Peer Mentor

Reintegration Support Network - Mentor

Salary: $18.54/hour, Contract

Main Points of Contact: RSN Director of Programs, Program Manager

Travel/Special Conditions/Requirements: This position prefers identification as a person in long-term recovery, current NCCPSS or Recovery Coach certification or other peer support credentials as well as evening and weekend availability, a minimum commitment of 5 hours per week availability. and the ability to perform job duties in Alamance, Chatham, Durham and Orange counties.

Qualifications:

• Person age 18
• Willing and able to self-identify as:
• a person who has lived recovery experience (1 year ) pertaining to substance use, mental health challenges and, or justice system involvement AND/OR
• At least 1 year experience working with youth/emerging adults AND/OR
• Youth MHFA certification and/or Recovery Coach and/or PSS credentials
• High school diploma/GED
• At least 1 year experience working with at risk youth
• Strong communication and organization skills
• Possess basic computer proficiency skills
• Access to and ability to utilize transportation in order to perform job activities
• Complete a background check.

We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) applicants; people with lived experience of substance use, mental health, or justice involvement, homelessness, or poverty; LGBTQIA applicants; and people with disabilities.

General Summary:

The RSN Mentor will act as a support and resource for youth and emerging adults who are experiencing challenges related to substance, mental health, and/or justice involvement. The Mentor acts as a key member of the RSN support team to provide participants with a sense of belonging and the skills and capacities for self-advocacy, healthy relationships and positive engagement in the community. The Mentor engages in promoting trust and self-acceptance by advocating for and with participants, coordinating with existing service providers, and linking participants with community resources, thereby increasing a participant’s overall wellbeing. The Mentor works with participants one on one or in a group, supporting them in setting and achieving goals through shared activities, goal setting, support and encouragement.

Key Activities:

• Attend all required training to enhance skills and meet mentor program participant guidelines.
• Build and foster relationships with the participant and families and others working with the participant.
• Actively engage as part of the RSN support team to meet participant goals, complete all required documentation and paperwork.
• Prepare the participant to fully participate in their own wellbeing process.
• Teach self-advocacy, problem solving and independent wellness skills.
• Provide support during “rough” or “crisis times”.
• Provide community education about participant’s culture and perspective.
• Interrupt bias and both overt and covert racism or prejudice, and promote a stance of acceptance while reducing stigma about substance use, mental health issues and or justice system involvement.
• Empower the participant to build understanding in others about their situation and unique needs.
• In collaboration with the participant, work with others (i.e. family, friends, schools, faith community, human services organizations, ect.) to develop natural supports to eliminate barriers to overall well being.
• Co-facilitate skill building groups to participants focusing on goals addressed within our Life Skills curriculum.
• Serve as a role model and active participant in supporting participants in meeting their goals.
• Engages service providers and the referring organization as needed throughout participant engagement.
• Develops a post-mentoring plan together with the participant, their parents/guardians, and organizations to continue resourcing and supporting the participant.

The Mentor will exhibit proficiency in the following areas:

• Strong commitment to the Mission of RSN
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Commitment to RSN reporting requirements and documentation, policies and procedures and confidentiality agreement
• Ability to communicate and model a sense of hope and expectancy for participants.
• Ability and willingness to self-disclose and share experience with others
• Knowledge of RSN community network resources and partnerships and how to access these resources as well as others within the community
• Ability to maintain and role model strong boundaries
• Problem solving skills
• Competence in working as a team member within youth serving systems

Job Type: Contract

Pay: $18.54 per hour

Expected hours: 1 – 10 per week

Schedule:

• Choose your own hours
• Evenings as needed
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Application Question(s):

• Are you able to work in the following counties: Alamance, Chatham, Durham, Orange?

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

License/Certification:

• Peer Support or Recovery Coach Certification (Preferred)
• Youth Mental Health First Aid certification (Preferred)

Work Location: On the road

Salary : $19