Sanford Health·Bemidji, Minnesota
Provide recovery support and advocacy to individuals with serious mental illness or substance abuse history using lived experience. Coordinate self-management support and connect patients with essential community social services.
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America’s heartland.
8 Hours - Day Shifts (United States of America)
Scheduled Weekly Hours: 32
$19.50 - $36.00 Peer Support Advocate: $19.50 - $26.50 | Associate Behavioral Health Counselor: $23.00 - $36.00
The Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team believes that the best ideas come from diverse perspectives.
Our team is a vibrant mix of mental health professionals from various fields, working together to achieve common goals.
We foster a culture of mutual respect, continuous learning, and innovation.
Our team enjoys a supportive and inclusive work environment with opportunities for professional growth and development.
Our make up includes medication prescribers, therapists, peer support, skills workers, vocational specialists, cultural specialists, nurses and co-occurring specialists.
The work is a great combination of being part of a close team and also independent.
The client base served is adults with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI).
Work location is flexible with opportunities to go into the community, home, and clinic setting with clients.
The Peer Support Specialist brings an important mix of lived experience and recovery knowledge to the team and clients, using advocacy skills, shared interests, self-disclosure, and strengths based approaches to build rapport and instill hope. This role requires a previous mental health diagnosis and treatment history but we also highly encourage those with a substance (alcohol or drug) use history to apply. Certification as a peer support specialist and peer recovery specialist is preferred but training and certification can be obtained after hire.
Team members have access to company fleet vehicles, work cell phones, licenses renewal reimbursement, dollars and training days for CEUs, peer led support groups and frequent potlucks/shared meals. We are highly collaborative and meet daily to review our caseload. Depending on work experience, applicants may also qualify as an Associate Behavioral Health Counselors (ABHC); this compensates at a higher rate due to requirements of periodic evening/weekend hours and completion of assessments and treatment plans.
Apply to learn more about our awesome team!
Peer Support Advocate Living in recovery from a mental illness or substance abuse plays an important role on a client-centered team approach to help individuals living with mental health or substance abuse difficulties walk their own road to recovery. The Peer Support Advocate is a non-clinical role that works collaboratively with health care professionals including physicians, nurses, behavioral health counseling staff, and support staff to assist in peer support across the health care continuum.
Associate Behavioral Health Counselor The Associate Behavioral Health Counselor requires a broad, yet solid, understanding of human behavior and theories of counseling. May work with a wide range of patient populations and presenting issues, requiring a foundation in a variety of treatment modalities. This role is a team-based role where responsibility for patient well-being is diffused among the treatment team and the overall responsibility lies with a clinical supervisor or admitting provider.
Works as an integral member of the health care team to ensure safety, best practice, and high quality standards of care are maintained across the continuum. Provides recovery support to individuals who can benefit from the peer's lived experiences.
Responsible for coordinating a wide range of recovery and self-management support for the clinic's patient population who are dealing with addictions.
Assists patients as they go through the diagnosis, treatment, and recovery process.
Provides recovery support in form of telephone calls or in-person recovery coaching sessions.
Seeks regular progress updates with patients.
Assists patients with support and connection to other essential social services that exist in the community.
Peers support individuals in identifying and articulating personal goals and objectives necessary for recovery and wellness.
Advocates for the patient in the care system or in other appropriate settings and systems.
Demonstrates HIPAA compliance.
Articulates the recovery process for patients and assists patients through a self-directed plan.
Has insight to the appropriate times to share personal story.
Relays the meaning and role of peer support.
Identifies the difference between counseling and peer support.
Differentiates between treatment and recovery goals.
Maintains a working knowledge of the current trends and development in the addiction recovery and peer support field.
Demonstrates ability to nurture healing relationships and healthy choices for one's own health, recovery, and wellness. Utilizes principles of cultural mindfulness. Adheres to own recovery program and demonstrates healthy choices for one's own health, recovery, and wellness.
The Associate Behavioral Health Counselor assesses patient needs, develops treatment plans, and implements treatment interventions specific to patient needs.
Continually assesses patients' progress and revises treatment plans and interventions accordingly.
Documents treatment sessions.
Provides patient progress updates to interdisciplinary team, as needed.
May educate patient support members about patient issues and interventions.
May refer for additional clinical services or to specialists, as needed.
Must stay current on emerging issues in the profession.
The Associate Behavioral Health Counselor may work in a variety of settings, with duties varying by setting.
In a clinic setting (other than primary care), the Associate Behavioral Health Counselor conducts scheduled face-to-face counseling sessions designed to assess and improve patients' emotional, mental, and behavioral health.
In a hospital setting, the Associate Behavioral Health Counselor may have a broad scope of duties, depending upon assignment.
Hospital assignments include psychiatric inpatient treatment and/or specific hospital units.
Psychiatric inpatient treatment duties include development, implementation, and evaluation of treatment plan, individual and family counseling, and consultation with all Mental Health Professionals.
Hospital unit duties include crisis intervention, assessment, and referral.
In a community setting, the Associate Behavioral Health Counselor coordinates and provides treatment for patients with severe and persistent mental illness.
This may include community-based interventions aimed at improving daily living skills, social skills, and self-regulation skills.
The community-based Associate Behavioral Health Counselor consults with a multi-disciplinary team to ensure treatment compliance.
In a residential setting, the Associate Behavioral Health Counselor coordinates and provides treatment for patients requiring a higher level of care than outpatient therapy; however, do not meet the criteria for psychiatric inpatient treatment.
Treatment occurs at the residential treatment facility and includes a broad range of duties: assessment and screening, individual and group counseling, development, implementation, and evaluation of treatment programs, and consultation and coordination with a multi-disciplinary team.
Must be at least 21 years of age and have a primary diagnosis of a mental illness, and be a current or former consumer of mental health services. Must be willing to share personal experience. Must have high school diploma, GED, or equivalent. Must demonstrate leadership and advocacy skills.
A valid driver's license may be required, depending on department/facility.
Preferred successful completion of the Minnesota Department of Human Services approved Certified Peer Specialist training. Once approved as a Certified Peer Specialist, must maintain certification. May also require successful completion of Sanford Clinic Navigation Certification, depending on setting. Preference of possessing a valid class D driver's license and auto insurance. Must maintain a good driving record. Preference of hire having access to personal vehicle and willingness to use the vehicle in carrying out position responsibilities. Basic Life Support (BLS) training and certification within six months of hire.
Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in behavioral sciences or related field preferred, and completion of a practicum or internship.
In Minnesota, must follow Minnesota State statute defining Mental Health Practitioner.
At least 4,000 hours of supervised experience in the delivery of services to persons with: mental illness, substance use disorders or emotional disturbances, traumatic brain injury or developmental disabilities,
OR,
Has at least 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours in behavioral sciences or related fields and at least 2,000 hours of supervised work experience in the delivery of services to persons with: mental illness, substance use disorders or emotional disturbances, traumatic brain injury or developmental disabilities.
Sanford is an EEO/AA Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.
If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-877-949-5678 or send an email to talent@sanfordhealth.org.
Must be at least 21 years old with a personal history of mental health diagnosis and treatment. Requires a high school diploma or GED and a willingness to share personal recovery experiences.
Market context
Behavioral health openings in Minnesota often reflect steady demand in community, residential, and outpatient settings, especially for candidates who can meet licensing, safety, and transportation requirements. These roles can be competitive because employers look for reliability, CPR/First Aid certification, a valid Minnesota driver’s license, and a clean DHS background check. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm your certifications and driving record before applying.