Bilingual Peer Support Specialist

Would you like to join a growing, compassionate team of people who share a vision for a brighter future?  El Futuro is the leading provider of behavioral health treatment to Latino families in North Carolina. Our mission is to nurture stronger familias to live out their dreams.

El Futuro is currently hiring full-time, Bilingual Peer Support Specialists with lived experience in mental health recovery. Candidates must have personal experience navigating their own mental health journey and be ready to use their insights to support, guide, and connect clients with resources. In this role, Peer Support Specialists will help clients develop life skills and coping strategies based on shared experiences and mutual understanding.

This position works 37.5 hours per week, primarily in-person, in the Durham clinic, and must be available for Friday morning meetings, 9:00-11:00am. The typical weekly schedule includes evenings and occasional weekends.

The pay rate is $22.00 per hour. El Futuro provides employer paid medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability; 403B matching; generous PTO and paid holidays; paid family medical leave; paid parental leave; and stipend and paid time off for professional development.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Peer Support Specialist performs a wide range of functions including, but not limited to the following:

• Foster hope and trust by sharing personal recovery experiences strategically to inspire clients. 

• Validate clients’ emotions and challenges while encouraging self-empowerment. 

• Provide bilingual, culturally relevant peer support tailored to the unique spiritual, cultural, and social contexts of the Latino community. 

• Collaborate with community organizations to connect clients to culturally specific resources and opportunities. 

• Celebrate and uplift cultural values throughout the recovery process. 

• Use trauma-informed approaches to foster resilience and help clients navigate challenges. 

• Model wellness, recovery practices, and healthy strategies aligned with clients' needs. 

• Create a welcoming, inclusive environment where clients and families feel safe and valued. 

• Complete and submit documentation of all client interactions, progress and outcomes in a timely manner while adhering to confidentiality and ethical standards. 

• Incorporate evidence-based practices into peer support services, including trauma-informed and strengths-based approaches. 

• Attend and complete continuing education and training as required to maintain certification and enhance service quality. 

• Collaborate with clients to establish person-centered, recovery-oriented goals. 

• Engage with community partners and resources to strengthen connections to recovery-oriented systems of care. 

General Responsibilities for El Futuro Staff:

·       Participate in meetings and organizational related activities as directed by the supervisor, which may include All Staff Meeting, Individual Supervision, participation on a committee, or other activities.

·       Play an active role in the continued development of El Futuro’s work via participation in fundraising and other agency-wide activities.

·       Engage in learning opportunities through “La Mesita”, El Futuro’s training platform and network of bilingual providers in North Carolina, or through other appropriate career development opportunities.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

·       High school diploma or GED, required.

·       Certification as a Peer Support Specialist or eligibility for certification within three months, required.

·       Personal experience with mental health challenges and recovery, required.

·       Bilingual fluency in spoken and written Spanish and English, required.

·       Experience in community mental health settings or a peer support role, preferred. 

·       Experience working with the Latino community, preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

·       Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.

·       Able to work autonomously as well as collaboratively in a dynamic, multicultural setting. 

·       Skilled in managing multiple tasks and priorities with meticulous attention to detail and organizational proficiency 

·       Demonstrated flexibility, creativity, and adaptability to cater to evolving client and organizational needs.

·       Proficiency in Microsoft Office, electronic health record systems, and project management systems (El Futuro uses IMS and monday.com).

·       Knowledge of local resources for housing, employment, healthcare, and education, preferred.

·       Alignment with El Futuro’s mission to nurture stronger familias to live out their dreams.

·       Alignment with El Futuro’s values: Calor Humano, Trust, Resilience, Belonging, and Community.

WORKING CONDITIONS

·       Environment: Work is performed in-person, with occasional remote work, utilizing Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

·       Assigned Office Site: Durham Clinic

·       Work Week: Usually works a standard work week, Monday through Friday, with minimum two or three evenings per week (dependent on part-time or full-time status); Friday 9:00am to 11:00am is required time for organization-wide and team meetings.

·       Extra Time: May be required to work occasional weekends for special events or attend staff meetings outside the regular schedule

To apply, submit your cover letter and resume.

El Futuro is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in its employment decisions on the basis of any protected category. El Futuro is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe we are most impactful when people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and identities come together with common purpose. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.