Job Location: Davis St Office - Portland, OR
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.
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. Our House provides integrated health and housing services to people with HIV. Guided by compassion, we provide 24-hour specialized care, supportive services, and independent housing support services. To learn more about us at www.capnw.org, www.prismhealth.org, and www.ourhouseofportland.org.
CAP is excited to announce that we are hiring an experienced Peer Support Specialist. The Peer Support Specialist will provide high-quality, coordinated, strengths-based social services consistent with the agency’s mission. This individual will support clients experiencing mental health and/or substance use disorder 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 full-time position reports to the Peer Team Lead. This position is stationed in CAP’s Davis St. office. This position includes travel throughout the five-county service area for meetings and client home visits. Must be available to work evenings and weekends for required agency events.
NOTE: This is a non-management, union-represented position. The compensation, benefits, and conditions of work for this position are collectively bargained.
COMPENSATION: $45,100 annually
Successful candidates will have:
- Knowledgeable about the lived experience of experiencing mental health issues and/or substance use issues and willingness to mindfully share those experiences.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work independently or within a team with accountability; exercise sound judgment and discretion, maintain healthy boundaries, respect, discretion, and professionalism at all times
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 (if not assigned a company phone)
- 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 employees (Kaiser Permanente)
- Dental insurance – premiums fully paid by CAP for employees (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) Program
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Within three months of hire, successfully completed an Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Addictions & Mental Health (AMH) -approved Peer Support Specialist Training and certification as a Peer Support Specialist.
- 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 conversations 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
- Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrated organizational and time management skills
- Able to travel throughout the service area regularly
- Demonstrated problem-solving skills and familiarity with de-escalation techniques
- On occasion, be available to work evenings and weekends for required agency events
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences field (social work, public or community health, psychology) or one year of relevant work, education, training, or experience
- Knowledgeable about the lived experience of living with HIV and willing to mindfully share that experience
- Verbal and written fluency in English and Spanish
- Previous experience working with people living with HIV/AIDS
- 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
- Demonstrated commitment to advancing equity and inclusion in workplace or community settings
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.