Youth Peer Support Specialist

A Youth Peer Support Specialist, under general review of various HealthWest program supervisors, provides a welcoming atmosphere, skills training, and instruction to individuals receiving services who may be living with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and/or substance abuse issues. An employee in this class coordinates and/or co-facilitates groups including group outings into the community, motivating individuals toward greater community inclusion, and achieving personal goals; and/or co-facilitating groups in skills training, dual diagnosis, recovery issues, substance abuse issues, and other groups as assigned. A Youth Peer Support Specialist facilitates individual’s care by building relationships and meeting with the individuals receiving services, their guardians, families, support systems, AFC staff, and other key persons in the individual’s life. This employee transports individuals receiving services, completes necessary documentation which includes communicating effectively in both oral and written form and maintaining accurate records, including utilizing basic computer software and performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Minimum Entrance Qualifications

1. Be a high school graduate or have a certificate of completion of the General Educational Development (GED) test;
2. Be a young adult, ages 18 through age 28, with lived experience with mental health challenges, who received mental health services from a Community Mental Health Agency as a youth or young adult;
3. Be willing and able to self-identify as a person who has received or is receiving behavioral health services and is prepared to use that experience in helping others;
4. Possess a valid Michigan driver’s license or be able to obtain on within 30 days of employment;
5. Must have reliable transportation that may have to be used to carry out job duties of this classification.

Post Hire Training Requirements
1. Must be eligible and willing to be trained in the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services approved curriculum and ongoing training model for Youth Peer Support Specialist and obtain certification approved by the State of Michigan as a Peer Specialist within 18 months of employment.

Preferred but not Required
1. Bilingual candidates highly desired.
2. Lived experiences with mental illness/developmental disabilities/substance use disorders valued.
3. Individuals with experience in Armed Services valued.
4. Has experience receiving services as a youth in complex, child serving systems (behavioral health, child welfare, juvenile justice, special education, etc.) preferred.

Physical Conditions / Work Location

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES
An employee in this class performs generally sedentary work activity requiring the occasional lifting of objects weighing thirty-five (35) pounds or less.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
A Youth Peer Support Specialist works within the Client Services offices and program location of HealthWest, with considerable travel required throughout the County by use of personal resources.

Additional Information

EVALUATION CONTENT
Applicants for County employment may be subject to a post-offer criminal background check, depending on the nature and assignment of the position. When such check is conducted, an offer of employment is contingent upon the results of the criminal background check. Appointees must satisfactorily complete a probationary period before the appointment will be considered permanent.

APPLICANT REVIEW PROCEDURE
Any applicant is entitled to a review of any determination or action taken by the County regarding the applicant’s employment application. Inquiries should be directed to the County Human Resources Department.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this recruitment is to establish an eligible list from which to fill present and future vacancies in this classification in the County system. For each opening, the Department Head has her/his choice of the candidates who meet the required minimum entrance qualifications. This list remains in effect for three months unless exhausted or extended.

MUSKEGON COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

 MUSKEGON COUNTY HAS ADOPTED A VETERANS PREFERENCE POLICY THAT
RECOGNIZES QUALIFYING MILITARY SERVICE