FAMILY & PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Family Peer Support Specialist

Fairbanks Native Association is a voice for the people of Fairbanks. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals and families by promoting justice, healing, and wellness in our community. We have a vision of a unified, healthy, and empowered Native community that embraces all cultures. 

Because employees are our number one asset, Fairbanks Native Association is pleased to offer a great working environment, competitive wages, a healthy work-life balance, and the following benefits: Affordable medical, vision, and dental coverage with 20 plans to choose from, insurance, AD&D,   short-term disability insurance, Employee Assistance Program, 401(k) investment program with a generous match, 13 Paid holidays, generous Paid Time Off, and education assistance.

Join our progressive team at Fairbanks Native Association where your effort results in positive change in individual lives and the health of our community!

As the Family Peer Support Specialist, you will be responsible for providing navigation services for project participants (consumers) and their families from intake to recovery support. You will assist participants and their families in learning coping skills and creating stability in their lives. You will be part of a collaborative treatment team and serve as a liaison between consumer and clinical staff assuring culturally resonant behavioral health services. 

The grant that you will be working on is the Alaskan Native Outreach and Resiliency (AOR) Project and the goal is to improve the health and wellness by preventing the onset of psychosis (CHR-P) and lessen the severity of psychotic disorders among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth and young adults. This project will provide trauma-informed, culturally resonant, evidence-based interventions using a stepped-care model and integrates medication management, psychotherapy, case management, family support, and educational and vocational support tailored to the individual needs of young people experiencing early symptoms of psychosis to improve outcomes and promote recovery.

JOB DUTIES

• Support the participant and the family as the participants moves through FNA’s Behavioral Health Unit from intake to recovery support. 
• Follow the participants individualized treatment plan that is developed with the family, consumer, and clinical team. 
• Work with program participants and families to understand and address risk factors and connects consumers with resources and support services. 
• Ensure families are aware of Psychiatric Advance Directives and assists in completing for those participants 17 and older. 
• Facilitate Psychoeducation classes to program participants and other service unit consumers.

The successful candidate will have a High School Diploma or GED, lived experience as a caregiver of a child who has experienced a mental health episode, one year of experience working in the mental health field, ability to complete Traditional Peer Support Training within one year of hire and then seek State of Alaska Peer Support Specialist Certification, and one year of experience working with the AN/AI population and experience providing culturally specific services. A combination of experience, education, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may substitute for degree requirements.

A full job description is available for review. The base salary begins at $22.18 per hour and salary placement depends on education and experience.