EASA Peer Support Specialist

Current employees: Please apply through the employee portal to be considered for this opportunity.

Pay Range:

$23.90 - $29.28 Hourly

Department:

Health Department

Job Type:

Regular Represented

Exemption Status:

United States of America (Non-Exempt)

Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):

September 30, 2025

The Opportunity:

Overview:

THIS WORK MATTERS!

Are you ready to make a profound difference in the lives of young people and their families? The Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA) is seeking a passionate and empathetic Peer Support Specialist to join our dynamic team. At EASA, we champion young adults aged 12-25 experiencing their first episode of psychosis, providing intensive, life-changing services through our EASA Fidelity and EASA Step-Down programs.

As an EASA Peer Support Specialist, your unique lived experience will be your most powerful tool. You will empower young adults on their journey to recovery, offering individualized, strength-based support, insightful coaching, essential information, and vital resource referrals. Our comprehensive services include psychiatric medication management, nursing support, occupational therapy, diverse therapeutic interventions, case management, and crucial vocational and educational guidance. You'll be a vital part of a collaborative team dedicated to reducing symptoms and mitigating the impact of psychosis on individuals, families, and society.

As the EASA Peer Support Specialist duties include:

Direct Services

• Engage and build rapport with individuals and their families enrolled in EASA Fidelity and Step-Down services. 

• Provide direct individualized services including support, mentoring, skill building, advocacy, and problem-solving. 

• Utilize lived experience and strengths-based approaches to support others in recovery and resiliency, and model skills used in self-directed recovery.

• Assist clients with medical and mental health appointments, while maintaining HIPAA-compliant documentation.

• Services are provided in the community, home or clinic. 

Individual Advocacy

• Empower clients to be self-determined in their treatment and recovery by developing and maintaining self-advocacy skills through coaching, modeling, and skills-building.

• Support clients in their self-advocacy and encourage clients to articulate their hopes and concerns by accompanying them to their appointments at their request. 

• Assist and support clients to develop skills to successfully build a personal support network.

• Encourage and assist individuals to participate in related advisory councils or boards.

Team-Based Care

• Participate in Rounds, administrative meetings, retreats, and individual case staffings.

• Communicate with assigned Mental Health Consultant and other team members to coordinate peer support activities with other treatment goals and activities. 

• Engage with families, caregivers, and/or community as part of the multidisciplinary team plan. 

• Facilitate psychoeducation groups or other groups and participate in program events such as workshops, retreats, etc. 

• Attend Direct Clinical Services (DCS), Behavioral Health Division (BHD), statewide EASA meetings and training as requested or required based on County policies, EASA program fidelity guidelines, and/or professional licensure/certification.

Community Outreach

• Assist with outreach to schools, colleges, emergency rooms, community services, providers, crisis lines, etc., to provide program information, referral information and general education about psychotic disorders and first breaks in young people.

A successfulPeer Support Specialist will demonstrate: 

• Ability to use lived experience as a consumer of mental health services to support others in the early stages of their recovery.

• Respect and appreciation for ethnic and cultural diversity.

• Ability to apply an equity, intersectional and anti-racist lens. 

• Knowledge of cultures, customs and social experiences of communities experiencing marginalization and barriers to opportunity.

• Ability to exercise good judgment, diplomacy, and tact in dealing with sensitive, complex, confidential information and situations, in addition to acting professionally, and emphatically, with individuals, internal/external partners and communities. 

• Ability to think creatively and critically, to solve emergent issues.

• Self-motivated and self-directed.

• Ability to engage diverse communities in working toward common goals.

• Experience in facilitating training and/or public speaking.

• Basic skills with computer technology and working in virtual environments.

• Writing skills to support documenting chart notes in the electronic health record.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

TO QUALIFY:

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant. For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection processpage.

Required Minimum Qualifications/ Transferable Skills*:

Education/Experience: Equivalent to an Associates degree and minimum 1 year (2 years preferred) of paid or unpaid experience as a peer advocate in a mental health system; And

Certification:

• Must meet the standards for Peer Support Specialist in Oregon Administrative Rule 410-180-0305  (Required)

• Current Peer Support Specialist certification in mental health (Required)

Other:

• This position requires a Background Investigation, which may include being fingerprinted. 

• This position requires a valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications/Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experiences that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.

