EASA Peer Support Specialist, Behavioral Health Division

Current employees: Please apply through the employee portal to be considered for this opportunity.

Pay Range:

$25.33 - $31.16 Hourly

Department:

Health Department

Job Type:

Regular Represented

Exemption Status:

United States of America (Non-Exempt)

Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):

September 08, 2026

The Opportunity:

Overview:

THIS WORK MATTERS!

***Note: Must be registered as a Peer Support Specialist and/or Peer Wellness Specialist with the Oregon Health Authority, Certification is Required***

Are you eager to create a meaningful impact for youth and their families? The Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA) is looking for an empathetic, dedicated Peer Support Specialist to join our collaborative team. Through our EASA Fidelity and EASA Step-Down  programs, we deliver impactful, intensive support to young adults (ages 12–30) navigating a first episode of psychosis.

As an EASA Peer Support Specialist, you will partner with young adults (ages 12-30) navigating their first episode of psychosis, centering their agency and strengths in their recovery journey. Leveraging your lived experience, you will provide compassionate, trauma-informed mentorship that fosters resilience and connection within our EASA Fidelity and Step-Down programs. In this vital role, you’ll work alongside a multidisciplinary team to offer individualized, advocacy-driven support, empowering participants to define and achieve their own personal and wellness goals.

As the EASA Peer Support Specialist duties include:

Direct Services

• Engage and build rapport with individuals and their families enrolled in EASA Fidelity and Step-Down services. 

• Provide direct individualized services including support, mentoring, skill building, advocacy, and problem-solving. 

• Utilize lived experience and strengths-based approaches to support others in recovery and resiliency, and model skills used in self-directed recovery.

• Assist clients with medical and mental health appointments, while maintaining HIPAA-compliant documentation.

• Services are provided in the community, home or clinic. 

Individual Advocacy

• Empower clients to be self-determined in their treatment and recovery by developing and maintaining self-advocacy skills through coaching, modeling, and skills-building.

• Support clients in their self-advocacy and encourage clients to articulate their hopes and concerns by accompanying them to their appointments at their request. 

• Assist and support clients to develop skills to successfully build a personal support network.

• Encourage and assist individuals to participate in related advisory councils or boards.

Team-Based Care

• Participate in Rounds, administrative meetings, retreats, and individual case staffings.

• Communicate with assigned Mental Health Consultant and other team members to coordinate peer support activities with other treatment goals and activities. 

• Engage with families, caregivers, and/or community as part of the multidisciplinary team plan. 

• Facilitate psychoeducation groups or other groups and participate in program events such as workshops, retreats, etc. 

• Attend Direct Clinical Services (DCS), Behavioral Health Division (BHD), statewide EASA meetings and training as requested or required based on County policies, EASA program fidelity guidelines, and/or professional licensure/certification.

Community Outreach

• Assist with outreach to schools, colleges, emergency rooms, community services, providers, crisis lines, etc., to provide program information, referral information and general education about psychotic disorders and first breaks in young people.

A successful  Peer Support Specialist will demonstrate: 

• Ability to use lived experience as a consumer of mental health services to support others in the early stages of their recovery.

• Respect and appreciation for ethnic and cultural diversity.

• Ability to apply an equity, intersectional and anti-racist lens. 

• Knowledge of cultures, customs and social experiences of communities experiencing marginalization and barriers to opportunity.

• Ability to exercise good judgment, diplomacy, and tact in dealing with sensitive, complex, confidential information and situations, in addition to acting professionally, and emphatically, with individuals, internal/external partners and communities. 

• Ability to think creatively and critically, to solve emergent issues.

• Self-motivated and self-directed.

• Ability to engage diverse communities in working toward common goals.

• Experience in facilitating training and/or public speaking.

• Basic skills with computer technology and working in virtual environments.

• Writing skills to support documenting chart notes in the electronic health record.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

TO QUALIFY:

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant. For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page.

