Part-Time Young Adult Peer Mentor

Company: Mount Prospect Academy
Location: Lawrence
Posted on: August 30, 2024

Job Description:

Part-Time Monday-Friday. Availability needed between 10am-6pm but can choose which days' work best as long as it's consistent.



Mount Prospect Academy has been providing services to youth and families for over 50 years. With 45 locations and the broadest umbrella of services offered in the area, we lead the human services field in New England. MPA's rapid and sustained growth in the area shows a commitment not only to those we serve, but also to our community. Mount Prospect Academy, an alliance under Becket, is proud to be CARF accredited for Intensive Family-Based Services.


Who we serve?
The community-based offices are a tight-knit group of professionals providing intensive services to at risk youth and their families in the community. Within the service model, the MPA team is able to work closely with families in their own environment, creating the best possibility for lasting impact. The MPA team is skilled in providing trauma-sensitive treatment and maintains a trauma-informed approach within all operations.


Office culture and values
Supportive work environment and open-door policy
Encouragement to pursue passions and collaborate closely with other team members
An emphasis on the importance of professional development; internal and external training opportunities are provided and encouraged
Encouragement of creative engagement approaches
Commitment to the well-being of its employees and self-care as an integral part of the culture

Part-Time Job description
Young Adult Peer Mentoring Services provide relatable, strength-based, peer-to-peer education, coaching, role modeling, guidance, and support to youth in a variety of settings, including home, school, community, group home, and other out-of-home settings. Young Adult Peer Mentoring is a specialty expertise based on sharing one's lived experience of mental health challenges with purpose and intent to inspire hope and motivation in a youth who is struggling with similar concerns. Successful Young Adult Peer Mentoring is built on developing a healthy relationship with the Youth which includes listening from a peer perspective, encouraging the youths' skills and strengths, and fostering their communication with family, friends, natural supports, providers, and others. The role of the Peer Mentor is to assist youth in supporting daily life skills and strengthening and establishing lifelong connections that will facilitate success throughout their lives. The Peer Mentor typically provide some or all the following services: identifying strengths and interests, building relationships and collaborating with others, promoting self-care, helping the youth to find their voice and other support that includes working with the school or employer (if applicable), to monitor functioning and activities and provide coaching based on interests and or needs. This could include job searching, monitoring school attendance, finding pro social community-based activities and encouraging the youth to engage in the activities that may assist in building their self-esteem and the positive connections that they have. This includes working on appropriate peer friendships and positive social and recreational activities. Additionally, Peer Mentor's work to support youth and their caregivers in identifying strategies that will help them be successful. This includes the use of a safety plan, self-care plan and natural respite options.
Our peer mentors are champions of Becket's mission, building strong and stable mentoring relationships through trusting, respectful, honest and genuine relationships. These relationships are created to support the personal and professional growth and development of high achieving individuals and assisting them to achieve their goals. Our mentors provide role modeling, acceptance and counseling to support the mentee's self-image and competence. The primary functions of our mentors are to build a strong mentor relationship through listening, guidance, advice, teaching, and professional support.


Qualifications


A Young Adult Peer Mentor/Senior Young Adult Peer Mentor is a young adult who has personal experience living with and recovering from mental health needs, particularly a Severe Emotional Disturbance, substance use, and/or traumatic life concerns which caused challenges in one or more areas of life. A Young Adult Peer Mentor is trained to share their lived experience of these challenges with purpose and intent to benefit the Youth.

Level 1 (Young Adult Peer Mentor): Has 1 year of experience working with the target population, has an Associate's degree and or working towards completion of, and has successfully completed the Core Elements of Young Adult Peer Mentoring Training. Individuals enrolled/waitlisted for this training may be considered in partnership with DMH on a case by case basis.
Level 2 (Senior Young Adult Peer Mentor): Meets the Young Adult Peer Mentor qualification and (a) has 2 years of experience as a Young Adult Peer Mentor, or (b) has successfully completed an advanced peer to peer training program (such as Certified Peer Specialist training), or (c) has 1 year of experience providing supervision, or (d) has a Bachelor degree in a human services field.


Peer Mentors will have experience in working directly with youth/transition age youth and will receive training and ongoing supervision in working with youth whose serious emotional disturbance can often cause challenging situations. All peer mentors will also meet the following minimum qualifications:

19 years of age or older; and
Exhibit a genuine concern for middle and high school aged youth
Be dependable and consistent in meeting the time commitments


Valid driver's license with insured transportation


Position requires background and driving record check before starting.

Compensation details: 17.5-19.5PI1c797594d92f-25660-34935627

Keywords: Mount Prospect Academy, Lawrence , Part-Time Young Adult Peer Mentor, Other , Lawrence, Massachusetts