Before you get started on your journey with Health Connect America, take some time to learn more about us. At Health Connect America, all services are guided by a unified, trauma-informed approach. Across every program, we are committed to providing compassionate, client-centered care that fosters healing and growth. Our services are delivered by clinically trained staff, grounded in a therapeutic mindset and informed by research and evidence-based practices at every level of care. Health Connect America and its affiliate brands are leaders in providing mental and behavioral health services to children, families, and adults across the nation. We provide our services directly to those in need whether that be within a person's home, their community, or in one of our office settings. Health Connect America is honored to be a part of the communities we serve and the clients we walk alongside as they embark on a journey to self-improvement and more fulfilling lives. At Health Connect America, we are dedicated to making meaningful connections every day through creating quality, affordable opportunities for individuals and families to achieve their greatest potential in a safe, positive living environment.

The Peer Support Specialist provides peer support services to assigned clients.

• Use personal recovery experience as a tool.
• Provide family and community education.
• Serve as a role model and mentor.
• Provide support and encouragement to peers.
• Navigate/link individuals to community resources such as housing, social services, education and employment assistance, health services, etc.
• Lead recovery education and activities.
• Develop a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) that focuses on strategies for reaching personal goals, crisis planning, and relapse prevention.
• Facilitate peer support groups.
• Provide opportunities for socialization in the community.
• Provide outreach to people who have frequent inpatient hospitalizations.
• Provide outreach to people who have failed to engage with the behavioral health system.
• Assist individuals to develop and implement a person-centered individual service plan.
• Support individuals through the intake process.
• Educate individuals on changes in health care reform.
• Help individuals understand their benefits.
• Help individuals who seek SSI/SSDI benefits by taking them through the SOAR process.
• Support people through discharge.
• Follow up after discharge (in-person, when needed).
• Empower others by helping them identify their strengths, support, resources and skills.
• Work as a wraparound facilitator (MS Only).
• Provide case management and coordination of services to assist other workers/staff on the case.

Qualifications:

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must have a mental health condition and/or substance use disorder, must be in recovery, must be open minded, and must be willing to share personal experiences with mental illness/substance use publicly.
• Must be a High School Graduate or have GED.
• Must have a valid driver’s license in state of employment with a safe driving record.
• Must have successfully completed state specific Peer Specialist training and exam.