Title: Mentor  

Classification: Full Time/Non-Exempt 

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Reports To: POWER Connection Supervisor  

Pay Range $21.00 - $29.00

Overview 

POWER's mission is to help women reclaim their lives from addiction and related emotional health issues and improve the well-being of future generations.  We are an agency committed to providing quality gender-responsive, trauma-informed treatment and recovery supportive services to individuals with substance use and co-occurring disorders. 

Job Summary:  

Mentors at POWER are employees with lived experience, and they provide peer recovery support services to high-risk individuals within Allegheny County.  The services that mentors provide are non-clinical and are most successful when combined with professionally directed care including drug and alcohol treatment. Mentors serve as recovery and wellness coaches by traveling to their client in the community while modeling healthy recovery, teaching the skills necessary to achieve and sustain recovery, and supporting clients in their efforts toward making recovery-oriented changes in their lives. Through a client-centered approach and within a Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC), Mentors assist their clients by linking them to needed resources and services in the community and helping them develop their own system of natural support. The key to the Mentor’s work is forming healthy growth-producing relationships, sharing success in overcoming barriers, and motivating clients to responsible action. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Provide on-going recovery support services to a case load of clients in various stages of their recovery process.Provide outreach and utilize assertive engagement strategies to connect with clients and help motivate them to consider beginning or strengthening their recovery. 

• Work collaboratively with the client to complete a needs assessment that identifies strengths and developing an individualized Recovery Plan based on concrete, measurable, realistic goals. Monitor progress toward goals.

• Identify and access needed resources in the community for the client. Promote the use of natural resources within the community.  Help clients become familiar with treatment, other service options, and resources.  Model and teach clients how to access available services for themselves.   

• Work with clients to identify and build upon their strengths and empower them by providing opportunities to direct their own recovery process.  Teach skills, and support mastery of skills, needed to support and facilitate an individual’s recovery. 

• Encourage and support individuals in accessing and remaining engaged in treatment for substance use disorders, as well as for co-occurring disorders or mental illness.  Using Motivational Interviewing helps to motivate clients to consider treatment and link to appropriate assessment services. 

• Work with POWER’s Nurse/Lead Health Navigator to assist clients in developing a holistic approach to overall health and wellness, paying particular attention to their primary health and preventive health care needs.  

• Engage and maintain regular contact with various treatment providers and other health and human service agencies, including CYF and the criminal justice system to collaboratively support clients in their efforts. 

• Provide education and information about self-help groups including, for example, 12-Step Programs, faith-based institutions or organizations, etc.; help connect clients to these community-based resources. 
  
   Minimum Requirements of the Role:  

• Must be at least 18 years of age and have a minimum of 5 years experience living with a substance use disorder, and a minimum of 5 years’ of demonstrated recovery.  Must be willing to share personal recovery experience. 

• High school diploma or GED. 

• Act 73, Act 33, and Act 34 clearances.

• Valid PA Driver’s License and vehicle insurance with a clean driving record. 

• Reliable vehicle to transport clients, including children, on a daily basis. 

• CRS (Certified Recovery Specialist) credential preferred; or ability to obtain certification by the Pennsylvania Certification Board (PCB) within three months of hire. 

• Proficient IT skills include competency working with Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint systems, and functional navigation in other programs and software.  

• Two years’ work history in a behavioral health care environment preferred  

Skills and Competencies: 

• Demonstrate sensitivity to the complexities of problems with alcohol and other drug use and the challenges of recovery; ability to establish empathy with clients and their families and focus on and reinforce strengths and positive behaviors. 

• Be open to a multiple-pathways approach to treatment and recovery services, including openness to supporting those engaged in Medication-Assisted Treatment as well as those choosing abstinence-based approaches.  

• Model and support clients and staff in health and wellness activities and using healthy coping skills. Understand and support a trauma-informed system of care. 

• Ability to work with diverse populations and cultural backgrounds; support POWER’s mission with a sensitivity of cultural diversity and workplace harmony. 

• Comfortable working independently, driving and meeting clients in the community and demonstrating a high level of energy and commitment.  

• Value for and ability to deliver excellent customer service. 

• Self-directed and flexible to meet the needs of administration and management, and ability to manage multiple tasks. 

Physical and Work Requirements: 

• Must  deliver services in the community; including but not limited to client’s homes, CYF offices, health care facilities/hospitals, the Allegheny County Jail, and other locations throughout Allegheny County. 

• Must maintain a reliable vehicle and to physically travel daily for the role.
• Must be able to navigate various weather patterns, and traverse uneven ground, walk slight inclines and navigate various flights of stairs to approach client homes. 

• Medical, RX, Dental, Vision
• 401(K) with employer match
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• EAP
• Educational Reimbursement
• Professional Development
• Staff meditation room
• Staff art room