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Peer Specialist Resume Samples
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0-5 years of experience
- Served as a Peer Specialist managing a caseload of individuals with severe mental health and substance use, while providing intensive peer support and relapse intervention to promote community stability.
- Established interagency relationship to advocate and obtain community resources to clients.
- Facilitated structured peer support groups for Crisis Stabilization Unit, Forensics, and Family Services. and Lead peer groups in CSU, Forensic and Family Services.
- Aided with peer support, including advocacy for community reintegration, for clients in Circuit 8 and Mental Health Court.
0-5 years of experience
- Provided individualized peer support services to a case load of 40 residents living with dual diagnosis of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders
- Facilitated psycho-educational groupson a range of topics including recovery from mental illness, substance use, readiness for employment, education, and self-advocacyand management of medical, psychiatric, and holistic care
- Adapted and developed existing group education curricula to better meet the needs of clients
- Documented services including progress notes, referrals, follow-ups, and group notes.
0-5 years of experience
Collaborated with consumers to identify goals and objectives
- Attended staff meetings and presented cases as necessary
- Provided linkages, referrals and case coordination with other services including mental health, education, medical, social and financial services
- Assisted consumers in becoming better self-advocates
- Facilitated group meetings, workshops and training sessions which included sharing my own recovery experiences with consumers
- Maintained administrative, program and consumer records in a timely, complete and organized manner using the AWARDS software program
0-5 years of experience
- Provided resources to an average of 4 clients in crisis daily
- Strived to answer questions, solved needs, and communicated sincerely to people in crisis
- Built relationships and encouraged co-workers
- Optimistic problem solver
0-5 years of experience
- Assisted families by resolving the crises and problems leading to the parent(s) seeking a PINS petition.
- Provided intensive, home-based case management and crisis intervention to help families reach stability.
- Provided peer support to juveniles, including home visits, telephone reassurance, advocacy and encouragement for clients support to families in crisis struggling with problems such as substance abuse.
- Completed written reports and progress notes in a timely manner regarding clients’ progress.
0-5 years of experience
- Organized peer social activities (walks, lunches, parties).
- Coached and encouraged positive lifestyles for participants coming out of addiction.
- Counseled participants coming out of incarceration.
0-5 years of experience
Counselor and aided individuals requiring assistance dealing with substance abuse problems
- Interviewed clients, review records and conferred with other professionals to evaluate condition of client
- Formulated program for treatment and rehabilitation of client, using knowledge of drug and alcohol abuse problems and counseling and treatment techniques
- Group Facilitator
0-5 years of experience
Provided support to patient
- Facilitated Peer support and Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP )group
- Co-facilitated spirituality, wellness and women’s group
- Translated for family, one-on-one and community meetings
- Attended and participated in interdisciplinary team meetings
0-5 years of experience
- Assisted client’s with understanding the impact of traumatic experiences on mental health by utilizing motivational interviewing and implementing harm reduction techniques.
- Facilitated the achievement of client’s recovery goals through advocacy, assessment, planning, communication, education, resource management, and service facilitation.
- Provided services such as: case management, counseling/therapy, individual skills training, medication training, crisis intervention, and treatment planning.
0-5 years of experience
- Assisted Peer Wellness Coach Coordinator in various administrative duties
- Assisted fellow Peers in program preparing for job searches, and interviews
- Prepared educational materials for Peers on Social Security Income
- Applied for, and was accepted to internship at The Kent Center in July 2012
- Assisted Coordinator in bi-weekly meetings preparation and execution
- Submitted payroll hours to NAMI for all Peers on a bi-weekly basis
0-5 years of experience
Facilitate individual and group based educational, recovery, wellness and skill building opportunities including, well self-management, peer support, harm reduction etc.
- Assist with intake and registration of new guest
- Timely and accurate documentation of services provided, critical information and events
- Advocate and facilitate access to needed health care services, progressing potential barriers such as fear and stigma, etc.
0-5 years of experience
- Assist in Facilitating Peer Workshops for groups of young adults.
- Engage in one-on-one counseling with Peer to help in crisis intervention planning.
- Discussions topics relevant to peer’s recovery from mental illness and/or drug addiction
- Engage in one-on-one counseling with Peer to help in crisis intervention planning.
- Organize and edit multimedia visual aids and other educational materials for programs.
0-5 years of experience
- Operate a one-on-one chat line designed to help clients work through distressing situations.
- Interact with a diverse population experiencing a wide range of mental illnesses.