• 2 years of paid or unpaid experience as a peer advocate in a mental health system

• Lived experience with psychosis or mental health challenges.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Ability to work effectively in a team and independently.

• Understanding of HIPAA and privacy standards.

• Familiarity with community resources and support networks.

• Passion for empowering young people and families.

SCREENING & EVALUATION:

REQUIRED: 

The Application Packet: You must submit all requested items below. Failure to do so will be deemed as an incomplete application.

1. A completed online application

2. Attach a Resume demonstrating you meeting minimum qualifications; AND

3. Attach a Cover Letter addressing the following: 

• Demonstrate your experience (lived and professional) working directly with young adults and families who experience mental illness; and

• How you meet the qualifications for this position; and  

• Why are you interested in the position

4. Attach a copy of your Peer Support Specialist Certification (Required)

Note: Please be mindful of checking your email inbox for messages upon submitting your application. You may be emailed requesting for additional items from the Recruiter or hiring manager. If a response is not received in a timely manner your application may not be considered. 

The Selection Process: For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection processpage. We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows:

• Initial review of application/ resume and cover letter for minimum qualifications and all required attachments. If you do not address the minimum qualifications in the application, your application will be considered incomplete and will not move forward in the recruitment process.

• Phone screen

• Supplemental Questionnaire

• Oral exam

• Consideration of top candidates

• Background, reference, and education checks

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Type of Position: This hourly union-represented position is eligible for overtime

Type: Represented

FLSA: Non-Exempt 

Teleworking/Hybrid: At this time, this position is designated to “hybrid,” meaning you may be working remotely (from home) some of the time and you will be required to attend meetings and report in person regularly. The designation of Hybrid Telework may be subject to change at a future time. Currently, all employees must reside in Oregon or Washington; the county cannot support ongoing telework from other locations.

Diversity and Inclusion: At Multnomah County, we don't just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. As a Health Department employee you will create a work culture of respect, trust and understanding for the highly diverse populations the Health Department serves in the office and in the community. Every employee shares the responsibility for promptly bringing to the County's attention conduct that interferes with providing a work environment free of illegal discrimination and harassment.

The eligible list created from this recruitment may be used to fill regular, full or part-time, temporary, and limited duration assignments.

Multnomah County offers an exceptional benefits package, including employer-funded retirement savings; health and dental insurance at very low cost to full-time employees and their dependents; paid parental leave; wellness programs; a focus on work-life balance; and much more. Find more details on our benefits website.

Our Commitment to Safety, Trust and Belonging: Multnomah County is committed to developing, nurturing and continually improving workforce equity by identifying and addressing the structural and policy barriers to equal employment opportunity faced by our employees and communities. County employees across the organization have stepped forward to develop a strategic plan and help create a workplace where everyone can reach their full potential. Learn more by reading our Workforce Equity Strategic Plan and exploring our Core Competencies for all County employees.

Veterans’ Preference: Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about eligibility and how to apply. Note: Veterans' Preference does not apply in a transfer process.

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.

Salary/Pay: Please be advised that the pay range listed for this position is intended to provide general guidance on the earning potential for the role. However, actual compensation will be determined in accordance with the Oregon Equal Pay Law and will take into account factors such as the candidate's relevant experience and education. Candidates should expect that initial offers will be made within the listed pay range and may not be at or near the top of the range.

Serving the Public, Even During Disasters

Everyday, Multnomah County staff work together to serve as a safety net for our communities. During a disaster, this safety net becomes even more critical. All County employees have a role in serving the public during inclement weather, natural disaster, or other types of community emergency response. During these emergency responses, while typically there begins with a call for volunteers, county employees may ultimately be reassigned from their current position to a role in the emergency response in order to support the critical needs presented by our communities. For more information, please visit theDisaster Service Worker Information page.  

Questions? Please contact the recruiter. 

Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

Disclaimer: This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

Diversity and Inclusion: At Multnomah County, we don't just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The EEO Know Your Rights poster is available for your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.

Veterans’ Preference: Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about eligibility and how to apply.

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.

Questions?

Recruiter:

Andrea Archuleta

Email:

[email protected]

Phone:

+1 (503) 9887472 x87472

Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

Disclaimer: This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

Job Profile:

6270 - Peer Support Specialist