BHH Youth Peer Support Specialist

Health Affiliates Maine is seeking a Behavioral Health Home (BHH) Youth Peer Support Specialist to join our team. This community-based program offers a holistic, integrated approach to providing collaborative care to address mental health, medical, and other resource needs. This approach has a multi-provider perspective and increases the ability for the youth and/or family to access their needs and goals while learning self-management tools for ongoing success. 

As a valued member of the BHH team, you will contribute your lived experience alongside a multidisciplinary group that includes a clinical team lead, family peer support specialist, wellness coordinator, medical consultant, psychiatric consultant, and nurse care manager.

Position Responsibilities Include:

• Complete CM and BHH Program Orientation.
• Using lived experience and mutuality to inspire and support youth navigating their own journey of healing, recovery, self-discovery.
• Meet with a minimum of 8-10 BHH youth that have youth peer support identified in their plan of care to:
• Build supportive strength-based relationships with youth.
• Share lived experiences appropriately to support mutuality, hope and resiliency.
• Provide one on one and group youth peer support services within work hours.
• Assist youth in elevating and centering their goals and voice in services.
• Promote youth development and empowerment.
• Work collaboratively with BHH team to support youth voice and choice.
• Record interactions in the electronic health record with youth as agreed upon with clinical supervisor to promote privacy of the young person.
• Provide training to agency staff about the role of the Youth Peer Support Specialist ongoing or as needed.
• Follow the Youth Peer Support core competencies of Self Determination; Hopefulness; Wellbeing; Social Connectedness; and Self Advocacy.
• Advocate for social justice and inclusivity within the community.
• Will be committed to the holistic approach in service provision for positive outcomes.
• Provide services to youth that are trauma informed, youth-driven, non-judgmental, and empowering.
• Help youth navigate systems of care (i.e. medical, mental health/behavioral, child welfare, educational, juvenile justice) and support with goal attainment.
• Promote healthy lifestyles and wellness strategies including but not limited to substance abuse prevention, smoking prevention and cessation, nutrition and increasing physical activity.
• Actively participate in all required agency supervisions, trainings, meetings as well as external trainings relevant to Youth Peer Support Role in order to maintain certification.
• Provide support in a manner consistent with the recovery philosophy, which emphasizes peer and natural support, and the de-escalation of possible crisis.
• Protect and maintain the confidentiality of client records and information, following HIPAA and 42CFR.
• Seek supervision appropriately for youth concerns, ethical dilemmas, and respond to feedback and directive given by supervisor(s) and Director(s).
• Encourage the health, safety and welfare of youth always.
• Complete other forms/paperwork when necessary (e.g. supervision logs, progress notes, Incident reports, etc.).
• Provide Services in an ethical manner following NASW Code of Ethics and ethical codes pertaining to the role.
• Participate in mandated reporting per agency policy and Maine Law.
• Follow and periodically update a personal plan of self-care to prevent compassion fatigue, vicarious traumatization and maintain ethical and professional conduct & reaching out for supervision when recognizing self-care concerns.
• Perform other duties related to the position as directed by the Management Team.

Benefits Include:

• Irregular - Part-Time
• Flexible Schedule
• Travel Re-imbursement
• EAP available
• 401k plan

Job Requirements:

• Has personally experienced mental health challenges and received support or services through youth-serving systems (such as school-based services, outpatient or inpatient mental health care, child welfare, juvenile justice, or community-based programs
• High School diploma or equivalent GED
• Must be between the ages of 18 - 30 (per Section 92 MaineCare Regulations)
• Certified as a Youth Peer Support Specialist in Maine and/or ability to obtain certification within 9 months of hire date
• Valid Driver's license and reliable transportation