Peer Support Specialist - PACT

Pine Belt Mental Healthcare Resources is actively seeking A Peer Support Specialist to work with a grant program in Hattiesburg, MS. Position is part-time working Wednesday - Friday. The appropriate candidate must be a current or former consumer or a parent of an individual who has received treatment for and self-identifies as a consumer or former mental health consumer. Upon hire, the Peer Support Specialist will attend DMH training to become a Certified Peer Support Specialist.

Programs for Assertive community treatment (PACT) is a team-based treatment model that provides multidisciplinary, flexible treatment and support to people with mental illness 24/7. PACT is based around the idea that people receive better care when their mental health care providers work together. PACT team members help the person address every aspect of their life, whether it be medication, therapy, social support, employment or housing.

PACT is mostly used for people who have transferred out of an inpatient setting but would benefit from a similar level of care and having the comfort of living a more independent life than would be possible with inpatient care.

For 50 years, Pine Belt Mental Healthcare Resources has served individuals throughout the Pine Belt. Through an extensive continuum of care, we strive to enable adults with serious mental illnesses, children with serious emotional disturbances, and individuals with an addiction or developmental disability to live, work, learn, and participate fully in their communities. Our eighteen-county service area includes Amite, Covington, Forrest, Franklin, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jeff Davis, Jones, Lamar, Lawrence, Marion, Pear River, Perry, Pike, Stone, Walthall and Wayne

Requirements:

• High School Diploma or equivalent required
• Must be a current DMH Certified Peer Support Specialist or obtain certification within 90 days of hire
• Must possess a valid Mississippi Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record
• Reliable transportation needed to provide services in the community.
• Knowledge of how to establish and sustain self-help (mutual support) and educational groups by soliciting input from the mental health consumers on their strengths and interests
• Knowledge of the signs and symptoms of mental illness and the ability to assist the client to address symptoms using strategies such as positive self-talk
• Must have demonstrated a minimum of six (6) months, preferably twelve (12) months, in self-directed recovery

Responsibilities:

• Advocates for consumers by providing consumer information in terms that consumers and families can understand through various formal and informal settings.
• Assists with targeted outreach, medication monitoring, system navigation, and advocacy.
• Engages families and consumers to help them/loved ones to be successful and meet their goals.
• Functions as a role model to peers by exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills.
• Provides a range of structured activities that are provided face to face to assist individuals in their recovery/resiliency process. These activities will support the goals of the individual's documented individual Service Plan and/or Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP).