Peer Mentor FH in Portland, Oregon at Fora Health Inc

POSITION SUMMARY

The Peer Mentor / Peer Support Specialist at Fora Home uses lived experience of recovery and/or mental health experiences to walk alongside residents as they transition from a residential treatment setting into supportive housing and community-based recovery environment. This position is designed to support the Peer Mentor in being a professional peer— someone who has been where residents are and who offers connection, encouragement, and practical guidance rooted in mutuality.

The role of the Fora Home Peer Mentor is to provide mentoring, guidance and support for residents living in Fora Home’s 46-bed recovery transitional housing; the Peer Mentor meets residents in the real moments of recovery — setting goals, building healthy support networks, navigating services, and rebuilding the daily structure that makes lasting recovery possible. The work is relational first: the Peer Mentor shares experience and walks beside residents rather than directing outcomes.

This position works in close collaboration as part of a larger interdisciplinary team that includes counselors, House Managers, and medical providers. This position works from a person-centered approach with residents, while also maintaining strong professional boundaries, while remaining grounded in the peer relationship.

The peer mentor benefits from supervision and integration with the Fora Home Peer Mentor team which includes weekly team meetings, and bi-weekly supervision (individual or group) from the Peer Mentor Supervisor. Tasks are to be completed with little follow up from the Fora Home Peer Mentor Supervisor

We are hiring for 2 positions:

• Monday - Friday, 7 am - 3:30 pm
• Saturday - Wednesday, 10 am - 6:30 pm

Position 1: Preferred lived experience and knowledge of employment search, specifically second chance employment. Experience navigating background checks for those with challenging histories. Additional knowledge in navigating educational systems and student loan processes for people with challenging histories is a plus.

Position 2: Lived experience and knowledge of recovery housing is preferred. This role will be helping people in Fora Home to access long term recovery housing; mental health supported housing; and/or DHS approved housing for those working toward family reunification. Knowledge of navigating background check challenges for individuals applying for traditional housing resources (rental/lease properties) is a plus.

The primary role of the Fora Home Peer Mentor is:

• To serve as a personal guide and mentor for people seeking both to discontinue their substance use and to reduce harms from their substance use. Recognizing the need for human connection and support in all stages of change, the Peer provides emotional support; assisting with setting both recovery & harm reduction goals, restructuring life and daily schedule to accommodate goals; developing new healthy support networks; and gaining access to services and community resources as needed.
• Welcomes new incoming residents into Fora Home, completes standardized peer mentor based screening to assist residents in identifying their goals and barriers to achieving their individualized goals based on the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). Walk alongside residents from their day of moving into Fora Home through their move-out-date to ensure continual professional support in addressing any barriers to meeting their personal recovery and life goals
• Help residents set recovery goals and develop individualized safety and recovery plans
• Support residents in restructuring daily life and routines to accommodate their goals as they transition from residential treatment into community living
• Maintain peer relationships grounded in mutuality — sharing lived experience, not directing outcomes
• Approach all interactions with residents with curiosity and empathy, while also maintaining ethical and professional boundaries in all interactions.

Connection to community supports and continuity of care

• Provide linkage to community resources to assist with meeting individualized needs identified in the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) screening to include benefits (SNAP, TANF), DHS child welfare navigation, legal/court requirements, food resources, employment, housing, and medical services (primary care, dental, and vision)
• To connect individuals to self-help community supports and provide encouragement to develop lasting relationships in such settings.
• To follow up with residents who are missing treatment appointments & provide support & coordination with the interdisciplinary team members to coordinate care.
• To facilitate smooth transitions among all levels of care at Fora Health, with an emphasis on a stable and secure transition from a recovery residence to sober community living.
• Assisting residents in accessing next step transitional sober housing and housing funds as available.
• To assist residents in accessing peer-led recovery support meetings in the community.
• Facilitate peer mentor led group sessions to include housing retention, employment, and parenting groups.
• Maintain timely connection to the interdisciplinary care team via a work cell phone to respond to internal and external contacts during all scheduled work hours. Maintain professional boundaries and turn phone off when not on scheduled work hours.

