Lutheran Social Services of Southern California began in December 1944 when a group of Lutheran congregations in San Diego came together to discuss how to better assist families in need. They began discussing how to form a Welfare Commission. Their vision expanded when they came together with another group of Lutheran congregations in Los Angeles having the very same conversation. Lutheran Social Services of Southern California was officially incorporated in 1946 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit social service agency. The mission has stayed true to its earliest beginnings, to be a servant to those in need. Today LSSSC serves thousands of individuals and families throughout Southern California with over 40 diverse programs/services at 14 distinct locations. We are part of the Lutheran Services in America (LSA) network and strive to serve those in need with dignity and respect.

Lutheran Social Services of Southern California’s Mission: Ignited by faith, we live out God’s Love by embracing, equipping, and empowering vulnerable people in Southern California.

Job Summary:

The Behavioral Health Program (BHP) Peer Support Advocate is responsible to work with the Program Coordinator to, support, and place Peer Support Specialists (PSS) with mental health and recovery providers in the Inland Empire. The BHP Program was established to address the ongoing workforce development needs for public mental health departments through the recruitment, training, and retention of PSS. The Peer Support Advocate will help place PSS with lived experience in the Public Mental Health System (PMHS) to provide culturally responsive and recovery-oriented support to peers. The Peer Support Advocate functions as the advocate by supporting participants and interacting with partner and community agencies. Day to day operational management of the program includes setting goals and standards for participants, providing support and guidance in the training and placement process, tracking participant and graduate progress, and assisting program participants in finding placements in the PMHS as PSS. 

The Peer Support Advocate shares a demonstrates commitment to the values and priorities of the Mental Health 

Services Act (MHSA) including: 

• Community Collaboration
• Cultural Competence & Responsiveness
• Client/Family-Driven Mental Health System
• A Wellness, Recovery, and Resilience Focus
• An Integrated Service Delivery System 

The Peer Support Advocate also shares the LSS Mission to live out God’s love by embracing, equipping, and empowering vulnerable people and demonstrates compassion, advocacy, respect, collaboration, innovation, and stewardship. The Program Coordinator is a highly collaborative individual with a shared vision.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include:

• · Active recruitment of potential participants in collaboration with our program partner Health Core Possibilities (HCP).
• · Conduct online interviews with participants to cover the description of the PSS program, requirements, and commitment.
• · Facilitate group meetings as needed throughout the recruitment, training, placement in the MH/SUD system, as well as post-graduation period as a PSS. 
• · Support participants through mentorship. 
• · Monitor individual progress, provide encouragement, support, and assistance to ensure every participant is able to meet their goal. 
• · Identify and follow up with participants who would benefit from additional support to complete training. 
• · Collaborate with community partners who have identified as placement sites for program graduates and locate new placement sites throughout the state of California 
• · Collaborate closely with participants to ensure that the program is engaging and successful.
• · Provide support to graduates in obtaining placements, successfully transition to their PSS roles, and support their continued development. 
• · Participate in events, meetings, and other activities related to program development and implementation.
• · Address the needs and concerns of participants with support and access to needed resources.
• · Document all client interactions into the LMS
• · Utilize and expand the PSS Job Board database as a directory for employment sites in the Inland Empire. 
• · Coordinate live synchronous meetings for participants and graduates to interact and learn from each other on how to become successful PSS. 
• · Maintain familiarity with CalMHSA and support participants through the state certification process.

Competencies: To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

· Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

· Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments.

· Interpersonal - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.

· Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.

· Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Able to read and interpret written information.

· Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback; Contributes to building a positive team spirit; Puts success of team above own interests; Able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; Supports everyone's efforts to succeed; Recognizes accomplishments of other team members.

· Leadership - Exhibits confidence in self and others; Inspires and motivates others to perform well; Effectively influences actions and opinions of others; Inspires respect and trust; Accepts feedback from others; Provides vision and inspiration to peers and subordinates; Gives appropriate recognition to others; Displays passion and optimism; Mobilizes others to fulfill the vision.

· Managing People - Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement; Takes responsibility for staff activities; Is available to staff; Provides regular performance feedback; Develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth.

· Cost Consciousness - Works within approved budget; Develops and implements cost saving measures; Conserves organizational resources.

· Ethics - Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.

· Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.

· Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements written below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education: High School Degree or equivalent. Lived experience as a consumer of mental health and/or recovery services. 

Language Ability: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Bilingual is preferable.

Math Ability: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Organizational Skills: Strong organizational skills, with strong attention to detail and task oriented.

Driving: Clear California Driver’s License (Must allow DMV check before hire with monitoring throughout employment) a working vehicle and proof of current vehicle insurance as required in the driving policy.

Computer Skills: To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Word Processing software and Spreadsheet software.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. 

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Driving is required for the position to attend meetings, fundraisers, trainings etc.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Stress level is moderate with occasional periods of high stress.