About this role
Title: Peer Support Specialist
Location: Bear Lodge - 3636 NE Broadway St., Portland, OR 97232 & community-based service locations throughout the Portland metropolitan area, including client homes and partner agency sites.
Schedule: This is an in person position, Monday through Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm
Wage Range: $22.05 – $30.45 hourly, non-exempt
If you are a motivated and dedicated Peer Support Specialist looking for an opportunity to contribute to an organization making a positive impact, we want to hear from you!
At NARA Northwest, youll find a supportive work environment where every team member is valued and respected. Whether youre passionate about healthcare, behavioral health, education, or social services, theres a place for you to make a meaningful difference.
Company Mission:
The mission of NARA NW is to provide education, physical, mental health services, and substance abuse treatment that is culturally appropriate to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and anyone in need.
About the Company:
At NARA NW, we deliver services and support to Native American and Alaska Native communities, helping individuals lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.
With over 450 employees across a variety of programs—including medical and dental care, addiction treatment, housing assistance, and enrichment initiatives NARA NW offers numerous opportunities for growth and advancement, all while making a tangible, positive impact on the lives of others.
Position Overview:
The Peer Support Specialist functions as a fully integrated member of the Bear Classic team to provide expertise about the recovery process, symptom management, and the persistence required by clients to have a satisfying life.
The Peer Support Specialist collaborates to promote a team culture that recognizes, understands and respects each clients point of view, experiences and preferences within the context of Native American/Alaska Native culture. Provides peer counseling and consultation to individual clients, families and team staff; acts as a liaison with community resources; carries out rehabilitation and support functions; and assists in treatment, substance abuse services, education, support and consultation to families and crisis intervention under clinical supervision.
These services may occur at Bear Lodge, at individual residences, at medical providers offices or hospitals, or at other points in the community.
What you will do:
- Openly identify as a person who has lived the experience of receiving mental health services.
- Act as a role model to inspire hope and share life experiences as appropriate to the recovery process.
- Provide expertise and consultation from a mental health consumer perspective to the entire team concerning each clients unique and subjective experience and perceptions.
- Collaborate with the team to promote a positive team culture in which each clients point of view, experiences, and preferences are recognized, understood, and respected, and in which client self-determination and decision-making in treatment planning are maximized and supported.
- Provide practical help and supports, mentoring, advocacy, coordination, side by side individualized support, problem solving, direct assistance and supervision to help clients obtain the necessities of daily living including medical and dental health care; legal and advocacy services; financial support such as entitlements (SSI, SSDI, veterans benefits); housing subsidies; money-management services (e.g. payee services); and transportation.
- Assist in the provision of ongoing assessment of clients mental illness symptoms and clients response to treatment. Suggest appropriate changes in treatment plans to ensure that immediate and appropriate interventions are provided in response to changes in clients mental status or behavior which put clients at risk (e.g. suicidality).
- Provide ongoing assessment, problem solving, side-by-side services, skill teaching, support (prompts, assignments, encouragement), and environmental adaptations to assist clients with activities of daily living.
- Organize and lead individual and group social and recreational activities to help clients structure their time, increase social experiences, and provide opportunities to practice social skills.
- Provide triage and supports for individuals who present at Bear Lodge without an appointment, as needed.
Qualifications
We would like to hear from people that have:
- Either High School Diploma or General Educational Development (GED) certification required.
- Must self-identify as a current or former recipient of mental health services and be willing to share lived experiences as appropriate
- Active Oregon Peer Wellness Specialist (PWS) or Peer Support Specialist (PSS) certification required; must be listed as active on the Traditional Health Worker (THW) Registry.
- Minimum of two (2) years of professional experience performing peer support or peer wellness-related duties required.
- Knowledge and understanding of mental illness, addictions, and physical health and ability to work within an integrated system of care program.
- Requires exceptional interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills and the ability to engage and interact positively with clients to promote strengths and improve health and well being and to work collaboratively as part of an integrated team to coordinate care.
- Must be able to perform CPR and First Aid. CPR/ First Aid certifications are required and must remain current.
- Must demonstrate a high degree of comfort working with individuals actively experiencing symptoms of mental illness
- Competent with computers for word processing, internet, email and scheduling, or able to learn these skills.
- Must meet NARA NW's driving requirements, including maintaining a valid driver's license, a clean driving record, access to reliable transportation, and proof of current automobile insurance.
- Ability to report to work reliably and in a timely fashion.
- Experience working with individuals diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness.
- Experience working within the Native American/Alaska Native community preferred.
- Must pass a pre-employment or for cause drug tests.
- Must pass criminal background and DMV checks.
Whats in it for you?
15 Paid Holidays: New Years Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Battle of Little Big Horn, Independence Day, Labor Day, Native American Day, Indigenous Peoples Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, day after Thanksgiving, December 25 th and your birthday!
Benefits: Employees working 20 hours, or more are eligible for benefits. Benefits are effective from the 1st of the month following the date of hire.
- Affordable Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance through Kaiser Permanente
- 15 Paid Holidays (Listed Above)
- 13 Paid Days of Sick Time
- 13 Paid Days of PTO (Vacation accruals increase with years of service to a maximum of 26 days)
- $50,000 Life Insurance & AD&D
- Short Term and Long-Term Disability
- Flexible Spending Account
- Health Spending Account
- 401(k) with 4% Match
- Employee Assistance Program
- Inclement Weather Days (Snow Days)
- Public Student Loan Forgiveness -NARA NW is a local 501(c)3 nonprofit, FQHC
How to apply:
- To Quick Apply, go to Careers – NARA NW (naranorthwest.org) (https://www.naranorthwest.org/home-2/careers/)
- Look for the position you want to apply for and submit a resume (Required) and cover letter (Optional), thats all!
- Feel free to contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) if you have any questions or would like to know where your application is in the process.
NARA NW Mission: Our mission is to provide education, physical and mental health services and substance abuse treatment that is culturally appropriate to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and everyone in need.
NARA NW is fully committed to supporting sobriety. To support NARA NW in its mission, all employees agree to refrain from illicit drug use, marijuana use, and prescription drug abuse, both on and off the job. In addition, all employees agree to model alcohol sobriety. Modeling alcohol sobriety means not consuming, discussing, or promoting the use of alcohol, on the job, on social media and when in the community where the employee would be likely to be seen by NARA NW clients or community. If in recovery, employees must have been sober/clean for a length of time sufficient to demonstrate that they will be able to remain sober.
Consistent with NARA NWs sobriety policy, all employees, volunteers, interns, and contractors, as applicable, are required to sign a Drug-Free/Alcohol-Free Workplace Certification Form and NARA NW Modeling Sobriety Policy Form as a condition of employment to confirm that they are aware of this policy and that they agree to comply with it. Violation of this policy will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. This policy is subject to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and its state counterpart
Preference in hiring is given to qualified Native Americans in accordance with the Indian Preference Act (Title 25, US Code, Sections 472 and 473). NARA Northwest is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Within the scope of Indian Preference, all candidates will receive equal consideration. Experience working with Native American/ Alaska Native community is considered a plus.
This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the positions activities and requirements, the agency reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties and assign other duties, as necessary.