ACT/EASA Peer Wellness Specialist
Benton County
For more details and to apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/bentonor/jobs/3714868/act-easa-peer-wellness-specialist-ps21
Are you looking for a job that will make a difference in your Community? Benton County Behavioral Health Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA) Team is currently looking for a Peer Wellness Specialist
About the ACT Team
Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) aims to provide an intensive, highly integrated, community-based service that is provided by a multidisciplinary team of professionals. The targeted population is individuals who have a serious mental illness who often have a co-occurring diagnosis of substance use disorder that impair their capability to live in the community. These are individuals who do not typically come into a clinic setting for traditional treatment. The ACT Team takes the treatment service to them in their homes, shelters, sidewalks, etc.
Introduction to Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA)
The EASA program is responsible for identifying individuals in the community who are developing or have experienced the early signs of psychosis, providing outreach, engagement, assessment, safety and treatment planning, education and support to the person and family, and delivering evidence-based interventions. The program is transitional meaning that over about two years the focus is on helping the person and family develop the knowledge, skills and resources to be successful in the long run. There is a strong focus on feedback, which means that we actively request feedback from people when we meet with them and use that feedback both for guiding clinical care and for program design and development.
Job Summary
The Peer Wellness Specialist provides essential services and supports to individuals with similar lived experiences. These services are intended to support individuals enrolled in ACT & EASA services to encourage engagement in ongoing treatment and to live successfully in the community. Services are provided through community outreach, assisting individuals with access to available services, resources addressing barriers to services, providing education and information on behavioral health issues in order to reduce stigma & discrimination towards consumers of Behavioral Health services
If you like to be able to get out of the office, and have the flexibility to work with clients in a less traditional but effective ways, this may be a position for you. Strong communication skills and a desire to work with colleagues are highly valued and needed.
This is a limited-duration, benefited, full-time position currently funded through June 30th, 2023.
Click here (Download PDF reader)for a complete list of the duties, responsibilities and physical requirements of this position.
Your Total Compensation/Benefits
- Spend more time with your family, friends and get back to doing what you love!
- 10 Paid Holidays + 2 Floating Holidays + 8 hours of vacation accrual every month + sick leave! Vacation accrual increases with years of service.
- $0 Health Insurance Premium!
- Medical, Dental and Vision – cover your whole family without paying a dime.
- The county currently pays up to $10.28 per hour to cover your health benefits ($1,781 a month for a family plan, $21,372 a year).
- In addition, the county contributes up to $1,400 per year to your Health Savings or Retirement account!
- Apart from your deductible you can use this money for things that aren’t traditionally paid by insurance – i.e. Ibuprofen, Tylenol and other preventative type medications
- You never lose your Health Savings Account funds as it rolls over from year to year
- Dependents up to age 26 are covered!
- Get ready for retirement. Save money without putting in money!
- After 6 months of employment:
- The county makes a retirement contribution of 6% of your salary towards Oregon PERS!
- The county makes a deferred compensation 457b plan contribution of 1.5% of your salary! You can add more if you wish.
- A free wellness and assistance program that pays YOU!
- We want to help you be your best self. Join county groups and competitions and get money added to your paycheck for taking care of yourself! Earn up to $240 a year in quarterly and yearly health incentives!
- Participate in drawings for fun prizes like exercise equipment, smart watches, and more!
- Get free legal and financial counseling sessions through our Employee Assistance Program, Canopy.
- 100% employer-paid coverage for AD&D ($100,000), Life ($50,000), and Long Term Disability coverage.
- Supplemental plans are available at reasonable rates!
- Annual salary range of:
- $40,045 – $52,544
- This position guarantees two salary raises within your first year. Increases are given at the end of the 6 month probationary period and at the 1 year anniversary, as long as your performance is in good standing! Increases are given until the maximum of the salary range is reached.
- For most employees who take advantage of health benefits the salary only makes up 60% of their total compensation. The County invests in you and your family!
We encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and LGBTQIA+ community members. The strength of our organization lies in the diversity of our workforce and the perspectives our employees bring to their work at Benton County.
Minimum Qualifications
The following minimum qualifications are required for this position:
- One year of technical training beyond high school in substance abuse, social work, or closely related field; AND
- One year of social work, psychology, counseling, recovery orientated peer services, mental health outreach or closely related experience in the field of assignment.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted. Please note candidates must have at least 6 months of actual work experience to be considered as equivalent.
Please ensure you have provided a thorough and updated application as it pertains to the position for which you are applying. Your application materials will be used to determine salary based on a pay equity assessment. For further information, please click on the link Oregon Pay Equity Law for more details.
Special Requirements:
- Must possess an approved Peer Specialist training certification or be able to obtain certification within one year of employment as a condition of hire.
- To be eligible for this position, one of the following must apply to you:
- A self-identified individual currently or formerly receiving addictions or mental health services;
- A self-identified individual in recovery from an addiction disorder who meets the abstinence requirements for recovering staff in alcohol or other drug treatment programs;
- A self-identified individual in recovery from problem gambling
- Hiring is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.
- Valid Oregon driver’s license. This position requires driving and may require use of a personal vehicle.
- Benton County requires all Health Services and Clinic employees to complete their COVID-19 vaccination series or have an approved exception to the requirement due to a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief. Successful candidates for this position must submit vaccination documentation or be approved for an exception prior to their first day of employment. Failure to provide proof of full documentation or receipt of an approved exception will lead to withdrawal of the job offer.
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