Certified Peer Support Specialist

Peer Specialist (Certified)

Pay and Benefits 
Pay: $20-25/hr (Full-time preferred)
14 Paid holidays
Health Care / Retirement Options
5-day work week schedule some planned weekends for community outreach/staff development
Opportunities for career development/training

SACRAMENTO YOUTH CENTER (SYC)

MISSION: Sacramento Youth Center serves the youth of Sacramento, providing them with tools and
life-changing experiences – for a hopeful future.

VALUES
Hospitality, Responsibility, and Rest

WORKPLACE EXPECTATIONS: At Sacramento Youth Center, we foster a dynamic and
collaborative work environment where flexibility is key. Our team members are adaptable and responsive,
always ready to handle last-minute tasks, and step outside their typical roles to ensure the best experience
for the youth we serve. Whether working directly with students or behind the scenes, every staff member
is empowered to connect with youth and contribute to our mission of providing equal opportunities,
experiences, and hope to all students. We are deeply committed to embracing change and evolving to
meet the needs of our youth, believing in the power of mentorship and positive youth development to
shape brighter futures.

PEER SUPPORT: Sacramento Youth Center offers peer support via trained Peer workers and certified
peer specialists through peer support programs for youth 14 – 24. Our services are offered in 2 general
settings: in-school/after-school (off-site) and in the community (at the center/at partner locations). Peer
support services are accessed by local diverse youth populations with varied experiences such as
ethnicity, language, immigration status, justice involvement/affected, foster care, low income, learning
differences, and substance use.
JOB DESCRIPTION: The Sacramento Youth Center is seeking a Certified Peer Specialist to join our Peer
Department, which provides comprehensive peer support for refugee, homeless, and at-risk youth ages 14
24. This role is crucial in fostering an inclusive and supportive environment by sharing lived experiences
and providing mentorship and guidance to youth and peer workers. For this position, a strong knowledge
of self-help and recovery principles, and peer work is highly beneficial. In addition, the applicant should
understand and be willing to deliver support services in a peer practice service setting and share their
personal lived experience: (a) of recovery from a mental health challenge or (b) as the primary support
person of an adult living with a mental health challenge, or (c) as the family member of a child or youth
with a mental health challenge, or (d) A newcomer, immigrant, or refugee lived experience, or (e)
Justice/system involved personal/familial experience including foster care.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Provide Peer Support: Offer empathetic, strengths-based support to youth, drawing on personal
lived experiences to build trust and rapport. Assist youth in overcoming personal, social, or
behavioral challenges. Ensure all interactions are kept confidential to maintain trust and privacy.
• Mentorship and Supervision: Guide and mentor peer workers, providing supervision and
support to ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Recruitment and Outreach: Engage and recruit families, youth, and community leaders to our
services. Participate in community outreach activities to raise awareness and recruit new
participants.
• Program and Event Support: Support the planning, organizing, and execution of programs and
events aimed at addressing the specific needs of the youth, such as self-awareness, goal-setting,
and life skills. Provide onsite support during these activities.
• Crisis Intervention: Effectively de-escalate crises and provide immediate support to youth in
distress.
• Resource Coordination and Preparation: Help youth access essential resources such as clothes,
bill assistance, payment of fees, and groceries. Ensure staff have the materials and equipment
needed for upcoming activities and support technological needs for events.
• Educational and Professional Development Support: Continuously seek personal growth
opportunities through workshops, training sessions, and community projects. Additionally, assist
youth in workforce development, creating pathways for internships and training opportunities,
and preparing them for high school graduation or college success.
• Engage in Advocacy: Advocate for improved mental health and substance use services, drawing
on personal experiences to highlight gaps and push for better care.
• Community Building: Foster a welcoming and inclusive environment where youth feel valued
and empowered to express themselves freely.
• Administrative Assistance: Assist with administrative tasks including emails, phone calls,
correspondence, scheduling, document preparation, and supply management.
• Information Management and Data Collection: Collect, organize, and track data related to
program activities, participant engagement, and outcomes. Develop and disseminate surveys and
other data collection tools, perform data entry, and prepare reports based on collected data.
Accurately document interactions, case notes, and other relevant information to maintain
comprehensive records and support reporting requirements.
• Cleaning/Tidying/Organizing Workspaces: Ensure that workspaces are clean, organized, and
conducive to a productive and professional environment. All employees are responsible for
janitorial tasks both inside and outside of the building.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Stay informed about the latest developments in
mental health and peer support practices and apply this knowledge to improve service delivery.
• Communicating with Various Stakeholders: Maintain open and effective communication with
supervisors, program staff, external partners, stakeholders, and community members to ensure
coordinated and high-quality service delivery.
• Flexibility: Be prepared to take on any new tasks that a lead team member may deem necessary.
Flexibility and adaptability are crucial to this role.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• The employee may be required to occasionally stand, walk, reach with hands and arms, climb or
balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee may also participate in physical activities
such as playing games or sports.
• Lifts Weight or Exerts Force Work Environment: The employee may frequently lift up to 50
pounds.
• The employee may occasionally work in outdoor weather conditions and extreme heat (non
weather)

QUALIFICATIONS
Years of Experience:  2 minimum in youth development or related field; 6 months minimum of peer work/ case management

Education:   High School/G.E.D (Some college preferred) and Proof of
Current CALMHSA Peer Certification

Preferred Languages:    English (Pashto, Persian, Farsi, or Spanish beneficial)

SKILLS
2 minimum in youth development or related field; 6 months
minimum of peer work/ case management
High School/G.E.D (Some college preferred) and Proof of
Current CALMHSA Peer Certification
English (Pashto, Persian, Farsi, or Spanish beneficial)
• Years of Experience: Minimum of 2 years in a related role.
• Active Listening and Social Perceptiveness: Strong listening skills and awareness of others’
reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Public and One-on-One Speaking: Ability to communicate effectively in both group settings
and one-on-one interactions.
• Critical Thinking, Writing, and Reading Comprehension: Ability to think critically, articulate
thoughts clearly in writing, and understand and process written information.
• Service Orientation and Outreach Driven: Commitment to helping others and providing
excellent service, with a willingness to engage and recruit participants.
• Basic Computer Skills: Familiarity with internet navigation, databases, and Microsoft Office
Suite (PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word).
• Proactive Behaviors: Demonstrated ability to take initiative, anticipate needs, and act
proactively to address challenges and opportunities.
• Leadership Skills: Proven leadership abilities to guide and mentor team members and foster a
positive working environment.