PEI TAY Consumer Peer Recovery Specialist - Santa Barbara

Mental Health Systems, Inc. (MHS), a not-for –Profit Corporation based in San Diego, California is recruiting. MHS was established over 30 years ago to provide mental health and substance abuse services in an innovative and cost –effective manner. Meeting the changing needs of community, MHS has stood at the forefront of state of the art services to clients in mental health, alcohol and drug, criminal justice, and community based services. The agency’s mission is to improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities impacted by substance abuse and behavioral health disorders. Towards accomplishing this mission, MHS operates more than 100 broad ranging programs spanning 12 California counties and Utah. For more information, please visit our website at www.mhsinc.org.

Program Description
The PEI (Prevention and Early Intervention) TAY (Transitional Age Youth) Program, is located in the City of Santa Barbara and Santa Maria within Santa Barbara County ADMHS, and is a program focusing on early detection and prevention of serious mental illness in transitional age youth (age 16 – 25). This program incorporates elements of the T.I.P. (Transition into Independence) Model, focusing on the pre-psychotic, early or first-onset phase of a developing serious mental illness. Additional functions of this program include providing outreach to the community, reducing barriers and disparities in treatment, and application of clinical services to engage and treat at risk transitional-age youth. The “team” for this program is a collaborative between Mental Health Systems, Inc., and the County of Santa Barbara.

Position Description
(In total), 2 half-time Consumer Peer Recovery Specialist positions available; one for Santa Barbara PEI TAY Team & one for Santa Maria PEI TAY Team. Candidates will be a peer/ mentor to Transitional Age Youth clients experiencing early or first onset of Severe Mental Illness. Ideally reflecting the demographics of the Program’s participants, Peer Recovery Specialists provide valuable support: educating youth about their mental illness to reduce stigma, increase functioning, and instill hope.

Models and teaches independence, life skills and development of goals across domains including: employment and educational development, housing, benefits acquisition and management, social skills, symptom management, medication education and support if needed, transportation and support during appointments in the Clinics and community. Helps client integrate with the community, increase access to resources, work toward self sufficiency, recovery and wellness.

Works on a multi-disciplinary team contributing and advocating for participants in a way that promotes client self-determination and decision-making.
Experience with the challenges and needs of Severely Mentally Ill (personal &/or professional) and working with transitional age youth preferred.
Reliable transportation, driver’s license an clean DMV required.

MHS, Inc. provides a full range of outstanding benefits to eligible employees, including ongoing training and education opportunities.
Benefits for full-time status are listed below:
Fifteen paid vacation days the first year
Eight paid sick days per year
Twelve paid holidays
Offer Medical, Dental and Vision Plans
MHS funded profit sharing plan
An individual employee-funded 403(b) plan

 Apply to submit resume and cover letter.