What are the responsibilities and job description for the Youth Peer Support Specialist position at Opportunities?
Penobscot Community Health Care is seeking a Youth Peer Support Specialist (YPSS) to join our Behavioral Health Home team. This is a unique opportunity for someone who has navigated their own mental health, substance use, or life challenges and wants to use that lived experience to support and empower youth on their recovery journey.
As a Youth Peer Support Specialist, you'll build meaningful relationships with young people, provide mentorship and encouragement, help them navigate complex systems, and serve as a powerful reminder that recovery, resilience, and hope are possible. If you're passionate about supporting others, advocating for youth, and making a lasting difference in your community, we'd love to connect with you.
Schedule: Part-Time, Monday / Wednesday / Friday, 8am-4:30pm (Schedule can have some flexibility depending on your needs.)
What You'll Be Part Of:
- Lived Experience That Makes a Difference: Use your personal recovery journey to inspire hope, build trust, and help youth recognize their own strengths, resilience, and potential.
- Meaningful Relationships & Mentorship: Support youth through authentic connection, active listening, shared understanding, and encouragement as they navigate challenges and work toward their goals.
- Youth-Centered Recovery Support: Partner with youth to identify personal goals, develop recovery plans, strengthen coping skills, and celebrate progress every step of the way.
- Advocacy & Empowerment: Help youth find their voice, build confidence, access resources, and navigate healthcare, education, community, and social support systems.
- Collaborative Team-Based Care: Work alongside Care Coordinators, providers, social workers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to support whole-person care and positive outcomes.
- Community Connection & Resource Navigation: Assist youth in accessing peer supports, community programs, educational opportunities, employment resources, and other services that support long-term success.
- Mission-Driven Impact: Play a meaningful role in helping young people build brighter futures while supporting PCHC's commitment to accessible, compassionate, and community-focused care.
Join PCHC's nationally recognized non-profit organization:
- Federally Qualified Health Center offering integrated Medical Home Model
- Collegial professional atmosphere with informed leadership
- Flexible schedules supportive of work/life balance
- Competitive compensation and generous benefits
- PCHC provides comprehensive, patient-centered care with integrated services, including Psychiatry & Mental Health, Dental, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Pharmacy, Geriatrics, Laboratory Services, Physical Therapy, and more!
Education and Experience:
- High School Diploma or equivalent required
- Completion of the Youth Peer Support full Certification requirements as indicated by the State of Maine within 12 months of hire. Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHS curriculum for CIPSS). Provisional Curriculum must be completed, and certificate awarded within 9 months of employment. Maintain YPSS certification, once achieved.
- Previous Experience with Electronic Health Record preferred.
- Will have up-to-date training and certification in Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support issued by American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or American Health & Safety Institute. Must obtain within 2 weeks if not current at hire.
- Having a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record and/or an appropriate length of driving experience for insurance purposes is required. Any concerns raised by the results of a driving record check will be subject to an individualized review to determine whether the infraction is relevant to the individual's ability to perform the responsibilities of the position in accordance with PCHC's Automobile Safety and Background Check Policy.
Curious, or interested to learn more? Apply today! You can request a full copy of the detailed job description by emailing recruitment@pchc.com.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Salary : $18 - $26