Peer Specialist (Strive Guide)

The firsthand STRIVE program will empower individuals to move into the self-management phase of their recovery journey. Individuals will qualify for STRIVE services if they meet social and clinical criteria and have a desire for less intensive services. STRIVE guides will support individuals as they move toward self-management by connecting virtually to prevent relapse and rehospitalizations, scheduling annual Whole Person Assessments (WPA) with fH Health Guides (Nurse Practioners), and working to quickly connect individuals with local resources when warranted.

The STRIVE Guide is a critical role in firsthand’s long-term care model, focused on building trusted, ongoing relationships with individuals living with serious mental illness to support their physical and behavioral health. By guiding members toward self-management, efficiently connecting them with local resources, and managing timely care escalations, STRIVE Guides empower those we serve. We are looking for creative, collaborative candidates with lived experience who embody our core values and thrive on finding innovative solutions for underserved populations.

As a STRIVE Guide, you will:

• Perform virtual outreach to individuals with serious mental illness and work closely with community fH teams to establish trust with individuals approaching self-management
• Conduct warm introduction sessions to describe fH STRIVE services and ensure individuals have a desire and understanding of moving to STRIVE 
• Be accountable to completion of initial introductory meetings with individuals, quarterly completion of assessments, ongoing continuous engagement, and scheduling and completion of HG visits for a panel of STRIVE individuals
• Empower individuals to identify and pursue their personal recovery goals, and complete quality documentation
• Ensure individuals are quickly connected with local resources in times of social or clinical crisis
• Serve as primary point-of-contact for individuals, facilitating ongoing engagement
• Communicate key information, progress, and pain points to integrated care team
• Support the implementation of STRIVE operational processes to drive the fH vision of a world where individuals with serious mental and physical illnesses live their best possible life 

You will be a good fit if you have:

• Empathy, compassion, patience, persistence, and a creative mindset as we work to build a ‘startup within a startup’
• Personal knowledge of recovery
• Excellent organizational, project management, and creative problem-solving skills, with a team-focused and continuous improvement orientation
• High degree of personal accountability coupled with a strong sense of efficiency and urgency
• Humility and willingness to “roll up sleeves” and dig into details
• An established track record of strong communication across national community teams
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable to changing strategies and needs for firsthand, its staff, and individuals served
• Desire to help people in need and support their path to wellness

The required experience you bring to this role includes:

• Lived experience with SMI and/or SUD
• State Peer Recovery certification, or eligibility and willingness to obtain certification within six (6) months of employment
• Demonstrated proficiency with technical tools like email, messaging services, and apps
• Two (2) years demonstrated recovery time from a mental health and/or substance abuse disorder at the date of application
• Team members will complete a paid training period prior to serving individuals and must pass assessments to move forward. 

Bonus points for:

• Experience with direct in-person engagement for individuals with SMI and SUD
• Expertise in recovery education and coaching
• Understanding of whole health and trauma-informed approaches to peer support
• Familiarity with local community resources, behavioral health systems, and the criminal justice system (e.g., mental health and drug courts)
• Eagerness to expand knowledge about a broad range of health conditions