Required Minimum Qualifications/ Transferable Skills*:

Education/Experience: Equivalent to an Associates degree and minimum 1 year (2 years preferred) of paid or unpaid experience as a peer advocate in a mental health system; And

Certification: 

• Must meet the standards for Peer Support Specialist in Oregon Administrative Rule 410-180-0305  (Required)

• Must be registered as a Peer Support Specialist and/or Peer Wellness Specialist with the Oregon Health Authority, Certification is Required

Other: 

• This position requires a Background Investigation, which may include being fingerprinted. 

• This position requires a valid driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications/Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experiences that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.

• 2 years of paid or unpaid experience as a peer advocate in a mental health system

• Lived experience with psychosis or mental health challenges.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Ability to work effectively in a team and independently.

• Understanding of HIPAA and privacy standards.

• Familiarity with community resources and support networks.

• Passion for empowering young people and families.

SCREENING & EVALUATION:

REQUIRED: 

The Application Packet: You must submit all requested items below. Failure to do so will be deemed as an incomplete application.

1. A completed online application

2. Attach a Resume demonstrating you meeting minimum qualifications; AND

3. Attach a Cover Letter addressing the following: 

• Demonstrate your experience (lived and professional) working directly with young adults and families who experience mental illness and

• How you meet the qualifications for this position; and  

• Why are you interested in the position

4. Attach a copy of your Peer Support Specialist Certification and/or Peer Wellness Certification (Required)

Note: Please be mindful of checking your email inbox for messages upon submitting your application. You may be emailed requesting for additional items from the Recruiter or hiring manager. If a response is not received in a timely manner your application may not be considered. 

The Selection Process: For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page. We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows:

• Initial review of application/ resume and cover letter for minimum qualifications and all required attachments. If you do not address the minimum qualifications in the application, your application will be considered incomplete and will not move forward in the recruitment process.

• Phone screen

• Supplemental Questionnaire

• Oral exam

• Consideration of top candidates

• Background, reference, and education checks

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Type of Position: This hourly union-represented position is eligible for overtime

Type: Represented

FLSA: Non-Exempt 

Teleworking/Hybrid: At this time, this position is designated to “hybrid”.  EASA services are predominantly provided in person in the community or office.  You will be required to attend meetings in person regularly.  You  may be working remotely (from home) some of the time. Hybrid Telework or work schedules may be subject to change in accordance with County Personnel rules or applicable collective bargaining agreement. Currently, all employees must reside in Oregon or Washington; the county cannot support ongoing telework from other locations.

Applying for this posting will give you the opportunity to be placed on the eligible list for future opportunities for Peer Support Specialist positions as positions for these programs become available. The eligible list created from this recruitment may be used to fill regular, full or part time, temporary, and limited duration assignments.

Pay Equity: Please be advised that the pay range listed for this position is intended to provide general guidance on the earning potential for the role. However, actual compensation will be determined in accordance with the Oregon Equal Pay Law and will take into account factors such as the candidate's relevant experience and education. Candidates should expect that initial offers will be made within the listed pay range and may not be at or near the top of the range.

Multnomah County offers an exceptional benefits package, including employer-funded retirement savings; health and dental insurance at very low cost to full-time employees and their dependents; paid parental leave; wellness programs; a focus on work-life balance; and much more. Find more details on our benefits website. 

Questions? Please contact the recruiter. Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

Disclaimer: This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

In accordance with Oregon Law, Multnomah County is not collecting school attendance dates in the initial application process; please do not include these dates in your resume, cover letter and other application materials.

Diversity and Inclusion: At Multnomah County, we don't just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The EEO Know Your Rights poster is available for your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.

Veterans’ Preference: Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about eligibility and how to apply.

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.

Questions?

Recruiter:

Andrea Archuleta

Email:

[email protected]

Phone:

+1 (503) 9887472 x87472

Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

Disclaimer: This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

Job Profile:

6270 - Peer Support Specialist