Certified Young Adult Peer Support–Knoxville

Summary

If you’ve navigated mental health, education, or other youth-serving systems yourself and want to use your experience to help others, this role offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of young adults during a critical stage of transition to adulthood.

We’re seeking a compassionate, motivated young adult with lived experience in the behavioral health system to join our team as a peer support professional serving transition-age youth (18–25). In this role, you’ll build supportive relationships, help young adults overcome barriers, connect them to resources and services, advocate alongside them, and empower them to navigate school, mental health, housing, employment, and community systems with confidence.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who is passionate about youth mental health, enjoys connecting with others, values teamwork, and wants to turn personal experience into purpose-driven work. You’ll receive training, professional development opportunities, and the chance to be part of a mission-focused organization committed to supporting young people and families across Tennessee.

Description

Duties & Responsibilities/Principal Activities:

· Assist young adults with obtaining service and overcoming barriers to accessing services

· Provide advocacy, support and information for young adults within the mental health, education, juvenile/adult criminal justice, child welfare, and other systems

· Collaborate with community partners to provide community-based peer stabilization services to youth/young adults between the ages of 18-25 identified as needing support.

· Ensure appropriate documentation is completed in a timely manner (e.g. consent, release of information, progress notes, etc.)

· Support young adults (and family when appropriate) in successful implementation of established safety plan when needed

· Facilitate referrals to community resources, including TDMHSAS programs (e.g. Healthy Transitions, First Episode Psychosis Initiative, CYAPSS, etc.)

· Advocate for young adult’s needs and assist (and their family as appropriate) in navigating various systems (e.g. school, behavioral health, etc.)

· Facilitate transition to appropriate community-based resources

· Assist young adults and caregivers through the process of transitioning to adulthood.

· Represent youth, young adult, and family voice at community meetings.

· Network and educate community members to promote the program as required.

· Other duties as assigned

Requirements

Qualifications: Minimum of high school diploma or equivalent. Must be a young adult with SED with personal experience in navigating the system through the transitional years. Non-profit organization experience and work history within child serving systems preferred. Certification eligible.

Skills & Knowledge Required:

· Experience in special education and youth mental health gained by navigating the mental health, education, and other child serving systems, as well as knowledge of accessing services in the adult system.

· Must have good communication skills and a natural ability to establish rapport with young adults and families as well as work collaboratively as a member of a team.

· Must possess the ability and desire to learn new skills to include cultural competency, special education policies, procedures, and rights, addressing the needs of transition age youth.

· Effective self-care and independent living strategies.

· Strength-based interventions and positive reinforcement.

· Personal Qualities: Must possess good “people skills”, listening skills and organizational skills including maintaining records/documentation, basic computer skills, and time management.

· Ability to travel, access to reliable transportation and current auto insurance required.

· Ability to meet with clients served in home and in the community.

· Access to reliable home internet is required.