- Develop ongoing relationships with clients in a therapeutic setting.
0-5 years of experience
- Promote the provision of a safe, secure and trusting environment
- Practice the Need Adapted Treatment (NATM) & Intentional Peer Support Model
- Assist with pre-registration process
- Facilitate individual and group-based recovery and wellness programs
- Practice the (DOMH) Harm reduction Support Model
- Progress notes done daily for all clients (1-10)
0-5 years of experience
- Facilitate approximately 12- 15 peers who are dual diagnosed with a mental disorder and substance abuse.
- Develop intervention worksheet for peers.
- Perform state required paper work at the end of the day, and at the end of the week for the agency to bill the state.
0-5 years of experience
- Engage individuals to help them understand and access possible supports.
- Assist men and women to initiate and maintain long-term recovery and enhance the quality of life for people and their families.
- Identify barriers to recovery and work together to overcome them.
- Help individuals identify their current needs as well as identify goals.
- Instill hope through sharing of personal recovery experience.
- Identifying and organizing resources for client utilization.
- Working with a team to communicate updates, needs, successes, progress and concerns with everyone in the program.
0-5 years of experience
- Provided referrals to various community services
- Engage with consumers
- Maintained progress notes
- Maintain record of contact with consumers
- Shared lived experience to benefit consumers recovery
0-5 years of experience
- Support four clients with outside natural resources to reach their goals of becoming independent, self-sufficient and strengthen their coping skills.
- Arrange substance abuse evaluations for clients
- Provide clients with public transportation
- Provide clients with resources for food, clothing and furniture
- Provide support with court cases by reading and explaining the requirements from their court cases and ensuring they attend court on time and also support them by attending the court hearing with them
- Gather information and study information on teaching good parenting skills
- Enter notes daily in AlphaFlex system to keep record of work for each client
- Conduct Client Family Training (CFT) meetings monthly and make contact with clients family members by inviting them to become part of their family members life
6-10 years of experience
- Implementation of holistic wellness approach using SAMHSA’s Core Competencies for Peer Workers
- Person-centered SMART goal writing, POC, FX Assessment, use of CATALYST, Relias Learning
- Partners to identify/compile person-centered goals, lesson planning, peer empowerment
- WRAP/WHAM education/implementation
- Solid commitment to recovery through modeling and utilizing the latest best practice models
- Possesses strong community integration linkage abilities
- Strong adherence to confidentiality, ethical and safety guidelines
10+ years of experience
- Assist clients with reaching their goals by providing support, teaching activities of daily living, and counseling services
- Lead group activities for clients including: Zumba, Yoga, Health & Wellness, WRAP Support
- Provide clerical duties: writing reports, answering phones, greeting clients
0-5 years of experience
- Provides a broad array of counseling/support services to persons living with serious mental illness (SMI) and who have been given a diagnosis of psychosis and/or other diagnosis who may have trauma histories
- Provide harm reduction and recovery oriented support services, and outreach to assigned program participants. Teach daily living skills, and conflict resolution
- Utilize Intentional Peer Support to engage and counsel participants
- Utilize Needs Adapted Treatment Model (NATM) to participate in in-home and in-office family therapy meetings.
- Arrange referrals for treatment for psychiatric disabilities, substance abuse, and health problems, as dictated by program participant
- Assist participants in clarifying rehabilitation and recovery goals
- Assist in development and linkage of community support systems and networks.
- Responsible for carrying caseload and making clinical decisions
- Responsible for data entry such as intake, service plans, discharges, and progress notes in Foothold AWARDS
0-5 years of experience
- Peer Specialist for the Mobile Outreach Crisis Team
- Peer Specialist for Care Transitions
- Case Aide for Luckett House
Peer Specialist Duties and Responsibilities
The everyday tasks performed by peer specialists vary from organization to organization, but there are some duties the vast majority of peer specialists are expected to carry out. Based on research, most peer specialist perform the following tasks regularly:
Support Others Most peer specialists provide emotional and psychological support to individuals suffering from a variety of mental illnesses. They draw upon their own experiences when helping others, and they may maintain contact with clients through phone calls, emails, and home visits.
Make Referrals Peer specialists work with mentally ill individuals, but they are usually not therapists or psychiatrists. A peer specialist must exercise discretion when counseling clients and know when to refer a client to a more experienced medical professional. Referrals to professionals are made when a client poses a threat to themselves or others, or simply needs additional medical help.
