Certified Youth Peer Support Specialist

The Youth Peer Recovery Supporter assists adolescents in recovery from substance use and mental health disorders by providing peer-based support, encouragement, and mentorship. Using their lived recovery experience, they build authentic relationships with youth, serve as a positive role model, and promote hope, resilience, and self-advocacy. Through education, support, and connection to resources, the Youth Peer Recovery Supporter helps prevent relapse, strengthen recovery skills, and support long-term wellness for adolescents in the program.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

· Provide recovery education to youth for every phase of the recovery journey from pre-recovery engagement, recovery initiation, recovery stabilization, and sustained recovery maintenance.

· Assist youth in identifying their personal interests, goals, strengths, and weaknesses regarding recovery.

· Model behaviors and attitudes that reflect hope.

· Assist youth in developing and advancing their recovery plan.

· Promote self-advocacy by assisting youth in expressing their voice, needs, goals and objectives.

· Assist youth in developing connections to community-based services, mutual youth recovery groups and necessary professional resources.

· Assist youth in identifying barriers that impact recovery while developing strategies to overcome the barriers.

· Assist youth in articulating personal goals for recovery by offering one-to-one and group services.

· Identifying and creating goals and developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, support and resources to aid youth in achieving their goals.

· Using evidence-based treatment models, such as Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), in creating their own individual wellness and recovery plans.

· Learning and using problem-solving techniques.

· Encourage participation in individual and group recovery supports to help youth identify and manage negative self-talk, fear-based thinking, and other barriers to recovery.

· Support youth in exploring vocational interests, connecting with employment resources, and pursuing meaningful educational and career opportunities.

· Enter documentation into each youth’s Electronic Health Record as defined by agency standards.

· Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Experience

· High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED)

· Must possess lived experience in recovery from a substance use and/or mental health condition and demonstrate specialized knowledge informed by that lived experience.

· 2 years of experience as a peer supporter, preferably.

Licenses/Credentials/Certifications

· Certified through Ohio Department of Behavioral Health as a youth peer supporter.

· Eligible to provide services and maintain active status with Ohio Medicaid and all applicable third-party payer and billing entities.

· Valid Driver’s license.

Skills/Specialized Knowledge/Abilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential function. The qualifications, knowledge, skills, abilities, and responsibilities described are representative of those required for the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and upon receipt of appropriate supporting documentation.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Working Hours/Environment

· Hours may vary depending on the volunteer

Tools and Equipment Used

Ability to use standard office equipment, including computers, telephones, and other technology systems.

Physical & Mental Demands

· The employee may be required to sit, stand, walk, bend, reach for extended periods.

· Duties may involve exposure to individuals experiencing mental health crises, substance use concerns, emotional distress, or behavioral challenges.

· Occasional local travel may be required for meetings, trainings, community outreach activities, home visits, or service coordination.