171 Best it specialist Jobs in Atlanta, Georgia (December 2025)

Certified Peer Specialist- Mental Health (non-clinical)

2 months ago

Atlanta

Job Description Job Title: Certified Peer Specialist -Mental Health (non-clinical) Department: Behavioral Health Supervisor: Director of Behavioral Health FLSA Status: Non-exempt, Part-time SUMMARY The Certified Peer Specialist-Mental Health works from the perspective of their lived experience to help build environments conducive to recovery. They promote hope, personal responsibility, empowerment, education, and self-determination in the communities where they serve. CPSs are trained to assist others in skill-building, problem-solving, setting up and maintaining self-help mutual support groups, and building self-directed recovery tools. A critical role of the CPS is supporting others in developing their recovery goals, and specific steps to reach those goals. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Using the PRAPARE tool as a guide and the 10-step goal setting process the CPS will: • Support patients in identifying their internal and external resources and needs, • Support patients in articulating personal goals for recovery and wellness., • Support patients in articulating the objectives necessary to reach his or her recovery and wellness goals., • Utilize specific interventions necessary to support patients in meeting their recovery and wellness goals., • Document each patient’s strengths, goals, objectives, and barriers on the Individual Recovery/Resiliency Plan (IR/RP). 2. The CPS will specifically focus on a cohort of patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and work with them to achieve “remission goals” by: • Conducting outreach to patients to schedule follow-up appointments and assist with barriers., • Closing care gaps by coordinating medication management and other follow-up appointments., • Conducting pre-visit planning by checking scheduled patients’ problem lists for Depression diagnoses and/or CDSS to ensure follow-up screenings are completed during medical appointments for patients with a history of Depression. 3. Utilizing their specific training, the CPS will: • Lead as well as teach patients how to facilitate Recovery Dialogues, • Support patients in creating a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)., • Utilize and teach problem solving techniques with individuals and/or groups., • Teach patients techniques for identifying and combating negative self-talk., • Teach patients techniques for identifying and overcoming fears., • Support the vocational choices patients make and support them in overcoming job-related anxiety., • Support patients in building social skills in the community that will enhance job acquisition and tenure., • Support staff in identifying program environments that are conducive to recovery; lend their unique insight into mental illness and what makes recovery possible., • Attend care coordination meetings to promote patients’ use of self-directed recovery tools. 4. Utilizing their unique recovery experience, the CPSs will: • Teach and role model the value of every individual's recovery experience., • Support the patient in obtaining decent and affordable housing of his or her choice in the most integrated, independent, and least intrusive or restrictive environment., • Model effective coping techniques and self-help strategies. 5. The CPSs will maintain a working knowledge of current trends and developments in the mental health field by reading books, journals and other relevant material. • Continue to develop and share recovery-oriented material with other CPSs at the continuing education assemblies and on the CPS electronic bulletin board., • Attend continuing education sessions when offered by the CPS Project., • Attend relevant seminars, meetings, and in-service trainings whenever offered. 6. The CPSs will serve as a recovery agent by: • Providing and advocating for effective recovery-based services., • Support patients in obtaining services that suit that individual's recovery needs., • Inform patients about community and natural supports and how to utilize these in the recovery process., • Support patients in developing empowerment skills through self-advocacy and the use of Human Experience Language to combat stigma., • High school diploma or GED required, • CARES and WRAP certifications required, • Current certification as Peer Specialist (CPS) through the Georgia DBHDD/Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network is required, • Two years of experience working with Mental Illness and addictive disease is required., • Bachelor’s degree preferred, • Prepare written communication, including documentation of patient encounters, recovery plans, patient progress, emails, and reports., • Ability to document work in electronic health platforms., • Written and oral fluency in English. Preferred: Written and oral fluency in (other language). The Peer Specialist should be certified by the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network (GMHCN) and possess the following skills: 1. An understanding of their job and the skills to do that job. • Understand the basic structure of the state Mental Health System and how it works, • Understand the DBHDD approved CPS job description and Code of Ethics within the state MHS, • Understand the meaning and role of peer support, • Understand the difference in treatment goals and recovery goals, • Be able to create and facilitate a variety of group activities that support and strengthen recovery, • Be able to complete the necessary documentation required by the state, • Be able to support a patient in combatting negative self-talk, overcome fears, and solve problems, • Be able to support a patient to articulate, set and accomplish his/her goals, • Be able to teach other patients to create their own Wellness Recovery Action Plan, • Be able to teach other patients to advocate for the services that they want, • Be able to support a patient to create a Person-Centered Plan 2. An understanding of the recovery process and how to use their own recovery story to support others • Understand the five stages in the recovery process and what is helpful and not helpful at each stage, • Understand the role of peer support at each stage of the recovery process, • Understand the power of beliefs/values and how they support or work against recovery, • Understand the basic philosophy and principles of psychosocial rehabilitation, • Understand the basic definition and dynamics of recovery, • Be able to articulate what has been useful and what not useful in his/her own recovery, • Be able to identify beliefs and values a patient holds that works against his/her recovery, • Be able to discern when and how much of their recovery story to share with whom 3. An understanding of and the ability to establish healing relationships • Understand the dynamics of power, conflict and integrity in the workplace, • Understand the concept of 'seeking out common ground', • Understand the meaning and importance of cultural competency, • Be able to ask open-ended questions that relate a person to his/her inner wisdom, • Be able to personally deal with conflict and difficult interpersonal relations in the workplace, • Be able to demonstrate an ability to participate in 'healing communication', • Be able to interact sensitively and effectively with people of other cultures 4. An understanding of the importance of having the ability to take care of oneself • Understand the dynamics of stress and burnout, • Understand the role and parts of the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), • Knowledge of the communities being served, community resources, and external health and social systems., • Ability to maintain and build new partnerships with local community resources., • Ability to be a connector, identify direct contacts within organizations, and foster positive relationships to enhance trust within the care coordination process., • Ability to nurture relationships and communicate directly with patients of all ages., • Ability to confidently communicate using plain, clear language, and active listening., • Communicate with empathy and cultural humility., • Experience working with diverse populations including students, families, community organizations, and other populations., • Use effective messages to support patients’ utilization of services., • Work as a team member and manage conflict., • Experience navigating multiple systems: health care, schools, and community., • Manages time effectively and balances competing priorities., • Collaborative nature, problem-solver, flexible mindset., • Must have reliable transportation. LANGUAGE SKILLS: Must possess above average command of speaking and writing skills. REASONING ABILITY: Must be able to exercise sound judgment and concrete thinking when on the spot decision making is required. Ability to seek supervision for emergencies and unusual circumstances. Must be able to participate in regularly scheduled meetings. A list of physical demands, equipment, & work environment demands can be reviewed in Human Resources. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

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