Help Clients Set Goals Individuals with mental illnesses often have difficulty transitioning into mainstream society. Peer specialists help make this transition easier by helping clients craft strategies for coping and achieving their goals.
Educate the Community Peer specialists have a firsthand understanding of mental illness and its impact. They help clients learn more about their illnesses and how to manage them safely and effectively. Many peer specialists help educate prominent individuals in the community, such as teachers, employers, and members of the clergy.
Conduct Outreach Many individuals suffering from mental illness do not have access to the healthcare they need. They may also suffer from issues such as homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, and legal problems. Peer specialists often head outreach programs to reach individuals who need help.
Peer Specialist Skills and Qualifications
Peer specialists should have a strong knowledge of mental illness and basic counseling techniques. Each organization and state has different licensing and educational requirements, but most peer specialists need at least a high school diploma or GED to enter the profession. Peer specialists with the following skills and qualifications are often sought out by employers:
- Knowledge of basic counseling techniques – peer specialists do not need to be as extensively educated as psychologists or psychiatrists, but they should know basic counseling techniques. They should also know how to handle individuals who are in distress, depressed, psychotic, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Cultural fluency – peer specialists often work with a diverse range of clients from a variety of ethnic groups, socioeconomic backgrounds, and religions. For this reason, they should know how to effectively communicate with individuals who may be different from themselves
- Knowledge of public health issues – peer specialists should understand the unique mental health challenges faced by the individuals in their community or state. This may involve conducting demographic research or reading case studies from local hospitals and clinics
- Interpersonal skills – individuals employed in this profession work very closely with others, so they should have excellent verbal communication skills and a high level of empathy. Peer specialists must know how to set boundaries with clients and maintain professionalism at all times
- Organization skills – peer specialists often have a caseload of 10 to 20 clients at once. This means they should know how to maintain detailed records and file them accordingly
Peer Specialist Education and Training
While peer specialists typically do not need a bachelor’s degree to enter the field, most organizations require at least a high school diploma. However, some specialists may need to take a specific number of courses or pass a test to receive certification. Peer specialists with more responsibilities may need to obtain a bachelor’s in psychology or social work, but this is usually not required. Most peer specialists undergo an extensive amount of training to learn the basics of counseling, mental health, and community outreach before they are allowed to work. The overwhelming majority of organizations hiring peer specialists prefer to hire individuals who have experienced the impact of mental illness or substance abuse firsthand.
Peer Specialist Salary and Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) classifies peer specialists as community health educators and workers. The median annual salary for a community health educator or worker is $38,370. Those with earnings in the top 10th percentile gross a yearly salary in excess of $64,500, and those in the lowest 10th percentile earn less than $25,150 annually. Full-time peer specialists employed by prominent organizations and government agencies usually receive additional benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, and sick leave. Some organizations may offer high-performing peer specialists bonuses. According to the BLS, industry employment for peer specialists is expected to increase by 18 percent through 2026. This is an extremely high rate when compared to the average job growth rate of 7 percent for all occupations. This growth is often attributed to increased awareness and a decreasing stigma toward mental illness and substance abuse.
Helpful Resources
Are you interesting in learning more about the role of peer specialist? The following resources may be able to help you decide if this career is right for you:
Mental Health America – the MHA website is an excellent resource for anyone considering a career as a peer specialist. It provides in-depth information about peer counseling, as well as general information about mental illness and substance abuse. The organization even offers a certification program that meets the needs of most private companies and nonprofits
Recovery Coaching: A Guide to Coaching People in Recovery from Addictions – written by Melissa Killeen, this book explores the finer nuances of substance abuse and its roots. It contains startling statistics (such as 80 percent of people who complete a substance abuse program will relapse) and helps the reader understand the humanity behind them. It is simply a must-read for anyone considering work as a recovery coach or peer specialist
The Peer Specialist’s Pocket Resource for Mental Health and Substance Use Services – in this useful pocket manual, Charles Drebbing, PhD, provides readers with a quick yet detailed overview of common peer specialist practices and approaches. The book is a readable reference tool for peer specialists who work one-on-one and in groups with those suffering from mental illness and addiction
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Last edited by: Gabriela Barcenas, CPRW, Content Writer II -
Gabriela Barcenas
CPRW, Content Writer IIGabriela is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and career adviser. With 10 years of digital media experience and five years of resume writing expertise, her publication history includes fashion, education, travel, social justice, equitable design and career advice.
