Certified Peer Support Specialist - CORE

JOB REQUIREMENTS: Key Responsibilities Provide Individualized Peer Support: Deliver one-on-one peer support to individuals and families in their homes and community settings, using lived experience to establish trust, encourage engagement, and model hope and recovery. Advocate and Empower: Help individuals and caregivers navigate mental health, substance use, behavioral health, child welfare, and other systems of care while ensuring their voices, preferences, and needs are heard and respected. Build on Individual Strengths: Work alongside participants and families to identify personal strengths, needs, barriers, priorities, and goals. Support Recovery and Wellness Planning: Collaborate with individuals, families, and care teams to develop strategies, plans of care, crisis plans, and ongoing recovery supports. Promote Skill Development: Provide coaching, education, encouragement, and practical support to strengthen problem-solving, self-advocacy, wellness, and crisis management skills. Connect to Community Resources: Help individuals and families access community services, natural supports, recovery resources, and other opportunities that promote stability and independence. Encourage Active Participation: Support engagement in services and recovery activities by accompanying participants to appointments, meetings, and community activities when needed. Maintain Accurate Documentation: Complete progress notes, case records, and other required documentation accurately and on time, following agency, funding, and regulatory guidelines. Collaborate as a Team: Participate in supervision, staff meetings, required trainings, and team discussions to support quality services and positive outcomes. Provide Team Support: Assist with staff coverage and other related responsibilities as needed. Job Qualifications: Required Qualifications High school diploma, GED, or HSED. Completion of Wisconsin peer support training or the ability to obtain the required peer support certification within one year of hire. Personal lived experience with mental health, substance use, co-occurring conditions, or related life challenges. Experience working with children, youth, young adults, adults, and families. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated cultural awareness and understanding of recovery-oriented, person-centered support. Ability to meet agency and contractor requirements, including background checks, caregiver background checks, driving record reviews, and reference checks. Willingness to complete all required agency and program training. Valid Wisconsin driver\'s license, current automobile insurance, and reliable access to a personal vehicle. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities The ideal candidate will demonstrate: Knowledge of mental health, substance use, co-occurring needs, recovery principles, and peer support practices. Ability to establish respectful, trusting, and supportive relationships with individuals, families, and team members. Ability to remain calm, professional, and responsive when supporting individuals experiencing difficult or crisis situations. Strong active listening, communication, advocacy, and problem-solving skills. Ability to follow written and verbal instructions and demonstrate consistent follow-through. Strong organizational skills and the ability to complete accurate documentation within required deadlines. Basic computer proficiency, including Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Teams. Ability to work effectively with individuals and families from diverse cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries while using lived experience in a supportive and empowering manner. Preferred Qualifications The following qualifications are a plus but are not required: College coursework, an associate degree, or higher education in a related field, such as human services, social work, psychology, or behavior l health. Bilingual or multilingual communication skills. Previous experience working with Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services. Experience providing peer support, community-based services, family support, or behavioral health services. Wisconsin Community Services, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. ***** APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Apply Online: https://talentwire.org/ouv41J?rf=DCICONSULT