DELAWARE GUIDANCE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN·Wilmington, Delaware
Provide peer mentoring, counseling, and advocacy for youth in crisis within the Mobile Response and Stabilization Services program. Support youth during risk assessments and maintain detailed documentation of services from intake through discharge.
This position is eligible for
Sign on Bonus $3500 Retention Bonus $875
Under the supervision of the Crisis Clinical Coordinator, the Youth Peer Support Specialist will provide peer mentoring services, include peer counseling, mentoring, support, and advocacy according to the needs, interests and perspectives of youth receiving services from the Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) program due to an identified crisis. The ultimate goal of peer mentoring is to engage the youth in the support available, advocate for the needs of the youth, and assist in transitioning into other support services that may be needed in the community.
The focus of the Youth Peer Support Specialist is to support the youth during the risk assessment that occurs when a request is made to the MRSS program and to provide ongoing mentoring while the MRSS case is open. The Youth Peer Support Specialist will work closely with the MRSS crisis clinician to help the youth achieve their goals and find stability in the community.
In addition, the incumbent is responsible for documentation of mentoring services provided from intake through discharge. This position is available due to grant funding that will end on September 30, 2025.
Supervisory responsibilities: None
Work environment: Community-Based, Office location in Lewes or Wilmington
Travel required: Travel to locations where the client resides or is located
EEO: Delaware Guidance Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice
Delaware Guidance Services for Children and Youth, Inc. (DGS) is the largest provider of outpatient behavioral health services to children and families in Delaware. We operate offices in Wilmington, Newark, Dover, Lewes, and Seaford, and we are the only statewide not-for-profit outpatient behavioral health organization for children and adolescents accredited by JCAHO. In 2020, we were honored as a Compassionate Champion for our dedication to serving youth and families using a trauma-informed approach.
Through DGS, clients and families have access to outpatient counseling, group therapy, parent-child interaction therapy, and school-based services.
Our community-based service lines serve youth and families who require a more intense therapeutic protocol.
DGS’ 24-hour statewide Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) dispatches skilled crisis intervention clinicians to provide immediate care to children experiencing behavioral health crises.
Therapeutic options are available for a wide range of diagnoses including depression, anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, traumatic stress-related disorders, and suicidal ideation.
In 2021, DGS clinicians provided over 54,000 direct care hours to children, youth, and families in Delaware.
Over 93% of clients report improvement in their level of functioning following treatment, and therapeutic benefits derived from trauma-informed care extend to clients’ siblings, caregivers, classmates, and peers.
Our client population is racially and ethnically diverse; 80% of DGS clients are Medicaid recipients and 90% have household incomes under $30,000. Many of our clients present with significant treatment challenges including learning impacts due to missed school and negative economic impact due to parental missed work. We provide care to anyone in need, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay for care. DGS also provides services specifically tailored to meet the unique behavioral health care needs of child welfare-involved families and foster youth
Why Work at Delaware Guidance Services?
Requires lived experience as a youth with behavioral health needs and must be a young adult aged 18-24. A high school diploma or equivalent and a valid driver's license with a satisfactory record are required.
Market context
In Delaware, behavioral-health openings for psychiatric nurse practitioners are often shaped by steady demand for access to mental health care, especially in settings that use telepsychiatry to reach more patients. This role is competitive because it requires board certification, an active unrestricted license, 4+ years of post-graduate experience, and comfort with EMRs; the listed pay and benefits reflect that level of specialization. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save research time, then confirm your telepsychiatry and documentation experience before applying.
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