that over 90% of CSO staff would recommend CSO as a great place to work. We encourage you to check us out!

CSO offers Training in: Trauma Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness Skills and more.

EOE/AA