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Peer Support Specialist - Police Provider Joint Connection

Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon | Portland, OR

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Posted Date 6/24/2025
Description Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO)Peer Support Specialist - Police Provider Joint Connection Job Description

Pay: $25 per hour

Schedule: 1.0 FTE (40 hours per week) Monday - Friday: 8am - 4pm

Benefits: This is a benefited position as outlined in the MHAAO Employee Handbook

Title: Peer Support Specialist

Reports to: BHRC Program Director

Department: Police Provider Joint Connection

JOB SUMMARY

The Peer Support Specialist (PSS) provides peer support as someone who has similar life experiences and acts as a positive role model for living in recovery. The PSS is a member of interdisciplinary teams participating in collaboratively supporting an individual's self-defined and self-directed care. The PSS supports the individual being served by creating their own person-directed recovery plan and accomplishing goals towards their self-defined recovery journey plan. They provide a listening, nonjudgmental presence and connect individuals being served with a full range of community resources.

This program provides peer support outreach in the Portland downtown area as well as peer support response to calls from law enforcement, primarily Portland Police Bureau (PPB) bike patrol to offer support, service connection and hope to people living outside who may be struggling with substance use, addiction and other mental health issues.

The program is part of a broader effort to connect people with lifesaving interventions like detox, basic needs referrals, addiction treatment, mental health, medical care and other supports. When PPB officers encounter someone using drugs in public, they offer them the opportunity to meet with a trained peer support outreach worker. If the person agrees, a peer outreach team is sent to their location. If that person wants services, the outreach worker attempts to connect them to same-day access to care. If same-day care is not available, the peer outreach workers maintain contact to support the person with their services plan, while also working to navigate waitlists and other barriers to get them access to care as quickly as possible.

Additional support will include helping connect people experiencing homelessness, access the BHRC day center; enter shelter; develop trusting relationships with their medical or behavioral health home; and access food and material resources.

QUALIFICATIONS

Values Alignment: MHAAO strives to honor cultural and spiritual diversity in the communities we serve as well as honoring Voice and Choice through trauma-informed practices with a Social Justice lens. Our values of Voice and Choice mean we believe in the person's right to make their own decisions and that people are the "experts" in their own lives. We have an unwavering belief in every person's ability to learn, grow, and recover.

Being committed to Social Justice means being committed to constantly assessing our organizational values and the extent to which we are modeling or falling short of them. It also means listening to feedback from our stakeholders and others who have interacted with our organization and taking the time to understand and reflect on those interactions. This commitment is extended from the organization, as well as each employee of MHAAO.

Education: High school diploma or equivalent required.

Background Check: A criminal background check will be conducted by MHAAO in accordance with the MHAAO background check policy. A criminal record does not necessarily exclude an individual from employment with MHAAO.

Pre-Hire Drug Screen: As part of MHAAO's commitment to fostering a safe, productive, and professional workplace, we require pre-hire drug screenings for all potential employees. The screening will be conducted in accordance with MHAAO's drug screening policy, as well as applicable state and federal laws.

Experience:
  • Identifies as having at least 2 years of lived experience in recovery with addiction challenges (may include both addiction and mental health challenges)
  • Experience with mental health recovery is desirable and highly valued
  • Understands the principles of trauma-informed care, recovery, consumer-involvement, and trauma-informed care
Licensure/Certification:
  • Peer Support Specialist (OHA Traditional Health Worker certification) or MHACBO CRM certification required or able to be obtained within 90 days of hire
  • Valid Oregon Driver's License and proof of automobile insurance required. Access to reliable personal vehicle preferred
Skills:
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team
  • Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
  • Typing and general technology skills to easily and efficiently navigate electronic systems (e.g., email, Microsoft Teams, etc.)
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
  • Provides 1:1 peer support to diverse individuals being served in accordance with MHAAO's values alignment and principles of peer support
  • Collaborates with individuals to create Person Directed Plans (PDPs) to support their individualized recovery journey
  • Participates in regular peer support supervision sessions
  • Collaborate with other service providers and interdisciplinary teams to support participant PDPs and recovery journeys
  • Attend meetings, as applicable, to gain knowledge, communicate program objectives, and advocate for the needs of the participants being served
  • Implements the regulations, policies, and procedures which pertain to peer-delivered service, MHAAO, and community partners
  • Following the direction of the participants served, assist participants in exploring strategies that increase satisfaction with the eight dimensions of wellness
  • Travels to visit community partners and participants, occasionally transporting participants to relevant community partners
  • Support participants in crisis by helping them to deescalate and identify next steps in their recovery journey
  • Assist participants in identifying and engaging various community resources and supports
  • Documents support services in a program database in a manner that assures compliance with policies, program procedures and local, state, and federal regulations
  • Maintains accurate and up-to-date documentation as required by program deliverables
  • Acts as a positive role model for individuals being served and exploring their own path to wellness and recovery
  • Respects and honors a person's rights and responsibilities and demonstrates professional boundaries and ethics
  • Adheres to mandatory abuse reporting laws and HIPAA requirements
  • Complete other relevant duties as assigned
The above accountabilities represent work performed by this position and are not all-inclusive. The omission of a specific accountability will not preclude it from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical extension of the position.

Employment with Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon is "at-will." This means employees are free to resign at any time, with or without cause, and Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or advance notice. As an at-will employee, it is not guaranteed, in any manner, that you will be employed with Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon for any set period of time.

Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment opportunities at Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon are based upon one's qualifications and capabilities to perform the essential functions of a particular job. All employment opportunities are provided without regard to race, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, national origin, age, Veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Salary25.00 Hour
Listing Type
Jobs
Position Type
Full Time
Salary Min
25.00
Salary Max
25.00
Salary Type
/hr.

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