HARPS Peer Support Specialist

Overview

HARPS Peer Support Specialist - Housing

Hiring Range: $20.07 – $24.58 per hour

• Comprehensive Coverage:
  Health, Dental & Vision
• Generous PTO:
  Up to 19 days + 2 mental health days + 10 holidays (pro-rated for part-time)
• Fully Paid YMCA Membership for you and eligible family members
• Company-Paid Life & Disability Insurance
• Student Loan Assistance & Professional Development
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with Company Contributions
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Pet Insurance
• Free Wellness App (2
  
  Morrow Health)
• Collaborative, Supportive Team Environment

The Peer Counselor has experience as a recipient of mental health services for severe and persistent mental illness and is willing to use and share his or her personal, practical experience, knowledge, and first-hand insight to benefit the team and its clients.

• The Peer Counselor provides the team with expertise about the recovery process, symptom management, and clients  persistence to lead a satisfying life.
• The Peer Counselor is responsible for advocating for client choice, self-determination, and decision-making in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of treatment, rehabilitation, and support services.
• The Peer Counselor provides consultation to clients, families, and team staff in community resources, treatment planning, crisis intervention, and substance abuse services.

• Draw on common experiences as a peer to validate clients' experience and to provide guidance and encouragement for clients to take responsibility and participate in their own recovery. Promote hope and empowerment designed to help clients attain recovery goals and maintain the highest possible independence level, even during periods of instability.
• Housing:
  Assists clients find and maintain a safe and affordable place to live, apartment hunting, finding a roommate, landlord negotiations, cleaning, furnishing and decorating, and procuring necessities. Identify type and location of housing with an exploration of access to natural supports and avoidance of triggers. Provides 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, housing subsidies; money management services; transportation, and reasonable accommodation requests as needed.
• Employment:
  Assists with referrals to job training, Supported Employment, and DVR. Performs mentoring, problem solving, encouragement, and support on and off the job site. Provides work-related supportive services, such as assistance securing necessary clothing and grooming supplies, wake-up calls, reasonable accommodation requests as needed, and transportation.
• Activities of Daily Living Services:
  Provides ongoing assessment, problem-solving, side-by-side services, skill teaching, support, and environmental adaptations to assist clients with daily living activities. Assists and supports clients in organizing and performing household activities, including house cleaning and laundry. Assists and supports clients with personal hygiene and grooming tasks. Provide nutrition education and assistance with meal planning, grocery shopping, and food preparation. Ensures clients have adequate financial support teaches money-management skills, and assist clients in accessing financial services.
  
  Helps clients access reliable transportation. Assists and supports clients to have and effectively use a personal primary care physician, dentist, and other medical specialists as required.
• Social and Interpersonal Relationships and Leisure Time:
  Provides side-by-side support, coaching, and encouragement to help clients socialize, going with a client to community activities, including activities offered by consumer-run peer support organizations. Assists clients to plan and carry out leisure time activities. Organizes and leads individual and group social and recreational activities to help clients structure their time, increase social…