JOB DESCRIPTION
The Consumer Family Advocacy Program is a Fresno County Mental Health Services Act
(MHSA) Prevention and Early intervention program. It is funded by the Department of
Behavioral Health to provide culturally appropriate mental health education, promotion,
support, referrals and linkages to community resources among unserved and
underserved residents of Fresno County.
Job Title: Peer Support Specialist
1-Part Time-25 Hours
Qualification:
A.A. degree and minimum one year full-time paid or volunteer experience in the
capacity of a Community Health Worker, Peer Support Specialist, Health Educator,
Navigation Specialist, Lay Minister; or three year’s paid full-time experience in one of
the above careers.
Experience:
A minimum of 2 years experience in working in similar field; or personal, family, or kin
experience with mental health, behavioral health and/or substance use disorder and
treatment; and/or some experience with self-help and peer-support groups.
Essential job Functions:
• Ability to work with low income families/monolingual Spanish
• Bilingual/Bicultural (Spanish/English).
• Participate in all trainings and group supervision sessions including (but not
limited to) the role and responsibility of Peer Support Specialists, Mental health
First Aid Training, HIPPA regulations, interviewing techniques, peer support
group facilitation data entry, etc.;
• Schedule and assist with community meetings to raise awareness of and reduce
stigma toward mental health disorders; educate about signs and symptoms of
mental distress; promote healthy activities and life styles to reduce the risk of
onset of mental health, behavioral and/or substance use disorders;
• Collect required data and keep current and accurate records.
• Provide small group and one-on-one education and peer support;
• Identify and establish collaborative relationships with existing local and
centralize community behavioral and/or social support systems, such as
Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-non, Celebrate Recovery, Grief Share, Narcotics
Anonymous, Overeaters’ Anonymous, etc.;
• Link individuals and families at risk for mental, behavioral health and/or
substance use disorders with early intervention programs, provide referrals to
•
•
more intensive mental health treatment and support when needed, and assist
those referred in navigating programs and services;
Serve as a “cultural broker”/promoter(a) between community members,
community resources, private and public systems including, but not limited to
mental health, social services, public health, education, law and advocacy,
criminal justice, and other public programs as needed;
Assist in the development and maintenance of new self-help and peer support
groups for depression, anxiety, addictive behaviors, etc.;
Other Primary Responsibilities:
• Ability to listen well, understand and analyze the clients issues.
• Good report writing, recordkeeping, documentation skills. Case Management
• Broad knowledge of community resources.
• Must be able to work well with others and able to operate effectively as a team
member.
• Good telephone etiquette.
• Able to work within teams.
• Possess reliable transportation; CA. valid driver’s license and vehicle insurance
through duration of employment with agency. Finger printing required.
• Coordinate confidential case plans and files
• Make presentations to various agencies, parent groups, etc
• Make appropriate referrals for other family support/counseling services as
deemed appropriate
• Computer literate
• Detail oriented/multi-task oriented
• Prepare monthly activity reports to program manager.
• Good reading and writing skills (English/Spanish)
• Work in rural communities
• Punctual, dependable and detail oriented
• Able to work both independently and as part of a team with other CHW’s and
PSS’s
• Able to take direction well, yet demonstrates initiative
Reports to: Program Manager
Submit resumes to: ctorres@centrolafamilia.org