PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Salary: $19.91 - $25.07 Hourly
Location : Muskegon, MI
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2026-02803
Department: HealthWest
Opening Date: 10/13/2026
Closing Date: 10/27/2026 5:00 PM Eastern


Description of Work


A Peer Support Specialist, under general review of various HealthWest program supervisors, provides a welcoming atmosphere, skills training, and instruction to individuals receiving services who may be living with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and/or substance abuse issues. An employee in this class coordinates and/or co-facilitates groups including group outings into the community, motivating individuals toward greater community inclusion, and achieving personal goals; and/or co-facilitating groups in skills training, dual diagnosis, recovery issues, substance abuse issues, and other groups as assigned. A Peer Support Specialist facilitates individual's care by building relationships and meeting with the individuals receiving services, their guardians, families, support systems, AFC staff, and other key persons in the individual's life. This employee transports individuals receiving services, completes necessary documentation which includes communicating effectively in both oral and written form and maintaining accurate records, including utilizing basic computer software and performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Minimum Entrance Qualifications


1. Be a high school graduate or have a certificate of completion of the General Educational Development (GED) test;
2. Been a consumer of a Community Mental Health agency at some time in their life with a primary diagnosis of a mental health condition and received treatment for at least one (1) year;
3. Have a strong personal knowledge of what it is like to have first-hand lived experience with a mental health condition that has caused a substantial life disruption;
4. Have a personal experience in navigating complex mental health treatment services;
5. Self-identify as having a mental health condition with a substantial life disruption and share their recovery story in supporting others;
6. Possess a valid driver's license and the ability to obtain a Michigan Driver License within 30 days of employment.
7. Must have reliable transportation that may have to be used to carry out job duties of this classification.

Post Hire Training Requirements
1. Must obtain certification approved by the State of Michigan as a Peer Specialist within 12 months of employment.
2. Must obtain 32 hours of required continuing education courses between the two (2) year re-certification periods.


Preferred but not Required
1. Bilingual candidates highly desired.
2. Individuals with experience in Armed Services valued.
3. Individual with knowledge of or lived experience with substance abuse preferred.

Physical Conditions / Work Location
PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

An employee in this class performs generally sedentary work activity requiring the occasional lifting of objects weighing thirty-five (35) pounds or less.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

A Peer Support Specialist works within the Client Services offices and program location of HealthWest, with considerable travel required throughout the County by use of personal resources.

Additional Information
Click Below for Job Description:
EVALUATION CONTENT

Applicants for County employment may be subject to a post-offer criminal background check, depending on the nature and assignment of the position. When such check is conducted, an offer of employment is contingent upon the results of the criminal background check. Appointees must satisfactorily complete a probationary period before the appointment will be considered permanent.

APPLICANT REVIEW PROCEDURE

Any applicant is entitled to a review of any determination or action taken by the County regarding the applicant's employment application. Inquiries should be directed to the County Human Resources Department.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this recruitment is to establish an eligible list from which to fill present and future vacancies in this classification in the County system. For each opening, the Department Head has her/his choice of the candidates who meet the required minimum entrance qualifications. This list remains in effect for three months unless exhausted or extended.

MUSKEGON COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

MUSKEGON COUNTY HAS ADOPTED A VETERANS PREFERENCE POLICY THAT

RECOGNIZES QUALIFYING MILITARY SERVICE

**Non-Bargaining new hires have the option of either a County contribution to the Health Savings Account (outlined below) OR a 3% County contribution to the Lincoln Financial (457b) plan.

CONTRACT SECTION

BENEFIT

Medical Insurance

Health Savings Account (HSA) Plan 1

Single Plan: $2,500 Deductible, **$1,250 Employer HSA Contribution, Out of Pocket Max $4,000. 2 People/Family: $5,000 Deductible, **$2,500 HSA Employer Contribution, Out of Pocket Max $8,000, Co-insurance - 10%

Employer Contributions are prorated based on start date of benefits

No Employee Premium Contributions Per Pay

Prescription Drugs: $10/$40/$80 (After deductible)

Health Savings Account (HSA) Plan 2

Single Plan: $1,650 Deductible, **$800 Employer HSA Contribution, Out of Pocket Max $2,250. 2 People/Family: $3,300 Deductible, **$1,600 Employer HSA Contribution, Out of Pocket Max $4,500

Employer Contributions are prorated based on start date of benefits

Monthly Employee Premium: Single-$161.58, 2 person- $387.80, Family- $484.76

Prescription Drugs: $10/$40/$80 (After deductible)

High Deductible Plan (HD) * This plan is only optional if the employee is not eligible for the HSA, Single Plan: $750 Deductible, 2 People/Family: $1,500 Deductible, No Employee Premium Contributions Per Pay

Prescription Drugs: $10/$40/$80

Available first of the month following one full month of continuous employment

Lincoln Financial 457b

**In lieu of employer HSA contribution you may be eligible for an employer contribution of 3% into the Lincoln Financial 457b plan

Dental Insurance

15% employee premium contribution

Available first of the month following one full month of continuous employment

Vision Insurance

15% employee premium contribution

Available first of the month following one full month of continuous employment

Benefit Option

In lieu of medical coverage you may be eligible to receive a biweekly benefit option payment. Single: $104.16 or 2Person/Family: $187.50

Retirement

Defined Contribution (DC) Plan through MERS of Michigan with 3% employer and 4.5% employee contribution. There is a 6 year graduated vesting for the employer contribution.


Retiree Insurance

Healthcare Savings Account (HCSP) through MERS of Michigan, employer 3% contribution. Vesting requirement of 6 years.

Life Insurance and AD & D

Equal to employee annual salary to next highest $1,000. Max $200,000

Available first of the month following one full month of continuous employment

Long Term Disability

No cost to the employee, employer paid at 66 2/3% of salary after 6 month waiting period

Available first of the month following one full month of continuous employment

Sick Leave

10 days per year, accumulated .385 days. per pay period

Accrual begins on first day of employment and is available to use on the 90th day of employment.

Annual Leave

13 days, accumulated .500 days per pay period. Increasing to maximum of 24 days with 20 years of eligible County service, see Personnel Rules for accumulation chart.


Accrual begins on first day of employment and is available for use upon hire.

Sick/Annual Leave Cash Payout

Employee may elect up to 80 hours of accumulated vacation and/or sick time to be paid as cash. Future accruals only.

Personal Days

2 days per fiscal year, unused days will be forfeited

Available upon completion of six months of continuous eligible County service

Holidays

13 days

COLA/Longevity

COLA only for employees with 0-4 years of eligible service payment based on the CPI and must be in pay status as of 12/1. Payment of $600 at 5 years of continuous service as of 12/1. Each subsequent year of service will add $100 to the payment for an unlimited maximum.

Voluntary Benefits

(100% employee paid)

Short term disability, critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident insurance, voluntary life insurance for self/spouse/dependents, 457 Investment options (available immediately upon hire), Section 125 (available for Health and Childcare reimbursement)

Available first of the month following one full month of continuous employment

Student Loan Forgiveness

You may be eligible for student loan forgiveness through federal programs designed for people who work in public service including Local government (Public Student Loan Forgiveness, Temporary Expanded PSLF).
*Rates and coverage are always subject to change.
01


PEER SUPPORT: I attest that I have been a consumer of a Community Mental Health agency with a primary diagnosis of a mental health condition which substantially disrupted my life for at least one year's time and during that time, I gained necessary experience navigating the associated treatment services.

• Yes
• No

02


I understand that HealthWest is a Muskegon County department that is publicly funded by Michigan Medicaid. Therefore, background checks will be run prior to hire to ensure the prospective hire is not excluded from providing clinical services due to a recent felony or misdemeanor conviction.

• Yes
• No

03


I acknowledge that if any of my work experience has been with the mental health, intellectual/developmentally disabled, substance use disorder, or autism populations I have detailed that experience within the duties section of that employer on this application.

• Acknowledgment

Required Question