We named our company firsthand because we believe that lived, or “first-hand,” experience is incredibly valuable to gain trust and build relationships. The firsthand Guide is a critical role in our peer-led model, responsible for outreach and engagement of individuals living with serious mental illness to achieve and maintain behavioral and physical health and wellness. Trust is an essential element in successfully engaging people who have withdrawn from, or never received, services and supports that can improve their quality of life.

Our initial firsthand Guides are empathetic, supportive, and experienced individuals with first-hand knowledge of living with a psychiatric and/or substance use disorder, and are familiar with the intricacies of navigating a complex system of healthcare. Now we are now excited to expand our firsthand Guide role to people with lived experience of caring for people living with SMI and who have trained as Certified Family Peer Supporter.

As a Family Peer Supporter (firsthand Guide) you will:

• Perform community outreach to individuals with serious mental illness, including visiting their homes and other locations within the local community where they spend time, such as clubhouses, drop-in centers, homeless shelters, hospitals, and emergency departments. 
• Build trust and develop relationships with individuals living with SMI, by first identifying and addressing immediate needs.
• Draw on your own experience of supporting family members with emotional or behavioral issues as you work with the parents/caregivers to discover and support their loved ones values and priorities.
• Promote services that are family driven, youth guided, trauma-informed, and culturally competent and provide guidance, advocacy, and camaraderie for parents and caregivers of family members living with SMI and/ or SUD 
• Engage in care coordination to assist families in accessing appropriate mental and physical health services, and advocate for the individual’s personal goals with providers. 
• Provide coverage for after-hours calls on a rotating schedule. 

You will be a good fit if you have:

• Empathy, compassion, and approachability 
• Been or are currently the caregiver of an individual with behavioral health challenges (mental health/substance use disorder); and who has navigated service systems for at least one year on behalf of the individual.
• Excellent listening, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Comfort working as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Good computer skills

The experience you bring to this role includes:

• A high school diploma or GED
• Certified Family Peer Supporter (CFPS) approved by OhioMHAS
• Knowledge of the OhioMHAS Family Peer Recovery Services Code of Ethics
• A valid drivers license and clean driving record