Mid-Columbia Center for Living

Peer Support Specialist

Onsite, The Dalles, OR
Full Time
Community Support Services- EASA/HAS
Entry Level

Working Title: Peer Support Specialist
Program: Community Support Services- EASA/HAS
Report to: Clinical Supervisor/Program Supervisor
Pay Range: $21.63-26.29/hour

Location: Onsite, The Dalles, Oregon (Subject to work in Hood River, Sherman and Wasco Counties)
This position travels based on client needs/locations.
Hours/FTE: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm, 37.5 hours/week at 1.0 FTE
FSLA Status: Non Exempt

This Peer Support Specialist will support the Housing Assistance Support (HAS) and Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA) programs within the Community Support Services (CSS) department. Within the HAS program, this role will primarily support clients experiencing mental health illnesses who need assistance with securing and maintaining stable housing in the community. Within the EASA program, this role works as part of a transdisciplinary team helping with identification, support, and recovery for young people with first-episode psychosis or early at-risk symptoms.

The Peer Support Specialist provides peer support to clients who may be experiencing mental health issues in the community. This position facilitates contact with providers, assists with transportation issues and other issues that may be barriers to accessing treatment and/or support in the community.  The Peer Support Specialist provides training in independent living skills, documents client progress and issues, and conducts program outreach as necessary.

Mid-Columbia Center for Living (MCCFL) is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) that specializes in providing services that are both trauma-informed and recovery-oriented to persons / consumers with mental illness and addictions. Trauma-informed care includes safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness, cultural responsivity, and empowerment for both clients and staff. MCCFL serves Hood River, Wasco, and Sherman Counties and utilizes a consumer-involved, consumer-engaged, and consumer-driven model. MCCFL provides a whole-person care approach to adults and children to address both physical and mental health needs. MCCFL offers a variety of programs including a mobile crisis unit, intensive case management, ongoing counseling, community support, supported employment, jail diversion, hospital discharges, hearings, and more.


What you'll need:
Any combination of education, licensure, and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the position’s essential responsibilities. This includes:
  • High school diploma or GED. 
  • Be certified and registered as a Peer Delivered Service Provider through the Oregon Health Authority and Traditional Health Worker Registry, or obtain certification and register within 90 days of hire. Maintain current and valid certification at all times.
  • Meet the definition of a peer as defined by OAR 309-018-0105: any person supporting an individual or the individual's family member who has similar life experience, either as a current or former recipient of substance use, problem gambling, or mental health services, or as a family member of an individual who is a current or former recipient of substance use, problem gambling, or mental health services.
  • Must possess a valid Oregon or Washington Driver's License, maintain an acceptable driving record and be insurable for client service purposes and for travel between business office for meetings and/or trainings.
  • Must pass all criminal history check requirements as required by ORS 181.536 to 181.537, and in accordance with OAR 407-007-0220 to 407-007-0370.
What you'll do:
  • Meet regularly with consumers; train consumers in independent living skills and model same behaviors; provide feedback or other documentation as necessary.
  • Document encounters with consumers using an electronic health record system. Access and use Agency email system and Intranet to remain updated on Agency functions and department communications.
  • Advocate on behalf of consumers and promote self-advocacy; maintain consumer networks in the community; conduct outreach activities in local communities.
  • Communicate with treatment team about problems or concerns; participate in ongoing support network with other Peer Support Specialists. Participate in team meetings with other MCCFL staff.
  • Coordinate and facilitate oversight of outings/activities. Facilitate group planning of activity; ensure the group is in agreement. Accompany group on outings; ensure safety; provide transportation as required and appropriate.
  • Provide coverage for other Peer Support Specialists if required.
  • Ensure that safety procedures are followed.
  • Complete specialized training and certification and register on the Oregon Health Authority Traditional Health Worker registry.
  • Use agency vehicles to provide community-based services and transport clients to appointments, activities, and other approved destinations. Ensure the comfort, dignity and safety of clients during transport, following all applicable safety protocols.
  • Perform all relevant essential responsibilities using the English language.
  • Regular and reliable attendance; professional communication with all contacts; maintain confidentiality.
  • Position-Specific Essential Responsibilities of the Peer Support Specialist in the HAS/EASA Program (This position may include any of the above-mentioned general responsibilities plus the following):
  • Assist and support clients who are engaged in maintaining stable housing.
  • Make appointments with professional agencies as needed and provide and/or facilitate client transportation.
  • Provide support with shopping, housekeeping and managing calendars.
  • Model appropriate behavior and communication with landlords, neighbors, etc.
  • Collaborate with Agency staff to run multi-family group meetings with clients.
  • Attend HAS and EASA meetings as required.
  • Attend Monthly Peer Consultation call with Center for 4 Excellence (C4E).
  • Participate in quarterly education workshops as well as monthly community education and outreach.
  • Adhere to EASA practice guidelines regarding training and certification, and document all relevant services in accordance with agency policy.
  • Provide services that encourage participants to be self-determined in their treatment and recovery and reflect the participant’s values, priorities, and perspectives without attempting to interpret or modify them.
  • Participate in collaborative treatment planning and educate participants about self-care and habits that can impact health and wellbeing.
  • Provide community-based services and direct support to clients at risk of developing psychosis/experiencing psychosis.
  • Assist participants in building social skills and self-advocacy, and model problem-solving techniques to individuals and groups.
What we’ll do:
We recognize your value and will strive to keep you engaged and appreciated. The selected candidate will receive:
  • Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
  • 95% employer-paid comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees only. Low deductible plans for family coverage through PEBB
  • PERS Retirement Contribution
  • 11 Holidays including 1 floating holiday
  • 10 vacation days a year for non exempt employees
  • 12 sick days a year
  • Education reimbursement and loan forgiveness- HRSA!

The hiring process:
  1. Application review
  2. Questionnaire (if additional information is needed)
  3. Panel Interview
  4. Possible second-round panel interview
  5. Conditional Offer
    1. DMV Record Review, if the position requires driving
    2. 10 Panel Drug Screen(Although recreational marijuana use is legal in the state of Oregon, you will not be considered for this position if you’re unable to pass a pre-employment drug screening due to federal regulations.)
    3. Criminal History check through Orchards BCU
    4. Reference check
    5. Licensure Primary Source Verification

MCCFL provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. To request accommodation in the recruitment or selection process, please contact human resources at 541-288-4359 or email hr@mccfl.org.

Share

Apply for this position

Required*
We've received your resume. Click here to update it.
Attach resume or Paste resume
Attach resume as .pdf, .doc, .docx, .odt, .txt, or .rtf (limit 5MB) or Paste resume

Paste your resume here or Attach resume file

To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, we are requesting (but NOT requiring) that you enter this personal data. This information will not be used in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Your voluntary cooperation would be appreciated. Learn more.
Invitation for Job Applicants to Self-Identify as a U.S. Veteran
  • A “disabled veteran” is one of the following:
    • a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or
    • a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
  • A “recently separated veteran” means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
  • An “active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran” means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
  • An “Armed forces service medal veteran” means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.
Veteran status


Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability
Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026
Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Please check one of the boxes below:

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

You must enter your name and date
Human Check*