Mental Health Peer Support Specialist

Organization Background

The Center for African Immigrants and Refugees Organization (CAIRO)’s mission is dedicated to enhancing social justice and achieving parity for the diverse African immigrants and refugee communities in Oregon and Central Minnesota through community organizing, collaborative leadership, and service advocacy. We envision a more just and equitable society in which children, youth, and families live in sustained, supportive communities, which reinforce the cultural wealth and lived experience of the family.

Position Summary

The Behavioral Peer Support Specialist will work across CAIRO departments and with our community partners to support youth and parents by providing culturally specific and responsive care to address taboos about tobacco usage. The Behavioral Peer Support Specialist will mainly work with a caseload of K-12 students in Beaverton or Reynolds School District, but the position also requires conducting home visits and developing community outreach events for students and/or families. They will also provide resiliency building by facilitating access to resources that improve health outcomes, including services that connect residents with healthcare resources and support groups for communities. This position requires a bilingual, flexible, and very self-directed person with bi-cultural familiarity who has good judgment and is comfortable working in sensitive situations. This position does require semi-regular evening & weekend availability for community events.

This full-time position is based in the Portland Metro Area. This position reports to the Health Prevention Programs Coordinator

 .

Language Preferred: Fluent in English and in Somali, Swahili, or another African language with a significant number of speakers in the Portland area or Oregon.

Salary: $22 per hour

Benefits

CAIRO offers the following benefits for this position:

• 13 days of Paid Time Off.
• 5 sick days per year.
• 16 paid company holidays.
• 100% employer-covered medical and dental premiums for employee coverage; employee-covered vision insurance.
• 401(k) plan with an up to 3% employer match.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Identify students and families that need support.
• Work on a rotational basis in all the schools we are in partnership with; conduct regular home and school check-ins for at risk students.
• Develop a tool kit to promote positive culturally specific wellbeing practices.
• Creating culturally specific community awareness on tobacco usage that tackles stigma and common misconceptions about the harmful effects of tobacco use, coordinate nicotine and drug abuse awareness sessions with the district.
• Work with identified school champions to build school—and community—support for implementing new culturally specific mental health and social emotional learning practices within the school or district.
• Facilitate trauma informed training, group activities, and group therapy for adults and students.
• Maintain an active network of mental health professionals, community & religious leaders, and outside agencies that students and families may be referred to for additional support.
• Help introduce to or facilitate peer support groups.
• Connect families and students to community resources and promote a culture where students feel empowered to acknowledge and address issues with addiction.
• Create opportunities for education and awareness around African Immigrant and refugee community experiences, especially as it relates to mental health and wellbeing.
• Coordinate and attend student and community events/gatherings about tobacco prevention.
• Fulfill administrative and reporting requirements including database management, data collection and writing, and progress reports; attend regular staff meetings.
• Other duties as required.

Skills, Abilities & Experience:

• Previous experience working with African Immigrant and Refugee Community and/or K-12 students strongly preferred.
• Preferred: Bachelor’s in social work, Psychology, Health, or related field, or a certificate in Peer Support Specialist.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, for a variety of audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently.
• Outgoing and good at making connections with others.
• Strong understanding of recovery & resiliency that draws on the client’s strength.
• Working knowledge of computer software programs such as Microsoft and Google workspace products.