Part Time Recovery Support Specialist at Youth Era – North Bend, Oregon

Youth ERA is an Oregon-based non-profit that creates lasting positive change in the lives of young people and the systems that serve them. By uniting a diverse collective of young adults and organizations around innovative solutions, Youth Era impacts thousands each year. The work we do is fueled by a deep sense of dedication to our staff, the young people we serve, and the system partners we collaborate with, who give their time and voices to empower young lives and improve our communities.

Every day, our team creates positive change in countless ways. Whether we're providing one-on-one support to a young person in need, developing programs and resources that help young people thrive, or working with system partners to create change at a broader level, we're driven by our mission to empower and uplift the next generation. Join us and be part of the change!

Our Benefits

* Enjoy 12 paid holidays, including your birthday!

* Take advantage of our 403b retirement plan.

* Access our employee assistance program.

* Generous paid time off plan.

* Professional development assistance.

Are you passionate about helping your peers overcome their mental health and life challenges? Do you have firsthand experience with mental health, addiction/recovery, incarceration/juvenile justice, Oregon Youth Authority, foster care, education, or LGBTQ+ communities? If so, we want YOU to join our team at Youth Era!

We strongly encourage applicants to provide a cover letter as it allows them to showcase their personality, passion, and specific qualifications for the position they are applying for.

Research shows that women and BIPOC individuals are often hesitant to apply for positions unless they feel confident they can fulfill every task outlined in the job description. At our organization, our priority is to find the most qualified candidate for the job. We recognize the value of diverse experiences and perspectives, and we're committed to considering any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience.

* Position Title:

* Offered Benefits:

* Work Schedule: 20 hrs/wk (hours may vary)

* Position Type: 0.5 PTE, part-time hourly (non-exempt)

SUMMARY/OBJECTIVE

The youth peer recovery specialist (YPRS) is responsible for providing peer support services to youth ages 14-25 who are in or working toward recovery for addiction. This position is charged with building connections to young adults and assisting in needs identification, solution brainstorming, and self-advocacy at all levels. This position supports youth in gaining control over their lives and in fostering positive community connections. The YPRS functions as a role model by demonstrating recovery, resilience and ongoing coping skills.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Sharing personal struggles and lived experience to provide peer support to young adult participants and helping them navigate the system(s) they participate in (mental health, addiction/recovery, incarceration/juvenile justice, Oregon Youth Authority, foster care, education, LGBTQ+, etc.);
• Run 1 recovery group a week;
• Engaging and building relationships with young adults during drop-in center hours;
• Monitoring physical and emotional safety, appropriateness, applicability, and engagement of youth participants at drop-in center, and interrupting oppressive and inappropriate behavior;
• Meeting one-on-one with the youth to provide individualized support to them;
• Empowering young people to advocate for themselves, set goals and implement achievable steps towards reaching them;
• Organizing and executing meetings or communication regarding support, resources, and crisis intervention as may apply;
• Advertising the program to community partners and recruiting young adults to receive peer support;
• Assisting young people in receiving services that suit their recovery, meeting with providers to improve relations, and role modeling effective problem-solving skills;
• Providing culturally responsive assistance to each youth and utilizing evidence-based practices including Positive Youth Development, CPS, Wraparound, and the 40 Developmental Assets;
• Referring to community-based resources, services, and opportunities;
• Communicating with participants via phone, text/chat, and social media;
• Documenting and reporting cases of abuse or neglect to the Oregon Department of Human Services;
• Collecting paperwork and complying with confidentiality procedures, tracking attendance of youth and volunteers, and inputting data into data tracking software;
• Attending weekly staff meetings, reporting to and communicating with supervisor;
• Traveling to attend one-on-ones, community meetings, and when necessary;
• Tracking of expenses/mileage on a YE-approved expense tracking program;
• Recording hours worked into YE-approved time tracking program;
• Complying with all current policies as written in the Youth Era Employee Policy Manual; and
• Performing other assigned duties.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Lived experience in addiction and recovery (identity as being in recovery from substance addiction and/or alcoholism)
• Ability to travel and willingness to work evenings and weekends as required.
• Valid driver’s license, reliable vehicle, and car insurance.
• Willingness to update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining professional networks, and attending trainings.

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the capacity to communicate and work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Ability to build/sustain collaborative working relationships with staff, supervisors, and others as appropriate.
• Willingness to address and work to eliminate personal biases and prejudices.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Demonstrated social/situational problem-solving skills.
• Outstanding oral/written communication skills and strong organizational skills.
• Excellent advocacy and public speaking skills.
• Ability and willingness to learn about youth culture and the organization's history, mission, demographics, programs, etc. in order to persuasively articulate how Youth Era distinguishes itself from peer organizations.
• Proficiency in the use of computers, their routine software applications (i.e. Microsoft Office, Word, and Excel), and Google applications (i.e. Gmail, Hangouts, and Google Calendar).

PREFERRED CERTIFICATIONS:

• First Aid Certification
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Certification
• Oregon Food Handlers Card