Do you want to turn your own story of mental health recovery into a source of hope and empowerment for others? Marion County Adult Behavioral Health is seeking passionate Peer Support Specialists to join our dedicated team. In this rewarding role, you’ll walk alongside individuals living with serious and persistent mental health challenges, offering recovery-focused support grounded in your own lived experience. You’ll champion their voice and choice, celebrate their strengths, and help them navigate their path toward their goals. We’re looking for compassionate, motivated individuals who thrive in a collaborative team environment and are committed to helping others achieve meaningful, lasting recovery. Your journey can inspire someone else’s. Apply today and take the first step toward making a difference!

Typical Duties - Duties include, but are not limited to the following

Provide support, encouragement, and assistance to mental health individuals enrolled in Marion County Adult Behavioral Health (ABH), with the majority of services provided in the community (i.e., individual’s homes, hospitals, jails, licensed care, shelters, etc.). Driving is required.

• Promote activities that foster recovery and empowerment by sharing personal experiences when appropriate, modeling self-help and wellness activities.
• Provide outreach to engage individuals and assist them in overcoming barriers to participating in services.
• Offer support to develop personal recovery and wellness goals, explore self-help strategies, review dimensions of wellness, engage in wellness activities, act as a peer advocate, and provide encouragement and hope.

• Facilitate and connect individuals to services and activities with a focus on building self-efficacy.
• Assist to link with peer and community resources to build natural supports.
• Support and assist individuals to strengthen linkages to community peer delivered services.
• Support individuals to access and acquire services related to medical, social, educational, transportation, housing, education, employment, and other applicable services.
• Provide education and/or training to assist individuals in acquiring skills that will maintain community stability and independence.
• Support individual’s personal wellness and ongoing recovery through connections in the local community.
• Provide supportive navigation, information, and coaching to connect individuals to resources. Share information regarding accessing various services and supports.
• Support individuals to develop self-help skills, social skills, and community integration.

• Assist in the development of person-centered plans, including wellness and recovery goals.
• Provide expertise, experience, and consultation to the team to promote a culture where individual point of view is recognized, respected, and integrated into treatment.

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of clinical records in accordance with federal, state, county, and treatment program requirements under the direction of the clinical supervisor. Meet performance expectations for time and billing standards.

• Participate fully as a member of the Marion County Adult Behavioral Health team as a supportive, reliable, positive, collaborative, and professional team member during the development of individual treatment planning, team meetings, and crisis intervention.
• Work with a team and supervisor for clinical supervision, treatment planning, staff and departmental meetings, and trainings.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements for the Position

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING
As defined by OAR 309-019-0105 (81) "Peer Support Specialist" means an individual providing peer delivered services to an individual or family member with similar life experience under the supervision of a qualified clinical supervisor and a qualified peer delivered services supervisor as resources are made available.

• A self-identified person currently or formerly receiving mental health services; OR,
• A self-identified person in recovery from an addiction disorder, who meets the abstinence requirements for recovering staff in alcohol and drug treatment programs.

• Applicants will be asked to discuss recovering experiences during the interview process.
• Must successfully complete a mental health approved peer support training program within six (6) months of hire.
• Must possess a current driver's license in the applicant's state of residence and an acceptable driving history. Marion County will obtain a copy of the driving record for all qualified applicants from Driver and Motor Vehicle Services and review the driving record according to the Marion County policy and procedure for Driving on County Business. The policy can be found at: http://apps.co.marion.or.us/APAP/.
• This position may be subject to the following: Must not be excluded from participation in the federal health care programs (Medicaid, Medicare and other federally funded programs that provide health benefits); AND must not be excluded from participating in federal procurement (Federal Acquisition Regulation) and non-procurement activities (Executive Order No. 12549).
• The finalist for this position will be required to pass a criminal history background check; however, conviction of a crime may not necessarily disqualify an individual for this position.
• This is a safety sensitive/special needs position. Final candidates selected for this position will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screen, including testing for marijuana. The Marion County Drug and Alcohol Use and Testing Policy can be found at: http://apps.co.marion.or.us/APAP/policy.aspx?p=policy&pid=518.
• This position is represented by a union.
• This is a full-time position, which is eligible for overtime.
• Typical Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., with flexibility depending upon the needs of the department and program.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Understanding of approaches to support others in recovery and resiliency and demonstrates efforts at self-directed recovery.
Knowledgeable of community resources and how to connect individuals to those resources.

Ability to understand and carry out directions and instructions; ability to maintain confidentiality; interest and skill in providing services to individuals; ability to speak, read and write English; ability to provide documentation consistent with department standards for quality and timeliness; willingness to work hours conducive to reaching the identified population; ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with individuals, coworkers, and other agencies.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Operates a motor vehicle; sees using depth perception; stands; sits; moves about the work area; bends forward; climbs 1 floor of stairs; lifts, pushes, pulls, and carries items weighing up to 5 lbs.; moves carts weighing up to 5 lbs.; operates a keyboard; speaks with a clear and audible voice; reads a 12 pt. font; hears a normal speech level; works in client homes or other areas that may be exposed to heat, cold, humidity, dust, smoke, noise, and chemicals; and may work in areas that are uneven or wet.

Additional Information and/or Attachments

• Up to $1,500 per year to reimburse for tuition, licensure and/or other educational expenditures. According to the Marion County policy administrative policies regarding tuition payments. The policy can be found at: Marion County Tuition Payment Policy 303