Veteran Peer Support Specialist II

VOALA

Helping Our Most Vulnerable Change Their Life Stories

About Us:

VOALA Helping Our Most Vulnerable Change Their Life Stories Volunteers of America is a non-profit human services organization committed to serving people in need, strengthening families, and building communities. VOALA provides a variety of social services to Los Angeles area communities such as Head Start programs, Upward Bound college prep programs, veterans’ services, homeless shelters, low-income housing program as well as drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

Learn more la.org. PAY RATE: $23.11- $24.33 Per Hour BENEFITS: VOALA offers competitive medical, dental, vision and retirement benefits. Job Summary And Purpose As a staff member of the treatment team, the Peer Support Specialist II/Battle Buddy is an experienced and certified advocate who performs a wide range of tasks to assist peers in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery/reintegration process.

Based on similar experiences, this position offers the Veteran empathy, support, and advice as challenges are faced along the way. Peer Support/Battle Buddies will provide outreach, support, mentoring/coaching that empowers Veteran and Military Families (Mil Fam), and shall work closely with Veteran and Mil Fam to establish relevant resource linkages. The Battle Buddy adds experience-based competencies and real-world examples that complement the training and expertise of the clinical staff members.

• Share personal experiences, skills, strengths, ongoing support and resource referral in recovery from mental health and/or substance abuse issues.
• Accompany participants to appointments and meetings, housing searches, voucher application/issuance sessions, and any other veteran-centered activity.
• In coordination with the VPAN Squad Leader, assist participants in developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, supports and resources to aid them in achieving goals and plans; work with case manager or treatment team in needed steps for self-directed recovery (most often within the home of the Veteran)
• Assist participants with setting up and sustaining self-help (mutual support) groups and with locating and joining existing groups
• Acts as reference source for client to legal, community, social service, and administrative bodies as needed; facilitates support groups and client participation
• Assist VPAN Squad Leader with helping the participants identify and eliminate barriers and maintain employment/housing/sobriety
• Performs integration with the County’s Coordinated Entry System for housing (CES), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and other Service Planning Area (SPA) based systems
• Other duties as required and may be subject to change

• Services for this position must be provided on-site. As a result, the position requires incumbents to report to work on-site each day of active employment.
• Provide peer counseling
• Accompany participants in efforts to obtain benefits from various veteran and community support programs.
• Refer clients to legal, community, social service, and administrative bodies as needed
• Monitor assigned participants in the execution of recovery/service plan(s), to include home visits.
• Work with clients to remove barriers to full participation in aid programs.
• Monitoring support groups
• Learning functions of VPAN Squad Leader
• Perform integration with the County’s Coordinated Entry System for housing (CES), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and other Service Planning Area (SPA) based systems
• Other duties as required and may be subject to change

As service providers to the underprivileged and vulnerable in our community, all employees are considered Mandated…