The Youth and Young Adult (YYA) Access Center (AC) Young Adult Peer Mentor (YAPM) is a young adult who has personal experience living with and recovering from mental health needs, substance use challenges, and/or traumatic life experiences. They have experienced challenges in one or more areas that interfered significantly with their everyday life. The AC YAPM is essential in welcoming new YYA to services and to the activities offered at the AC. The AC YAPM is key in supporting YYA using Achieve My Plan-PLUS (AMP+).

The essential job duties/responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to the information
listed below:
• Works with the YYA (if chosen) to enhance skills of self-direction and empowerment.
• Provides 1:1 support, coaching, and modeling to support and improve engagement in
services.
• Carries caseload of 10 YYA for the purposes of providing individual 1:1 peer mentoring.
• Provides the core staffing for the AC.
• Uses the Young Adult Peer Mentoring Practice Profile to define role.
• Provides outreach and marketing efforts to educate YYA and other stakeholders in the community about the program and services.
• Helps the AC leadership, clinician, and TIP Facilitator staff with the identification and accessing of existing and new services and service providers that will benefit the YYA.
• Helps the YYA to develop supportive relationships and community connections.
• Promotes the development of healthy lifestyles and wellness practices, including substance use.
• Supports the YYA in the development of self-sufficiency and positive employment behaviors.
• Helps the YYA to identify their needs and goals relating to education, employment, family relationships, spirituality, and social recreation, and ensure they are integrated in their service planning.
• Helps YYA in communicating and working effectively with service providers, employers, natural supports, family members, and others to achieve their goals.
• Helps YYA in developing life skills, finding their voice and identifying and using their strengths.
• Uses Achieve My Plan PLUS, Gathering and Inspiring Future Talent, motivational interviewing, harm reduction, and other evidence informed/based and best practice models, as trained.
• Promotes discovery and recovery as they use their own lived experience in a purposeful, strength-based way to support YYA.
• Inspires hope and future focus in YYA.
• Attends in-service trainings and staff meetings.
• Helps YYA develop self-advocacy skills, in groups or individually.
• Serves as a bridge between the child/young adult-serving mental health service systems on behalf of the YYA.
• Helps maximize choices available to YYA as well as their self-determination, and participation and decision-making in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of their services.
• Models effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.
• Provides crisis intervention, when needed.
• Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Knowledge and Skills:
• Competent in the use of the Young Adult Peer Mentoring Practice Profile
• Knowledge of both the DMH Child Youth and Family and Adult services systems
• Skilled in the use of Achieve My Plan
• Ability to assist YYA in participating in service planning to meet YYA expressed goals
• Skilled in mediation and conflict resolution
• Willing to use and share their personal, practical experience of recovery process, wellness management, and the personal effort and commitment required for YYA to have a full and satisfying life in the community
• Strong commitments to the right and ability of people with psychiatric disability to live, work, have meaningful relationships, and receive the resources and supports needed in their community of choice
• Knowledge of person-centered, strengths-based, recovery-oriented values, and principles and modalities
• Ability to learn and use evidence-based approaches and approaches
• Ability to create and maintain supportive, trusting relationships with YYA served by the AC
• Commitment to maintain confidentiality of YYA
• Knowledge of engagement and participatory planning techniques
• Sensitivity to the cultural, religious, ethnic, disability, and gender differences of YYA
• Knowledge and use of advocacy techniques
• Respect for and knowledge of legal, civil, and human rights of YYA
• Knowledge of community and other resources
• Ability to work independently as well as a part of a team
• Ability to use crisis intervention techniques and relapse prevention techniques
• Ability to balance competing priorities
• Ability to make independent judgments and decisions
• Knowledge of personal computer applications and equipment

Established in 1977, Vinfen is a nonprofit, health and human services organization and a leading provider of community-based services to individuals with mental health conditions, intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and behavioral health challenges. Our services and advocacy promote the recovery, resiliency, habilitation, and self-determination of the people we serve. Vinfen's 3,500 dedicated employees are experienced, highly-trained professionals who provide a full range of supportive living, health, educational, and clinical services in over 550 sites throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. For more information about Vinfen, please visit www.vinfen.org/careers.

My Job. My Community. My Vinfen.

Vinfen is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Typical Requirements:

Experience as a recipient of services for people with psychiatric conditions and be well along in own personal recovery (self-knowledge and habits needed to support one’s own health) required. One year experience working with YYA experiencing co-occurring disorders in addition to psychiatric conditions required. Valid driver’s license preferred. Access to an operational and insured vehicle and willingness to use it to transport YYA preferred. Bi-lingual/bi-cultural applicants, LGBTQ+ applicants, and Black, Indigenous, Person of Color (BIPOC) applicants are encouraged to apply.

Preferred /Required Education:
A high school diploma or equivalent is required; Bachelor’s degree in a human services discipline strongly preferred.

Driving Requirements:
May be called on to drive for Vinfen using either a Vinfen van or personal vehicle. A valid driver's license must be presented at the time of employment. Incumbents must be at least 21 years of age, have maintained a valid US driver's license for at least six months, and must be able to pass a driver's screening background check. If driving, must maintain a safe driving record, which is subject to annual checks. If using a personal vehicle, must possess and maintain adequate insurance.

Physical Effort:

Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, crawl, climb as this is a very physically active position. Must be able to lift at least 25 pounds using proper lifting techniques or the use of a two-person lift. Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment such as a calculator, copier, and printer. Ability to sit, reach, climb stairs, and maneuver through 
narrow spaces or hallways. Ability to assist clients with tasks of daily living. Ability to speak, hear, and communicate with clients, staff, and external representatives. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Required Certifications:

CPR required within two weeks of hire
First Aid required within two weeks of hire
NET required
Achieve My Plan PLUS certification within 6 months of hire

Required Credentials/Licenses:

Certified Peer Specialist and/or successfully complete the Core Elements of Young Adult 
Peer Mentoring Training by six months of hire