Youth Peer Specialist

Description

Nexus Family Healing is looking to add a Youth Peer Specialist to join our newest Youth Psychiatric Residential Treatment facility set to open this summer in Eugene, Oregon! our residential location in Portland, Oregon!

Nexus Family Healing is expanding to Eugene, Oregon, with the opening of a new 14-bed psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) set to open this summer! This location is In partnership with the Oregon Health Authority Behavioral Health Division and will serve justice-involved youth ages 12 – 17, experiencing acute emotional concerns, and serious and persistent mental illness.

At Nexus Family Healing, we embrace diversity, promote equity, and foster inclusion. As a national mental health organization, we serve a diverse group of youth and families, and we strive for our workforce to support and represent that diversity.

Schedule/Pay/Location:

• Full time, 40 hours per week
• Flexible schedule, includes some evenings and weekends
• Pay Rate: $23-25 per hour
• Location: 2675 Martin Luther King Jr Blv, Eugene, OR

Nexus’ Comprehensive Benefits Include:

• Four weeks paid time off (PTO) in the first year of employment
• Multiple options for health insurance coverage
• No-cost life insurance
• Short/long-term disability insurance
• 401k match
• NEW – Talkspace Therapy Benefit for the whole family
• NEW – Hinge Health Benefit for the whole family
• NEW – Carrot Fertility Benefit
• Continuous learning and training opportunities
• Advancement pathways and internal promotion
• And much more!

Position Summary: The Youth Peer Specialist supports youth during their transition from residential treatment. This position works collaboratively with the care team to develop and implement a detailed care plan that supports the youth during their transition from discharge to placement. This integral role serves as a champion and advocate to the youth, by supporting the goals, objectives, and progress in the youth’s care plan; empowers and educates youth to advocate for themselves long term.

Primary responsibilities:

Client Intervention & Placement Support

• Build trusting relationships with youth preparing to transition from high-level care
• Assess individual needs and collaborate with care teams to support successful placements
• Partner with families, providers, and community resources to prepare and support youth transitions

Care Planning & Goal Achievement

• Contribute to and help implement individualized care plans
• Support youth in developing life skills (employment, education, financial literacy, independence)
• Connect youth to community resources and remove barriers to achieving personal goals
• Maintain consistent communication with care teams and stakeholders

Advocacy & Mentorship

• Provide mentorship, guidance, and encouragement to promote independence and self-confidence
• Advocate for youth needs and highlight progress to care teams and caregivers
• Conduct regular check-ins and share updates to support ongoing success

Requirements

Required Education and Licensure:

•  High School Diploma or GED
•  Demonstrated lived experience, coping with adolescent challenges. (Personal experience may include but is not limited to experiencing foster care, residential treatment, juvenile justice or any transferrable or relatable experience to ongoing youth struggles.)
•  Demonstrated interpersonal maturity and emotional intelligence; ability to create trust and rapport with clients while setting clear, definitive, and healthy boundaries.
•  Valid driver’s license required and access to reliable transportation is required Must meet state regulating agency and Home Office driving requirements.
• Must have the ability to build strong relationships with diverse individuals or communities and understand their unique needs and challenges.
• Must be open to meeting the cultural needs of individuals or communities, considering factors such as language, traditions, and values.
• Successfully participate and complete a three-part Nonviolent Crisis Intervention exam and training

Preferred Education and Experience:

•  Bachelor’s Degree
•  Previous experience working with youth who have experienced trauma and/or a mental health crisis.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to assist staff in physical interventions and restraints of clients
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds unassisted and up to 100 pounds with assistance
• Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time (2-4 hours)
• Must be able to twist, bend and stretch in a manner conducive to the execution of daily activities within a residential treatment facility

At Nexus Family Healing, our voices and actions are focused on recognizing, affirming and respecting people of every race, ethnic background, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender expression and faith.Our ICARE Values:

• Innovation: Leading the way and implementing creative, cutting-edge ideas and approaches
• Compassion: Listening, honoring differences, and showing respect, kindness, empathy care, and concern
• Agility: Exhibiting flexibility and adapting quickly
• Responsiveness: Being quick, positive, and accurate
• Excellence: Demonstrating quality results that surpass ordinary standards

APPLY TODAY TO BE CONTACTED BY OUR RECRUITING TEAM! When you work at Nexus, you have the opportunity to change lives — including your own!