$3000 Sign on Bonus Youth Peer Support Specialist/Crisis Responder

TITLE:  School Youth Peer Support Specialist/Crisis Responder working full-time, 40 hours per week, 12 months a year. This position will be serving the O'Neill, NE schools.    

Main Function: 

The School Youth Peer Support Specialist is someone with lived experience in mental health services who uses that perspective to support, encourage, and empower youth. In collaboration with mental health providers, the Specialist helps youth build self-advocacy skills and work toward their personal, culturally meaningful goals as part of their recovery.

The Crisis Responder provides short-term crisis support as part of an on-call rotation, assisting individuals experiencing acute emotional distress or mental health concerns. The role involves assessing needs, offering immediate support, and connecting individuals to appropriate care and community resources, with an emphasis on promoting safety and stability within the community whenever possible.

This is a school-based position aligned with the school-year calendar and therapist schedules. Compensation is based on a school-year salary tied to contracted days. Optional summer services are compensated at the established hourly rate.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Work collaboratively with school-based therapists to help connect students to mental health services.


• Meet with parents or caregivers to complete required documentation and support access to services.


• Facilitate weekly small groups within the school setting.


• Build trusting relationships with youth by sharing experiences, offering encouragement, and modeling resilience and recovery.


• Support youth involved with multiple systems, including education, DHHS, youth and family services, and the justice system.


• Help youth understand recovery and resilience concepts and apply skills toward their personal goals.


• Provide individualized, strengths-based support that honors choice and builds confidence and independence.


• Work respectfully and effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.


• Participate in youth case meetings and other meetings as requested or assigned.


• Assist youth in identifying community resources, training, and skill-building opportunities aligned with their goals.


• Serve as a supportive resource to youth during scheduled appointments or designated drop-in times.


• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in accordance with agency policies, including use of the EMR and CDS systems.


• Provide crisis support and intervention as needed, including assessment, safety planning, and coordination with community partners to support stabilization and transition back into the community when appropriate.


• Participate in an on-call rotation to support crisis coverage, including evenings and weekends.


• Attend supervision, staff meetings, community events, and committee work as assigned.


• Complete other related duties as needed

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES: 

• Demonstrates appropriate boundaries with clients, families, referral sources, and collaborating entities.


• Ability to form cooperative and supportive relationships with staff/agency.


• Maintains ethics and confidentiality as dictated by profession.


• Maintains certifications as needed.


• Ability to form positive relationships with clients.


• Strong interpersonal skills in working with diverse


• Skills in verbal and written communication.


• Possess a valid driver’s license and an insurable driving record.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Qualifications:
  
  
  
  • Minimum of an Associate’s degree, some college coursework, or equivalent relevant experience.
  
  
  • Lived experience with mental health and/or substance use services, with the ability to thoughtfully use that experience to support youth-driven services, goals, and recovery.
  
  
  • Nebraska Peer Support Specialist Certification in good standing is preferred, or the ability to obtain certification within one year of employment.
  
  
  
  

BENEFITS:

2-3 weeks paid vacation per year.

12 paid sick days per year.

2 paid personal days per year.

1 paid mental health day per year.

9 paid holidays per year.

3 paid training days per year.

Bereavement Leave.

Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

Paid life insurance policy.

Medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts.

Aflac.

Employee Assistance Program.

3% matching 401k retirement plan within 90 days of employment.

Flexible schedule.