Youth Peer Support Specialist

About the Role

The Youth Peer Support Specialist will provide peer mentoring services, including peer counseling, mentoring, support, and advocacy according to the needs, interests, and perspectives of youth receiving services from the Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) program due to an identified crisis. The ultimate goal is to engage the youth in available support, advocate for their needs, and assist in transitioning into other support services in the community. The focus is to support the youth during the risk assessment that occurs when a request is made to the MRSS program and to provide ongoing mentoring while the MRSS case is open. The Youth Peer Support Specialist will work closely with the MRSS crisis clinician to help the youth achieve their goals and find stability in the community. This position is eligible for a $3500 Sign on Bonus and an $875 Retention Bonus. This position is available due to grant funding that will end on September 30, 2025.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide peer mentoring services, including peer counseling, mentoring, support, and advocacy.
• Engage youth in available support services.
• Advocate for the needs of the youth.
• Assist in transitioning youth into other support services in the community.
• Support youth during the risk assessment process for the MRSS program.
• Provide ongoing mentoring while the MRSS case is open.
• Collaborate with the MRSS crisis clinician to help youth achieve their goals and find stability.
• Document mentoring services provided from intake through discharge.
• Maintain professional, trauma-informed, and empathetic interactions during crisis interactions with children, families, and stakeholders.
• Use critical thinking and risk management skills when connecting with youth during mentoring.
• Understand and utilize knowledge about warning signs and risk factors associated with suicide risk and risk of harm to others.
• Develop comprehensive skills in providing support for youth in crisis.
• Provide individual peer support and counseling.
• Share lived experience related to recovery, when appropriate.
• Conduct routine home visits.
• Communicate with and provide appropriate documentation to the DPBHS team, as needed.
• Communicate with appropriate stakeholders to maintain a systems-based approach to assisting with youth stabilization.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and timely documentation.
• Uphold professional standards of peer mentoring and the mission of the organization.
• Maintain a quality code of conduct, ethics, and professionalism.
• Provide goal-directed and team-oriented services.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with all stakeholders.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Lived experience as a youth who experienced support due to behavioral health needs.
• Young Adult ages 18-24 years old.
• High School Diploma or Equivalent.
• Valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record.
• Work environment: Community-Based.
• Office location in Lewes or Wilmington.
• Travel required to locations where the client resides or is located.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None

Competencies/ Capabilities

• Reliability & Flexibility
• Customer Service
• Written and Verbal Communication
• Collaboration and Teamwork