The Peer Specialist (PS) is a key position within the Successful Transition to Early Adulthood Milestones (STEAM) program. This individual will meet with assigned youth/young adult clients regularly, in the clinic and/or community, to foster engagement in treatment and support attainment of young adult milestones. They will also co-lead weekly psychoeducation and transition groups; collect outcomes data for the STEAM program; and synthesize input from youth and other peer specialists to improve program implementation. The PS will attend regular trainings and supervision to acquire the skills necessary to support youth/young adult clients. Combining lived experience with valuable training in crisis management and service coordination, the PS will serve as a role model for recovery, while also helping clients to recognize and overcome barriers to their own recovery.
The Successful Transition to Early Adult Milestones (STEAM) Project is a federally funded project, implemented with the Child and Adolescent Bipolar Services (CABS) and Services for Teens at Risk (STAR) clinics. The goal of this project is to integrate peer support services into our clinics to improve outcomes for youth and young adults with mood disorders.
This position is grant funded.
Responsibilities:
- Complete all required trainings, including peer specialist and service coordination training.
- Engage in ongoing continuing education courses.
- Meet with clients at minimum 3 times per year over 1-year participation in study in the clinic, and/or community settings to provide peer specialist and service coordination services.
- Co-lead weekly psychoeducation/transition groups.
- Utilize evidence-based treatment approaches per training.
- Utilize structured clinical assessment tools to gather study-related outcome data.
- Participate in regular treatment team meetings to discuss cases with treatment team members and communicate and monitor progress.
- Complete timely documentation of all assessments, participant contacts, and other work done on behalf of participants.
- Ensure all documentation meets quality standards.
- Grow skills by learning and implementing approaches learned in trainings.
- Assess the changing needs of participants per guidelines and incorporate these into treatment plans/reviews.
- Monitor participant safety plans in partnership with participants/families.
- Engage in regular and ongoing supervision.
- High school diploma or equivalent required. Candidates with 12 credit hours in Psychology, Sociology, or a related field, a Bachelor's degree, or four years of relevant experience are strongly preferred.
- Certified Peer Specialist or Certified Recovery Specialist certification is preferred.
- Have lived experience in one or more of the following areas: mental health, substance use disorder, the recovery process, and willing to share experiences to the benefit of clients/patients served.
- Basic understanding of mental health and co-occurring disorder conditions or substance use that interfere with the activities of daily living and mental health wellness.
- Progressed in own recovery and have basic understanding of the recovery principles: Hope, Personal Responsibility, Empowerment Skills, Self-Advocacy, Educational Opportunities, and the importance of using personal and community Supports.
- Able to articulate to clients/patients, families, and to interested stakeholders that peer support is a non-clinical service to promote recovery and wellness. Basic understanding of mental health, wellness, and resiliency. Familiar with Office 365 – e.g., Microsoft Word, Outlook.
- Drivers License preferred.
Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
- Act 31 with renewal
- Act 33 with renewal
- Act 34
- Act 73 with renewal
UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran