Community Support & Youth Training Specialist (Multiple Positions)(Closes 8/24)

Job Description

Job Description

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.

If hired for this position, you would be an employee of our partner agency, Community Family Advocates working onsite at Allegheny County DHS.

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.

Why DHS?

DHS is diverse, but we strive to be even more inclusive. This includes equity in hiring and advancement, as well as in unleashing the creativity and ideas of staff at every level of DHS. It has strong, assertive leaders. We do not hire yes-people.

You can make a big impact here. We stand out as one of the best human services organizations in the country. But we need problem-solvers, innovators, and terrific leaders to make sure we are smart in how we use our funding so that we reach the people who most need our help to make their lives better.

“DHS strives to be the kind of place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come to grow and do their best work.”

-From the organization’s statement on Equity and Inclusion

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER -M/F/V/D