Veteran Peer Support Specialist

DOE: $28.95 - $31.65

The Peer Support Specialist functions as an interdisciplinary team member, assisting program staff, behavioral health clinicians, and other community health professional/non-professional personnel in a Veteran Affairs (VA) suicide prevention program. Peer specialists perform a variety of healing and supportive tasks that include:

• Assisting Veterans, active duty military, and/or their family members in articulating their goals for mental wellbeing, personal wellness, learning, practicing new skills, helping them monitor their progress, assisting them in their social environments by modeling effective coping techniques and self-help strategies based on the peer specialists own lived experience, and supporting them by advocating for obtainment of effective services.

The Peer Support Specialist must have effective communication with coworkers and rural community partners, collaborate with APIA staff, and attend required project and division meetings.

Requirements:

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• BS in Human Services preferred
• Must be a military veteran who has lived experience receiving behavioral health or substance misuse recovery services
• Must be committed to their own recovery and willing to help fellow veterans and active duty service members in their recovery journey
• Existing knowledge of the area resources available to Veterans strongly preferred
• Preferred skills:
• Mental Health First Aid
• S.A.V.E. or QPR Gatekeeper Trainer
• Trauma Informed Care
• Motivational Interviewing and/or other culturally relevant practice-based
• Interest and knowledge of Native lifestyles preferred
• Willingness and means to travel
• Ability to manage and coordinate program goals and objectives with minimal supervision
• Must have a valid Alaska Driver's License
• Willing to take training and attend workshops and meetings periodically to enhance job performance and knowledge
• Ability to frequently travel to multiple remote locations