Certified Peer Support Specialist

Join our team as a Certified Peer Support Specialist at Behavioral Health Services in Yakima, WA!

Be part of a healthcare organization that believes in making a difference beyond medical care! We've transformed into a leading community health center in the Pacific Northwest with 40+ clinics across Washington and Oregon. We offer a wide range of services such as medical, dental, pharmacy, orthodontia, nutritional counseling, autism screening, and behavioral health. Our holistic model also extends assistance to shelter, energy, weatherization, HIV and AIDS counseling, home visits, and mobile medical/dental clinics.

We invite you to explore our short clips, "WE are Yakima - WE are Family" and "YVFWC - And then we grew," for a glimpse into our dedication to our communities, health, and families!

Position Highlights:

• $20.39-$22.24/hour DOE with the ability to go higher for highly experienced candidates

• Additional pay for your bilingual skills, paid on hours worked

• 100% employer-paid health insurance, including medical, dental, vision, Rx, 24/7 telemedicine

• Profit sharing & 403(b) retirement plan available

• Generous PTO, 8 paid holidays, and much more!

What You’ll Do:

• Provides peer counseling to youth and their families, individually and in group engagements. Services may be provided in the home, during meetings, courtrooms, hospitals, schools, etc.

• Assesses and identifies lagging skills, interests, or motivators to ensure successful engagement in the WISe model

• Establishes and maintains rapport with individuals through community and in-home engagements to encourage participation and retention in the treatment program

• Works individually and as part of a team

• Completes CANS Assessment and screens individuals to determine eligibility for the WISe program using state-mandated criteria, as requested

• Completes required written narrative, Strengths, Needs, Cultural Discovery, with family input, and update throughout the program

• Provide peer consultation and share personal lived experience to family members or youth as the family learns new skills to support the youth’s treatment

• Utilizes lived experience to provide peer counseling in areas such as crisis stabilization, recovery, self-advocacy, health and wellness, and the development and maintenance of community living skills. Amplifies family voice and choice as part of planning and service provision

• Be a role model for competency in recovery (in mental health, addictions etc.) and use of ongoing coping skills. Shares personal experiences to develop trust and provide encouragement to program participants

• Ensure youth/families are present when decisions about them are made and encourage them to take an active role in their care planning

• Provide 24-hour crisis support to clients enrolled in WISe by phone or responding to the home, hospital or community setting. Participates in crisis response on-call rotation, including after-hours coverage

• Assists individuals with completing action steps according to the plan of care. Services often provided in the home, schools, or community-based settings

• Provides feedback to the team regarding family interactions, cultural norms, and preferences in goal setting and care planning

• Provides skill training, encouragement, emotional support, and feedback to program participants and redirects individual behavior when necessary. Instructs and models appropriate behaviors

• Communicates and educates agency staff on the importance of family voice and choice and other key aspects of family driven care.
  In the absence of the Care Coordinator, facilitates Child and Family Team meetings and meeting agenda

• Assists the family in identifying and recruiting “natural supports“ by strengthening and repairing interpersonal relationships and utilizing other resources that are available in the family’s network of social and community relationships

• Completes all needed documentation, including individual records of activities, concerns and behaviors, according to YVFWC and all applicable standards

• Meets all productivity and service-specific requirements

• Participates in program meetings as required or assigned

• Purchases food and supplies as needed following all policies and procedures

• Performs responsibilities in alignment with The Joint Commission (TJC), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and YVFWC requirements

• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• High school/GED.

• The candidate must self-identify as a person with lived experience, defined as having one or more years in recovery from a mental health condition, substance use disorder, or both, OR be a parent or legal guardian of a youth who is receiving or has received behavioral health services.

• Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) credential OR meets the following requirements of a CPSS: 1) lived experience (as defined above), and 2) verification of meeting the supervised experience requirements under WAC 246-929-150, with required 80-hour training course completed and application for Certified Peer Support Specialist submitted within 45 days of hire.

• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification within 45 days of hire.

• Valid Driver’s License and proof of automobile liability insurance coverage.

• This position is eligible for Bilingual Differential Compensation when an ALTA score of 9 is achieved.

• Knowledge of Trauma Informed Care.

• Knowledge of Yakima County services and resources for youth and families.

• Knowledge of cultural differences and impact on support provided to clients.

• Knowledge of Mental Health First Aid.

• Conflict resolution skills and ability to diffuse stressful situations.

• Effective verbal, written and listening communication skills.

• Maintain a non-judgmental attitude towards youth, families and professionals. Ability to maintain a stance of appreciation and acceptance of parents, including their choices.

• Ability to exercise independent judgment and solid decision making.

• Ability to apply coping skills when exposed to vicarious trauma.

• Knowledge of the Children’s Behavioral Health/WISe principles.

• Ability to work in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.

• Ability to establish rapport with youth, and/or families, participate in physical activities, and redirect negative behavior.

• Basic proficiency with a variety of computer programs including Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel.

• This position may involve exposure to secondary trauma while providing direct services to community members including those who have behavioral health challenges and those who have been exposed to trauma.

• Client Population may include persons involved in gangs, with substance abuse concerns, mental health diagnoses, homelessness and/or tendencies towards violent behavior.

• This position may require active participation in activities with clients in order to ensure supervision and therapeutic engagement.

• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.

• This position requires the ability to travel, have reliable transportation, and transport clients.

Our Mission Statement

“Together we transform our communities through compassionate, individualized care, eliminating barriers to health and well-being.”

Our mission celebrates inclusivity. We are committed to equal-opportunity employment.

Visit our website at www.yvfwc.com to learn more about our organization!