Fidelity and Scope Protection

• Empower residents to make their own choices rather than acting as a traditional authority figure- Peer mentorship relies on mutuality and resisting the drift into an authority-based role, which is a core job responsibility of this role
• Resist clinical drift — the Peer Mentor does not perform clinical assessments, provide medical or medication advice, or otherwise step into clinical or medical scope
• Assists with access to medications for substance use disorders and provides basic education on MAT services available at Fora
• Stay calm, alert, and emotionally available in high-stress moments, de-escalating in ways that prioritize resident dignity
• Elevate any challenges with scope pressure and boundary issues to the Fora Home Peer Supervisor to receive collaborative supervision and identify growth opportunities

ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Work under the supervision of the Fora Home Peer Mentor Supervisor in conjunction with the Director of Peer Services and the House Managers
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all engagements with residents in the electronic medical record within 24 business hours of providing service.
• Attend weekly Peer Mentor staffing meetings and bi-weekly supervisions
• Accurate and timely documentation of all engagements with residents in electronic medical records.
• Follow agency policies and procedures provided by Fora Health, including but not limited to: Fraud, Waste and Abuse, Conflict of Interest, Boundaries, Ethics, Confidentiality, Drug-Free Workplace and Harassment Policies.
• Attend training and meetings as scheduled and required by supervisor.
• Must be eligible to drive a company car, and do so responsibly, with safety being the first priority and maintain your clean driving record to continue in this capacity.
• Special projects and other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY FUNCTIONS

• This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Certification through a recognized certification board that may include and is not limited to MHACBO, or the State of Oregon including CRM, PSS and THW.
• Internal hires have 6 months to attain this certification, and external hires will need to be certified upon hire. All hires must maintain certification as required by the role.
• Lived experience of substance use recovery and/or mental health recovery. For employees with a history of substance use disorder, Fora Health’s policy requires a minimum of two years of sustained recovery for this position.

Preferred Experience:

• Dual certification: Peer Wellness Specialist (PWS) or Mental Health Peer Support Specialist through the Traditional Health Worker Commission (THW) — given the housing context, dual certification is strongly preferred to address the medical and mental health complexities of residents
• Prior experience in transitional housing traditions, or community organizing
• Experience facilitating peer-led groups, including housing retention groups
• Familiarity with Oregon MHACBO fidelity and code of conduct standards
• Professional and/or lived experience with navigating employment, housing, family reunification and mental health systems

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Peer Mentor shall work to establish professional and supportive relationships.
• Demonstrate genuine concern for people struggling with substance use disorders and the ability to treat all people and agencies with dignity and respect;
• Work effectively within a team environment and be willing to receive and act upon feedback;
• Relate to residents, families and staff in a manner which is open-minded and non-judgmental in relation to individual differences and diverse backgrounds;
• Stay calm, alert, and emotionally available in a high-stress, general public environment, effectively de-escalating as needed;
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries in working with all others (residents, families, staff, referents, etc.);
• Demonstrate strong verbal communication and active listening skills;
• Creatively problem solve and serve as a resource (or know where to find resources) to residents and families;
• Demonstrate initiative, self confidence, and serve as a substance abstinent role model to residents;
• Demonstrated de-escalation skills, with the ability to stay calm and emotionally available in high-stress moments without resorting to authority-based responses
• Model and encourage direct professional communication;

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• For employees with a history of substance use disorder, Fora Health’s policy requires certification of a minimum of two years of sobriety for this position.
• Ability to pass a pre-employment or for cause drug tests.
• Ability to pass DHS criminal background and DMV checks
• Active Oregon Driver’s license and ability to drive Fora vehicles
• Position will require some amount of regular connection to work via cell phone to answer questions and respond to internal and external contacts.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• This position works both in an indoor and outdoor environment with frequent travel among locations within the community.
• This role supports residents in navigating and using public transportation to access community resources
• Position requires some overtime, including evening and weekend work. Adjustment of work schedule may be required.
• Possible exposure to communicable diseases which can encompass a variety of illnesses and infections, including tuberculosis, Hepatitis A, B, and C, and HIV.
• Possible exposure to upset, angry, severely traumatized, disabled, intoxicated or emotionally elevated residents and families.
• Exposure to potentially hazardous cleaning chemicals, personal protective equipment provided.