The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD (“The HARRIS CENTER”) is looking for a Peer Navigator to join our team. Works with peers to help assess needs, provide support, and facilitate referrals to social services as part of an interdisciplinary team. Provides peers and families with information on community and Agency resources.

What you will do:

• Engages in face-to-face contact with peers to help assess their needs, provide peer support, education and help facilitate referrals to social services.
• Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary team. Maintains open communication with medical director, program/unit director and other professional staff.
• Provides peers and their families with information on community and Agency resources.
• Responsible for accurate and timely collection, entry and maintenance of required program data.
• Encourages peers to attend consumer meetings/support groups, and supports their efforts to develop empowerment skills through self-advocacy.
• Demonstrates respect and cultural sensitivity to peers, family members, visitors, and fellow employees.
• Demonstrates strong customer-service oriented behaviors. Treats everyone in a polite, professional manner. Handles concerns, problems and issues in a manner that is helpful and responsive.
• Advocates for peers to ensure that needs are met both within the Agency and the community.
• Demonstrates flexibility to meet the on-going needs of the Agency. Performs other duties as assigned and adapts to changing work requirements.
• Complies with Agency policies and procedures, and demonstrates professional, ethical, and confidential conduct in all work behavior.
• Contributes to suicide care and prevention by embracing our values and applying a trauma-informed approach rooted in safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment.

What qualifications you will need:

Education:

• Must have High School Diploma or GED.

Experience:

·         Must be a Certified Peer Specialist / have equivalent certification or must take the Certified Peer Specialist training within 6 months of hiring.

·         0-2 years of experience.

·         Must self-identify as a user of Mental Health Services with no crisis services utilized within a year, and no hospitalization within a year. May consider one stay within a year if it was a short duration. Background check is required.

·         Prefer past experience of being in a mental health crisis.

·         Prefer experience of some homelessness.

Other Key Qualifications:

• Must have Texas ID, Driver’s License preferred.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities:

·         Basic understanding of mental illness, common signs and symptoms and the ability to identify difficulties coping in community settings.

·         Familiar with having navigated the Mental Health System.

·         Bi-lingual is a strong plus. Computer literate.

·         Group affiliations a strong plus; i.e., NAMI, DBSA, AA, NA, etc.

·         Strong communication, listening, and positive interpersonal skills.

·         The ability to work collaboratively with others in a teamwork environment.

·         Effective time management and organizational skills.

·         Ability to coordinate well with others.

·         Self-directed.

About us:

The Harris Center is the state-designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas.  As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, The Harris Center provides care to over 90,000 people and has an annual budget of over $300 million.

As part of its mission to transform the lives of people with behavioral health and IDD needs in the third largest county in the United States, The Harris Center provides a full continuum of services at 80 different sites across Harris County. In addition, services are provided in more than 40 different languages as well as sign language in order to better serve what is one of the largest communities in the nation.

By utilizing the unique expertise of its more than 2,500 employees, The Harris Center is committed to meeting the behavioral health and IDD needs of Harris County residents and giving them hope to live to their fullest potential.

What else you should know:

This posting is associated with position #319978

What we have to offer:

The Harris Center not only offers a competitive salary but also a suite of excellent benefits designed to enrich your life both professionally and personally. Imagine a future with a robust retirement plan complemented by our generous company matching – a testament to our investment in your long-term financial well-being. Experience the unique advantage of our prior service credit, accelerating your journey towards a more substantial Paid Time Off accrual, empowering you to enjoy well-deserved breaks.

Enjoy Cell Phone Discounts, exclusive entertainment deals through Tickets at Work, and a free Headspace subscription for mental wellness. Additionally, our Employee Assistance Program supports your overall well-being.

Take advantage of significant financial relief through student loan forgiveness as a valued member of The Harris Center team. As a qualifying entity, our employees are eligible for various student loan forgiveness programs, designed to alleviate the financial burdens associated with higher education.

Contributes to suicide care and prevention by embracing our values and applying a trauma-informed approach rooted in safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment.