Behavioral Health Peer Program Specialist

Current employees: Please apply through the employee portal to be considered for this opportunity.

Pay Range:

$38.00 - $46.70 Hourly

Department:

Health Department

Job Type:

Regular Represented

Exemption Status:

United States of America (Non-Exempt)

Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):

March 28, 2025

The Opportunity:

Overview:

THIS WORK MATTERS!

**When applying please be sure to follow ALL instructions under “Screening & Application”**

The Behavioral Health Division(BHD) supports a recovery oriented system of care which endorses the belief that all consumers experiencing behavioral health challenges can and do recover. The Office of Consumer Engagement (OCE) was created to support the expansion, coordination and quality of peer delivered services in Multnomah County. The important voice of peers with lived experience brings a valuable and necessary perspective to ensure a broad continuum of services that are trauma informed, culturally responsive and meet people where they are.

The Behavioral Health Peer Program Specialist leverages personal lived experiences and recovery journeyto serve as a subject matter expert in raising the voices of diverse communities in need of behavioral health services. This position acts as a representative of the program to collaborate with community agencies and partners, develops program policies and procedures, tracks funding actions, and evaluates/ reports out on data collection to enhance and improve programmatic goals. Serves as a liaison for BHD to align community needs with program values, goals, roles and responsibilities as the Local Mental Health Authority for Multnomah County.

As the Behavioral Health Peer Program Specialist other duties will include:

Planning and Community Engagement

• Develops strategies for outreach, engagement and coordination for a broad system of behavioral health care, including but not limited to, harm reduction methods, low-barrier access, medication assisted treatment, abstinence based recovery, holistic approaches, and recovery support activities
• Bringslived experience to serve as a subject matter expert for reviewing current policies and procedures and ensures these processes are consumer friendly and trauma informed
• Assistance with behavioral health public awareness campaigns to improve peer-delivered services, growth, sustainability and ensure amplification of consumer voices to improve services
• Develops collaborative working relations with internal programs, community behavioral health service providers and peer organizations: advisory groups, and law enforcement
• Collects and reports out on data collected on goals and events to improve program policies and procedures
• Plans and co-facilitates BHD Behavioral Health Advisory Council meetings, including arranging speakers, developing agendas, processing stipends, recruiting members and engaging in quality improvement efforts

System Integration and Transformation

• Works within BHD and the community to include community voice in all aspects in the systems of care
• Advises the executive leadership team and community partners on system improvements, policy changes, and funding/collaboration resources
• Develops workforce strategies and community trainings to increase awareness around behavioral health and addictions through the lens of lived experience and subject matter expertise
• Provides oversight for new hire interview processes and bids for behavioral health contracts
• Assists in equity and inclusion integration work at County and State levels. Works with statewide organizations to improve and enhance practices as part of internal and external evaluation processes around behavioral health and addictions

Quality Improvement

• Evaluates program effectiveness, including special projects to expand services in BHD and the community
• Analyzes documents and makes recommendations to leadership related to legislative concepts, funding for contracts and procurement, policies and procedures to ensure consumer friendly, culturally responsive and trauma informed language, practices and implementation
• Participates in divisional, county-wide and community equity and inclusion work
• Utilizes current resources to improve engagement and coordination of care for County residents experiencing behavioral health disorders/ addiction
• Promotes training opportunities for peer support specialists

TO QUALIFY:

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant. For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview ofthe selection processpage.

Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills*:

Education/ Certification:Peer Support Specialist/ Peer WellnessCertification is required by Oregon Administrative Rules (OARs)and the Mental Health & Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO). Peer Support Specialist/ Peer WellnessCertification active/ within six months of hire.

Other:

• Personal lived experiences: with mental health or substance use/recovery
• This position requires a background investigation, which may include being fingerprinted.

Experience: One (1) to two (2) years of experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position.

Preferred Qualifications/ Transferable Skills*: You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/ transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Please clearly explain on your application how you meet any of the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills.

• Possess lived experience as a recipient of mental health or substance use services, and knowledge of recovery support
• Ability and experience creating harm reduction strategies, abstinence based recovery, holistic approaches, and recovery support activities
• Knowledge of issues faced by those who experience behavioral health challenges and a basic understanding of the full continuum of care for those in need of services
• Lead with race through actions and advocacy with internal programs, with community partners and across departments throughout the county
• Demonstrate the ability to flex style when faced with myriad dimensions of culture in order to be effective across cultural context
• Respect and appreciation for ethnic and cultural diversity
• Ability to collaborate and build relationships to achieve positive work outcomes
• Ability to maintain a safe and healthful workplace
• High degree of resilience, is outcome driven and can thrive in an environment of rapid change while effectively managing pressure in an effective and professional manner

*Transferable skills:Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experience that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.

SCREENING & EVALUATION:

REQUIRED:

The Application Packet: You must submit ALL requested items below. Failure to do so will be deemed as an incomplete application.

1. Attach a Resume demonstrating you meeting minimum qualifications; AND

2. Attach aCover Letteraddressing the following:

• Explain your personal lived experiences with mental health/ substance use recovery journey; and
• How you meet the qualifications for this position; and
• Demonstrate your experience working with diverse vulnerable populations

Note:The application, resume and cover letter should demonstrate your work experience/skills and how it is related to those shown in the Overview and To Qualify sections of the job announcement. Please be thorough, as these materials will be scored and determine your eligibility to advance in this recruitment process.

The Selection Process: For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview ofthe selection processpage. We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows:

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• Resume and Cover Letter Review
• Phone screen
• Consideration of top candidates
• Background, reference

Note: Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Type of Position: This hourly union-represented position is eligible for overtime

Type: Represented

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Hybrid Telework: This position is designated as “hybrid telework,” meaning you will be working both remotely (from home) and in person at an onsite location. The designation of Hybrid Telework may be subject to change at a future time. Currently, all employees must reside in Oregon or Washington; the county cannot support ongoing telework from other locations.

Salary/Pay:Please be advised that the pay range listed for this position is intended to provide general guidance on the earning potential for the role. However, actual compensation will be determined in accordance with the Oregon Equal Pay Law and will take into account factors such as the candidate's relevant experience and education. Candidates should expect that initial offers will be made within the listed pay range and may not be at or near the top of the range.

Serving the Public, Even During Disasters:Everyday, Multnomah County staff work together to serve as a safety net for our communities. During a disaster, this safety net becomes even more critical. All County employees have a role in serving the public during inclement weather, natural disaster, or other types of community emergency response. During these emergency responses, while typically begins with a call for volunteers, county employees may ultimately be reassigned from their current position to a role in the emergency response in order to support the critical needs presented by our communities. For more information, please visit the Disaster Service Worker Informationpage.

Diversity and Inclusion: At Multnomah County, we don't just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The EEO Know Your Rights poster is available for your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.

Veterans’ Preference: Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about eligibility and how to apply.

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.

Questions?

Recruiter:

Jahaira Ramos

Email:

jahaira.ramos@multco.us

Phone:

+1 (971) 6105392

Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

Disclaimer: This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

Job Profile:

6021 - Program Specialist