Peer Support Professional - Elkhart

Are you looking for a rewarding and supportive work environment with opportunities to grow? Join Oaklawn, where hope and healing begin, in addressing the mental health needs of our community.

Who We Are
Oaklawn is the leading provider of mental health and addiction services in Elkhart, Goshen, South Bend, Mishawaka and the surrounding communities of northern Indiana. We serve 27,000 children, adolescents and adults annually through treatment that spans the continuum of care. Our services range from skills training and case management to outpatient therapy and inpatient care, specializing in complex cases.

With nearly 900 employees on four campuses, Oaklawn offers unparalleled clinical training and robust opportunities for growth. Oaklawn has led ground-breaking initiatives in children's mental health, addiction treatment, cross-cultural outreach, housing for seriously mentally ill adults and more. Our staff have unique opportunities for advancement while working on the cutting edge of community mental health.

What We Offer the Peer Support Professional:
We offer a full benefits package and career advancement opportunities.
Starting rate is $16.10/hr.
Start earning PTO the day you start
Work life balance
Employee assistance program
Regular supervision to grow clinical/professional skills

What You'll Do as a Peer Support Professional:
Peer Support Professionals are in recovery themselves. Lived experience makes a difference. Peer Support Professionals have a credibility because they have "been-there-done-that" and they can recognize dysfunctional thought patterns and maladaptive behaviors people have in the beginning of treatment. Peer support isn’t a new idea – but it is a growing one, especially as providers grapple with homeless population.

Peer Support Professionals will:
Engage clients early in treatment
Connect clients with counseling, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), inpatient detox facilities and more
Help schedule appointments at Oaklawn or other providers and can help provide transportation
Help clients access resources such as jobs, safe housing, health insurance, transportation and recovery support
Help develop a personal recovery plan
Give guidance on the recovery process and recovery education; dispels myths about substance use and mental health issues
Advocate for the client
Provide outreach in the community
Insure hope that individuals can and do recover
A peer support professional provides peer-level support. They are not a therapist, counselor, doctor, sponsor, spiritual mentor or court advocate. However, at Oaklawn, they are a part of the treatment team and can advocate for the clients' needs.

Requirements for the Peer Support Professional:
High School Diploma / GED required.
Must have a valid driver's license and proof of insurance
Lived experience required.
Work hours may vary and may include evening and weekend hours.