Community Youth Training Specialist

COMMUNITY SUPPORT & YOUTH TRAINING SPECIALIST

Department: Allegheny County Department of Human Services
Division: Office of Behavioral Health
Team: Community Wellness Team
Location: Human Services Building, One Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Summary
The Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) Community Support & Youth Training Specialist will work full-time, under the primary direction of the Senior 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 OBH Community Support & 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 Support & 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.

Additional Responsibilities

• From time to time the employee will be required to perform additional tasks and duties as required by the employer.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to work effectively with behavioral health consumers.
• Knowledge about recovery and resilience principles and practices 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 self-disclose regarding that experience positively and appropriately.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
Act 33 and 34 clearances, reliable vehicle and valid driver’s license are required.

This position will be formally employed by Community Family Advocates. In this capacity, the individual will report directly to Allegheny County Department of Human Services and will carry out day-to-day responsibilities under the direction, supervision, and operational guidelines of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services. While Community Family Advocates will serve as the official employer for administrative and human resources purposes, the role will function as an integrated part of Allegheny County’s team.