Peer Support Specialist

Who We Are

Have you got the right qualifications and skills for this job Find out below, and hit apply to be considered.

Solid Ground is an award-winning nonprofit organization whose proven, holistic approach helps families build the strong foundations they need to emerge from homelessness into a brighter future.

Through safe, affordable housing and innovative supportive programming, Solid Ground helps families transition to a higher level of self-sufficiency and break the cycle of homelessness and poverty for the next generation.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

At the heart of Solid Ground is the belief that housing stability is fundamental to the healthy development of children and to a family’s ability to be contributing members of the community.

Solid Ground currently runs eight programs in suburban Ramsey and Washington Counties and houses over 660 individuals annually.

Our mission is to prevent and end homelessness for families with children in the communities we serve through housing, resources, and opportunity.

Wages and Benefits

$21.63 - $23.08 per hour; Generous paid time off; 12 paid holidays per year; Competitive medical, dental, and vision benefits;

Company-paid life insurance, short-term disability and long-term disability; Agency-sponsored retirement savings plan.

A Typical Day in the Life

A typical day as Solid Ground’s Peer Support Specialist (PSS) provides an opportunity to support East Metro Place and our Scattered Site Housing Program families.

The PSS uses a non-clinical approach to help recipients discover their strengths and develop their own unique recovery goals.

They model wellness, personal responsibility, self-advocacy, and hopefulness through the appropriate sharing of their own personal story.

Responsibilities will include the following :

Client Engagement and Community Support

• Serving as a mentor and role model to participants to promote engagement in mental health and housing search services.
• Working collaboratively with other team members and participants to identify goals and create a person-centered service plan.
• Modeling a recovery approach and demonstrating coping skills.
• Working alongside participants to develop skills in socialization, problem-solving, self-awareness, and awareness of others.
• Providing instruction, modeling, and feedback around supportive living skills, including modeling completion of chores.
• Assisting participants as needed to identify and address community concerns and issues.
• Facilitating peer mediation as needed.
• Assisting participants to identify opportunities for community integration and developing natural support networks.
• Providing social or emotional support to participants.

Scattered Site Housing Program Support

• Participating in case consultation meetings with the program team.
• Accurately entering case notes in the agency’s database.
• Being available for support to the families and the Family Advocate.
• Connecting participants with mental and chemical health community resources as needed.
• Attending in-home visits with the Family Advocate as needed.
• Facilitating support groups when needed.
• Engaging in constructive problem solving and conflict resolution when issues arise between the participant and the Family Advocate.
• Providing participant information needed by other team members in a timely and effective manner.

Who You Are

• You hold a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
• You have successfully completed the DHS-approved Certified Peer Specialist training and certification exam.
• You have lived experience with mental health and / or chemical dependency and are trained to support those who struggle with mental health or substance use.
• You have or have had a diagnosis of mental illness and a history with chemical dependency.
• You are a current or former recipient of mental or chemical health services and know how to get services in these areas.
• You have access to transport participants in your personal vehicle to attend outpatient treatment, medical appointments, or other needs as they arise.
• You can interact with people in a manner that shows sensitivity, respect, and professionalism.
• You have a demonstrated ability to keep professional boundaries with program participants.
• You have knowledge and understanding of co-occurring mental health / chemical dependency concerns when working with at-risk populations.
• You have the ability and willingness to work after normal business hours to respond to phone calls or text messages from participants.
• You possess effective verbal and written communication skills.
• You have a valid Driver’s License, access to reliable transportation, and current insurance.

Diversity and open expression are fundamental to the work of Solid Ground. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment where everyone can belong.

Every member of our team enriches our work by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, identify challenges, and discover, design, and deliver solutions.

We welcome everyone to apply, especially those individuals who are underrepresented in our sector : individuals who identify as BIPOC, Indigenous or people of culture, LGBTQI+ and gender fluid or gender nonconforming, individuals with disabilities (both seen and unseen), veterans, people of any age or family status.

We value the contributions of a diverse workforce, and we welcome and encourage applications from all underrepresented groups.

We encourage you to apply even if you feel like you don't fit 100% of the technical requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer : All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, disability, marital status, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, genetic information, or a protected veteran’s status.

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