Peer Support Specialist - Winnebago Mental Health Institute

Winnebago Mental Health Institute (WMHI) is recruiting to fill a Limited Term Employment (LTE) Peer Support Specialist position.

WMHI, located near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is a part of the Department of Health Services (DHS), Division of Care and Treatment Services (DCTS) and is a psychiatric hospital providing quality mental health services to children, adolescents, and adults.

Review information about Limited Term Employment (LTE) with the State of Wisconsin here.

Note that:

• LTE positions are not civil service classified positions, do not give any rights to a permanent civil service classified position, and do not lead to permanent status.
• Wisconsin residency is required for LTE positions.
• No more than 1039 hours may be worked within a 12-month period.

As the Peer Support Specialist, this position is responsible for:

• Developing and directing Institute Consumer Involvement Activities.
• Creating and providing peer support opportunities to WMHI patients.
• Providing training services to new and existing staff at WMHI.
• Enhancing the consumer empowerment and recovery of patients living with a mental illness.
• Developing and providing input into policies related to consumer empowerment and recovery and providing consultation on policy development to WMHI leadership.
• Developing, implementing, and monitoring patient recovery groups and activities for patients.
• Providing staff, patients, and families with education regarding the self-help, recovery/procovery concepts, and experiences of living with a mental illness.

The starting pay is between $30.70 and $35.82 per hour.

This position is classified as a Human Services Program Coordinator and is in pay schedule and range 07/04.

All applicants will be required to allow DHS to conduct a background check to determine whether the circumstances of any convictions may be related to the job being filled.

All appointees will be required to receive a TB screen, which will be administered by WMHI or medical personnel approved by the facility prior to their start date.

DHS does not sponsor work visas for this position, thus, in compliance with federal law, selected candidates will be required to verify eligibility to work in the United States by completing the required I-9 form upon hire.

Minimally qualified applicants will have all of the following:

• Experience providing support to individuals with mental health and/or substance use concerns.
• Experience role modeling self-advocacy, self-care, wellness, or story-sharing.
• Experience facilitating peer support groups within an outpatient setting.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.

Well-qualified applicants will also have one or more of the following:

• Completion of Peer Specialist and/or Recovery Coach training.
• Experience facilitating peer support groups within an inpatient setting.
• Experience providing support through organizations for people who have drug, alcohol, or mental health problems such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), etc.
• Experience designing and implementing curriculum for recovery treatment groups.

Your letter of qualifications is limited to one (1) page and your resume is limited to one (1) page. For a guide on developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included in these materials, click here.

Applying is easy! Click “Apply for Job” to start your application process. Sign into your account or create an account before applying for the job. Follow the steps outlined in the application process to submit your application.

Helpful Information:

• Once your application is submitted, no changes are allowed. Click “Save” to allow changes to your application as needed before submitting by the deadline.
• You may want to save a copy of the job posting for referencing after the deadline.
• Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts according to the qualifications above.
• Please monitor your email for communications related to this position.
• Current or former permanent, classified, state employees must complete the online application process to be considered.
• If viewing through an external site, please apply directly at Wisc.Jobs.
• For technical assistance and general information, please see Frequently Asked Questions. For questions about the position, to request a copy of the full position description, or for other employment inquiries, please contact Allyvia Vang at allyviam.vang@dhs.wisconsin.gov.

DHS is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. Veterans are encouraged to apply. For complete information on Veterans’ hiring programs with the WI Department of Veteran’s Affairs, click here.

The deadline to apply is 09/21/2026 by 11:59 pm.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to allow ample time to finalize their applications keeping in mind that technical assistance is only available Monday through Friday 7:45 am – 4:30 pm. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.