Job Title: Youth Peer Specialist
Location: Kirksville, MO
Department: Recovery Support Services
Employment Type: Full-Time
As a Youth Peer Specialist, you will play a vital role in supporting individuals on their recovery journey. Using your own lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery, you will provide hope, guidance, and practical tools to help clients build resilience and achieve their goals. This position emphasizes empowerment, skill-building, and community connection to foster long-term recovery.
Key Responsibilities:
Partner with individuals to create personalized recovery plans.
Provide peer support, mentoring, and advocacy to encourage independence and healthy choices.
Assist clients in accessing community resources, medical services, and recovery tools.
Offer transportation and accompany clients to appointments when needed.
Facilitate group education sessions and provide crisis intervention support.
Maintain accurate documentation in compliance with state and CARF standards.
Collaborate with referral sources, guardians, and care teams to ensure continuity of care.
Pursue ongoing professional development and required certifications.
Position Perks & Benefits:
Employee benefits package - health, dental, vision, retirement, life, & more**
Competitive 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan – up to 5% match for Part-Time and Full-Time employees
Company-paid basic life insurance
29 Days of PTO for Full-Time employees
Emergency Medical Leave Program
Flexible Spending Accounts – healthcare and dependent child-care
Health & Wellness Program
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Employee Discount Program
Mileage Reimbursement ( when applicable)
Education & Experience Requirements:
Lived Experience: Must self-identify as a person in recovery from mental health and/or substance use disorder.
Education: High school diploma or equivalent.
Experience: At least two years of employment history and one year as a primary consumer of mental health services.
Training: Ability to complete state-approved Certified Peer Support training within six months ( if required)
Skills: Strong communication, empathy, and ability to share recovery strategies while maintaining boundaries.
Additional Requirements:
Must be 21 years old
Valid Driver's license and auto insurance
Why Join Us?
Make a meaningful impact in the lives of youth and families.
Be part of a supportive team committed to recovery and resilience.
Opportunities for growth through training and certification.
Position Perks & Benefits:
Paid time off: full-time employees receive an attractive time off package to balance your work and personal life
Employee benefits package: full-time employees receive health, dental, vision, retirement, life, & more
Top-notch training: initial, ongoing, comprehensive, and supportive
Career mobility: advancement opportunities/promoting from within
Welcoming, warm, supportive: a work culture & environment that promotes your well-being, values you as human being, and encourages your health and happiness
Brightli is on a Mission:
A mission to improve client care, reduce the financial burden of community mental health centers by sharing resources, a mission to have a larger voice in advocacy to increase access to mental health and substance user care in our communities, and a mission to evolve the behavioral health industry to better meet the needs of our clients.
As a behavioral and community mental health provider, we prioritize fostering a culture of belonging and connection within our workforce. We encourage applications from individuals with varied backgrounds and experiences, as we believe that a rich tapestry of perspectives strengthens our mission. If you are passionate about empowering local communities and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported, we invite you to join our mission-driven organization dedicated to cultivating an authentic workplace.
We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.
Preferred Family Health Care is a Smoke and Tobacco Free Workplace.
Brightli is the one of the largest behavioral health and addiction treatment providers in the U.S. We operate as the parent company of Burrell Behavioral Health, Preferred Family Healthcare, Brightli Foundation, Firefly Supported Living & Employment Services, Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health, Adult & Child Health, Comprehensive Mental Health Serivces, and Places for People (effective 7/1/24). Bringing these organizations together under one parent company is a groundbreaking solution to the healthcare needs of the communities we serve. Working under the parent company model allows us to share resources, increase access to care, and, ultimately, save more lives.
