Community Support and Youth Training Specialist

Job Description For
Community Support and Youth Training Specialist
Allegheny County Department of Human Services
Office of Behavioral Health
Human Services Building, One Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

The Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) Community Wellness and Youth Training Specialist will work full-time, under the primary direction of the OBH Manager, Community Wellness Team within the Office of Behavioral Health, Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS). The incumbent will support Stand Together, a behavioral health anti-stigma initiative that trains, equips, and inspires middle and high school students to act against stigma directed at their peers. In addition, the incumbent will ensure that OBH programs, activities, initiatives, and contracted services engage service users to the broadest extent possible, present service user interests and promote recovery principles.

The Community Wellness and Youth Training Specialist will function as an OBH recovery liaison to contracted and community providers, including police, courts, payers, evaluators, social services, housing programs and as the OBH liaison/agent to the Allegheny County Coalition for Recovery (ACCR); family members/caregivers, consumers, and volunteers. Incumbent will give peer voice to service users on Office program and policy development.

The Community Wellness and Youth Training Specialist must have
(1) familiarity with the behavioral health system from the service user perspective, (2) the willingness to self-disclose regarding that experience positively and appropriately, and (3) some experience training or mentoring.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
 Conducting Stand Together trainings in designated schools.
 Providing ongoing technical assistance to Stand Together schools.
 Visiting Stand Together student projects.
 Assisting with planning Stand Together Recognition Event.
 Providing, as needed, training to Stand Together partners outside Allegheny County.
 Working with OBH staff, in both MH and D&A units, and community partners/providers to promote, integrate and use recovery practices and principles.
 Assisting in developing recovery-focused materials and policies that can be used by providers, OBH staff and coalitions and professional work groups.
 Providing or organizing trainings about wellness and recovery practices and principles.
 Providing or organizing trainings addressing stigma toward adults and youth with mental and/or substance use disorders.
 Promoting the hiring of people in recovery to provide an array of peer support and professional services.
 Participating in local, regional, and statewide committees, workgroups and advisory committees as assigned.  Assisting with initiatives focusing on recovery, wellness, and resiliency with transition-age youth.
 Promoting peer support activities.
 Assisting with the development and management of recovery initiatives, necessary logistics and administrative details related to the initiatives.
 Assisting in developing initiatives that promote community integration for adults and youth with mental and substance use disorders.
 Providing staff support and technical assistance to stakeholder groups such as ACCR, Certified Peer Specialist Advisory Committee, Recovery Oriented System of Care Initiative, Student Assistance Program, and other groups as assigned. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
 Ability to work effectively with behavioral health consumers.
 Knowledge about recovery and resilience principles and practices is preferred.
 Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
 Excellent organizational skills.
 Excellent communication skills, with the ability to write effectively and clearly and to speak in front of a group of people.
 Navigate in the community on related work assignments.
 Self-starter and ability to work independently to initiate tasks that need completed for the department and/or the office.
 Lived self-experience with mental health and/or drug and alcohol recovery is required.

Education/Experience Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a related field, plus a minimum of 3 years of experience in a social service, human service, or healthcare profession; familiarity with the behavioral health system from the service user perspective is required.
-OR Any equivalent combination of education and experience that meets the required knowledge, skills and abilities, plus familiarity with the behavioral Health system from the service user perspective.

In addition, incumbent must have (1) familiarity with the behavioral health system from the service user perspective and (2) the ability to positively and appropriately self-disclose regarding that experience. Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle is required. Certificates, Licenses, Registrations Act 33 and 34 clearances. Reliable vehicle and valid driver’s license