Job Location: Davis St Office - Portland, OR
Position Type: Full Time
Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) is the oldest and largest AIDS Service Organization (ASO) in Oregon and Southwest Washington, as well as a Federally Qualified Health Center (Look-A-Like) that provides the LGBTQ+ community and beyond with compassionate healthcare. CAP’s mission is to promote well-being and advance equity by providing inclusive health and wellness services for LGBTQ+ people, people affected by HIV, and all those seeking compassionate care. To learn more about us at www.capnw.org, www.prismhealth.org, and www.ourhouseofportland.org
CAP is excited to announce that we are currently hiring a Peer Support Specialist. The Peer Support Specialist works with the staff and management of the Housing and Support Services Department to provide high-quality, coordinated, strengths-based social services consistent with the agency’s mission to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). This individual will work to support clients experiencing homelessness or housing instability to access needed community resources including housing, healthcare, mental health/substance use treatment, etc. This also includes providing advocacy on behalf of clients with housing and healthcare providers, person-centered goal planning, assistance navigating various systems of care and providing information and referrals to other services as needed. This person will also work with clients to reduce stigma and isolation and build social connections through participation in the mentoring program and referral to other psychosocial supports.
This individual will work at CAP’s Davis St location in Portland, OR. This is a Full-time, exempt position (40 hours a week) position, which reports to the Manager of Supportive Programming. This position includes travel throughout the five-county service areas. Occasional evening and weekend work are required. This is a non-management, union-status position.
COMPENSATION: $45,088.61, annually
NOTE: This position is part of a union-represented bargaining unit. The compensation, benefits, and conditions of work for this position are collectively bargained.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Knowledgeable about the lived experience of living with HIV and willingness to mindfully share that experience
- Within 3 months of hire, successful completion of an Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Addictions & Mental Health (AMH) –approved Certified Recovery Mentor training (completion of this training requires two years of sobriety).
- Knowledgeable about the lived experience of housing instability and/or knowledgeable about the lived experience of experiencing mental health issues and/or substance use issues and willingness to mindfully share those experiences.
- Successful experience working with ethnic, racial, economic and sexually diverse populations and persons who have experienced homelessness, persons with a mental illness and/or substance abuse
- Desire and ability to engage in equity and inclusion initiatives and discussions in the workplace, including but not limited to: engaging in training workshops, team and department meetings, and critical discussions for how CAP can better support the communities we serve
- Basic computer and keyboard proficiency using Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, Outlook) and working knowledge of the internet
- Ability to travel throughout the service area on a regular basis
- On occasion, be available to work evenings and weekends for required agency events
Preferred Qualifications:
- One year of relevant work, education, training or experience or Bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences field (social work, public or community health, psychology)
- Verbal and written fluency in English and Spanish
- Previous experience working with people living with HIV/AIDS
- Demonstrated commitment to advancing equity and inclusion in the workplace or community settings
- Lived experience of systemic oppression and non-dominant cultures. From Black, Indigenous, and other people of color; transgender, non-binary, and other LGBTQ+ people; and people with disabilities, including HIV
- Knowledge of housing laws and local housing resources
- Ability to work independently or within a team with accountability; exercise sound judgment and discretion, maintain health boundaries, respect, discretion and professionalism at all times
- Demonstrated problem-solving skills and familiarity with de-escalation techniques
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS:
CAP is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees.
Any non-temporary full-time or part-time employee (working .5FTE or greater) is considered eligible for the benefits below:
Vacation + Leave + Other
- 16 days of paid vacation (128 hours) each year for the first two years of employment
- 21 days of paid vacation (168 hours) each year of employment beginning in year three
- 12 days of paid health leave per year
- 12.4 paid holidays per year
- Longevity bonus – two weeks of paid leave on the fourth anniversary, must be used within two years after the date awarded. Additional longevity bonuses are awarded at eight-year and 12-year anniversaries
- Continue Education Reimbursement
- Cell Phone Reimbursement
- Pre-Tax Transportation Program
Retirement
- 401(k) Plan – CAP matches employee contributions up to 3% of salary, this benefit includes on-call and per diem staff
Health Coverage
- Flexible Spending Account to set aside employee pre-tax dollars for unreimbursed medical and dependent expenses.
- Medical and vision insurance – premiums fully paid by CAP for employee (Kaiser Permanente)
- Dental insurance – premiums fully paid by CAP for employee (Lincoln or Willamette Dental)
- Voluntary supplemental vision insurance (Lincoln)
- Employee Assistant Program (EAP)
Life Insurance + Disability + Family Leave
- Life Insurance ($100,000) and AD&D insurance – premiums fully paid by CAP for the employee (Mutual of Omaha)
- Long term disability insurance (Mutual of Omaha)
- Short term disability insurance (Mutual of Omaha)
Loan Forgiveness Programs – Employees are eligible to apply to the following programs
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
- Oregon Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program (licensed and unlicensed providers)
- Scholars for a Healthy Oregon Initiative (SHOI) Progra
Cascade AIDS Project is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
People of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people living with HIV are strongly encouraged to apply.
CAP cares about the safety of our team members and clients. All new employees are required to provide proof of vaccination status to HR at the time of hire (unless a documented medical or religious exemption is requested and approved). Employees not subject to a state or federal vaccine mandate will be required to undergo regular testing for COVID-19 at no cost to the employee.