Peer Mentor

Show your passion by empowering youth and families when joining the Wayside team! Wayside is one of Massachusetts' most respected youth and family-serving agencies, supporting more than 6,000 youth and families annually across Central, Eastern, and Northeastern regions. We invest in our employees' wellness with comprehensive benefits, including tuition and training reimbursement, a PTO package with 3 wellness days, 9 paid holidays, and up to 3 weeks of vacation in the first year.

Enjoy a learning environment with free training, CEUs, and more, along with exceptional medical benefits, financial health supports, and career development opportunities. Apply today and earn a $2,000.00 sign-on bonus (pro-rated for part-time)! Young Adult Peer Mentor

• Community Services PACT-Y
• Waltham Salary Range: $20.50 - $24.00/hour depending on experience and certification + sign-on bonus (half paid after 6 months of employment and half paid after 1 year of employment/pro-rated for part-time). Wayside Youth & Family Support Network’s Waltham site is hiring a Young Adult Peer mentor (YAPM) for an innovative, evidenced based model of treatment in Massachusetts, the Program for Assertive Community Treatment for Youth (PACT-Y). This program is a DMH funded, intensive, self-contained, community-based program, serving youth and their families. We are looking for individuals who are open to working Monday
• Friday with flexible scheduling. We provide a supportive culture that allows for a balance of personal responsibilities and professional development while contributing to the community.

What you will do

Work as part of a strong, collaborative, multidisciplinary team with the youth, young adults, caregivers and providers to ensure close collaboration and coordination of care. Share your own lived experience as an example of hope to youth and families who are experiencing distress. Provide emotional and social support to individuals receiving services.

Support individuals in making positive life changes and developing skills to facilitate their recovery. Act as a mentor, assisting the individual's recovery process and supporting the individual's goals and decisions. Work directly with youth and ensure youth engagement in services. Encourage youth to have an active voice in their treatment.

Assist youth served in navigating systems, to promote their awareness of resources and access to supports. Support and empower youth with skills and strategies to support their behavioral health needs. Promote and strengthen family’s natural supports to foster a welcoming and supportive community for the youth. Ensure that the youths’ rights are respected, particularly in regard to cultural competency.

Collaborate with other community-based organizations to provide services and care for clients. Competencies/Traits of Our Superstars: Talent connecting with people. Strong communication skills -both written and verbal Ability to assess and manage risk. Flexibility, creative thinking, and adapt to competing priorities.

Excellent boundaries. Minimum Requirements: Lived experience of mental health, emotional health and/or trauma resulting in significant life disruption. Willingness to share your recovery story in the context of peer support. High school degree or GED. Driving in the community is a requirement of this position; please ensure you have a valid driver's license and access to a reliable vehicle.

We will train you in: Motivational Interviewing; Courageous Conversations; Attachment, Regulation and Competency Model (ARC); Trauma Informed Practice; Substance Use Intervention; Risk and Safety Assessment.