Peer Support

Join our Team!

Community Options has an exciting opportunity within the Behavioral Health Department in the Rehabilitation Division as a Peer Support. This position involves sharing personal and practical experience, knowledge, and first-hand insight to benefit clients. With this position, services are delivered by trained and certified individuals in mental health, substance use, or brain injury to promote hope, self-determination, and skills to achieve long-term independence in the community. Peer Support Services are community-based and are expected to be in the community 85% of the workday. Work will be done primarily in the individual's home and community. The Peer Support will serve as a role model, mentor, advocate, and motivator to clients to help prevent relapse and promote long-term independence. Peer Support must demonstrate an ability to share personal experiences and to develop authentic peer-to-peer relationships and must understand and respect each client’s unique path to recovery.

Who are we?

Community Options is a statewide organization with ten offices across North Dakota and countless programs tailored to individuals. Through our person-centered approach, we can assist many people to recognize their potential.

Community Options works with individuals from all walks of life. Through our person-centered approach, we offer support services to aid people who have experienced:

• Low-income or poverty
• Homelessness
• Justice Involved
• Mental health diagnosis
• Addiction
• Single parents

Why Community Options? 

• Health, Vision, and Dental insurance
• Paid leave time
• Paid Holidays
• 401k
• Life insurance
• Rewarding work impacting the lives of those you serve!
• Some benefits may vary depending on position and employment status

The salary for this position is $17.34 - $20.40 an hour, depending on experience (DOE).

• Requires a high school diploma or general equivalency (GED); must demonstrate the ability to read and write at a level proficient enough for training, documentation, and the type of work peer support will require.
• Self-identify as an individual who has personal lived experience and is willing to publicly identify as an individual in recovery from a mental health disorder, brain injury, substance use disorder, or combination. Preference will be given to individuals who have at least one year of personal successful recovery.
• A strong desire to assist others achieve personal recovery, be knowledgeable about mental health services and resources offered in your community and prefer working with clients in their home and natural environments.
• A valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, reliable transportation, and proof of insurance for the vehicle subject to the statute of the licensing state and the ability to travel based on operational and clientele needs. This may include travel to outer, surrounding regions as assigned.
• Successful completion of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) approved Certified Peer Specialist training and certification exam or the ability to obtain the certificate within the first 3 months of employment.
• Successfully pass a criminal background check, drug screening, and obtain ND Department of Human Service (DHS) pre-employment approval.
• Completion of training as required by Community Options.

• Communicate information clearly, concisely, and accurately.
• Read, write, understand, and apply written instructions in English.
• Complete basic computer-related tasks.
• Make ethical and professional decisions.
• Organize and manage tasks.
• Provide quality customer service.
• Work as part of a team.
• Commitment to company values.

• Team player; good organizational and communication skills.
• Knowledge of community events and opportunities for customers.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation(s) may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, employees are required to have the ability to climb (stairs), balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach (above shoulder), bend, twist, sit, stand, walk, push, pull, lift, grasp, fine motor manipulation, talk, hear, and complete repetitive motions; swimming may be required in direct care roles. Must occasionally lift and/or move objects weighing up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Employees may be subject to working with customers who exhibit behaviors that would require the employee to use possible physical de-escalation techniques.
• Work Environment: Employees work in indoor and/or outdoor environments, i.e., office, home, or community setting. Employees are required to operate a motor vehicle and travel as deemed necessary. Assigned work shifts and locations will vary depending on the customers’ and/ or agency's needs.

NOTE: The duties listed are not intended to be all-inclusive. Responsibilities assigned to any individual employee are at the discretion of the appointing authority.

Community Options exists to help people live individually and be active in their community.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Community Options does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, genetics, religion, age or disability in employment or the provisions of services and complies with the provisions of the North Dakota Human Rights Act.