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Shaded band: the middle 50% of 797 posted behavioral health roles in Michigan rates. This role sits in the 18th percentile.
About the role
Pay for this role is about 51% below the Michigan median for behavioral health roles.
The Youth Peer Support Specialist acts as a resource for youth with serious emotional disturbances by providing one-on-one and group support to help them achieve recovery goals. They collaborate with treatment teams to empower youth in developing life skills and navigating behavioral health systems.
Position: Youth Peer Support Specialist (Union)
Position code: 26-54
Position Location: All Sites
Current Work hours: up to 24HRS/WK
Compensation Range
$17.13/HR-$20.28/HR
Position Dates: ASAP
Supervisor: Clinical Supports Supervisor
Date Position Posted: 8/17/2026
Internal Deadline: 8/24/2026
Requirements
High School Diploma/GED. Peer Specialist must actively pursue DCH certification as a Peer Support Specialist as soon as possible and not later than one year after beginning employment. DCH Group Home Certification required within the first three months of employment. Must be young adult, ages 18 through 28, who received mental health services as a youth. Experience receiving services as a youth in complex, child serving systems preferred (Behavioral health, child welfare, juvenile justice, special education)
Testing Requirements: Critical Thinking
All internal and external job applicants are required to use UltiPro to apply for this position. Please see the Sanilac County CMH website at www.sanilaccmh.org and click on “Employment”.
The Youth Peer Specialist (YPSS) will act as a support and resource for youth with serious emotional disturbances (SED) who are receiving services in the behavioral health system. The YPSS act as a key member of the treatment team by working with youth one on one or in a group, supporting them in achieving goals through shared activities and interventions. YPSSs will support youth empowerment by assisting youth in developing skills to improve their overall functioning and quality of life and working collaboratively with others involved in delivering the youth’s care.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following
Teach and role model the value of every individual's recovery experience.
Assist individuals we serve in articulating personal goals for recovery.
Assist individuals we serve in determining the objectives they need to take in order to reach their recovery goals.
Attend staff meetings to provide information and training on Recovery and Peer Support.
Assist individuals we serve in setting up and sustaining self-help (mutual support) groups.
Assist individuals we serve in creating a Wellness Recovery Action Plan(WRAP).
Develop and implement groups to enhance Recovery for persons served.
Utilize and teach problem solving techniques with individuals and groups.
Support the vocational choices individuals receiving services make and assist them in overcomingjob-related anxiety.
Assist individuals we serve in building social skills in the community that will enhance job acquisition and tenure.
Assistother staff in identifying program environments that are conducive to recovery; lend their unique insight into mental illness and what makes recovery possible.
Attend treatment team meetings to promote use of self-directed recovery skills for the individuals we serve.
Model effective coping techniques and self-help strategies. Attend relevant seminars, meetings, and in-service trainings whenever offered.
Provide trainings to other professional staff as well as the community on recovery and peer supports.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Competencies for professional staff
Sanilac CMH staff are dedicated to providing services to the community to improve lives.
When they see a task that needs to be completed, they step in to assist or are first in line to help the Agency in promoting recovery, discovery, and independence.
Each staff member works within their strengths and collaborates with their coworkers so that collectively we are a stronger whole.
Staff provide positive feedback and suggestions to improve the quality of care in the Agency.
They hold their coworkers, the individuals they serve and the community in high esteem.
To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:
Initiative/Organization/Reasoning
Takes initiative and steps in to take on difficult challenges.
Is a self-starter in attaining job objectives.
Willing to identify problems and work to resolve them in the early stages.
Plans and organizes work activities and uses time efficiently.
Properly organizes and carries out job tasks in a timely manner.
Know and understands job expectations and is willing to expand job knowledge and skills to be more effective to the Agency and the individuals served.
Is enthusiastic about the Agency’s Mission and is a positive influence for co-workers and individuals served.
Demonstrates an understanding of and adherence to Agency policies and procedures and is willing to provide suggestions to make policies and procedures more efficient.
Is willing to think outside of the box while able to make sound decisions and taking actions based on sound reasoning and weighing possible outcomes.
Ethics/Teamwork
Consistently treats all people with dignity and respect.
Demonstrates expected morals and principles.
Accepts responsibility for actions and follows through on commitments.
Demonstrates ability and willingness to work cooperatively and effectively as part of a team.
Willingly acknowledges team members and co-workers’ value to your work.
Emotional Intelligence
Verbal and written communication is constructive, effective, respectful, and clear.
Willing to take the time to learn about co-workers’ personality so that working together is more effective.
Willingness to ask questions, listen to others’ ideas, and understand how the impact of your work, impacts your co-workers/team.
Willing/Ability to be cost conscious.
Staff are expected to learn and understand job functions and carryout tasks in a proficient manner.
Supervisory responsibilities
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.
Qualifications: REQUIREMENTS Peer Support Specialist
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The Youth Peer Support Specialist must have reached and demonstrated a level of recovery to function as a consistent and stabilizing influence for the individuals we serve. They must also meet all eligibility requirements for certifications as Youth Peer Support Specialists by the Michigan Department of Community Health which includes:
1. Young adult, ages 18 through 28, who received mental health services as a youth. 2. Experience receiving services as a youth in complex, child serving systems preferred
(Behavioral health, child welfare, juvenile justice, special education)
1. Trained in the MDHHS approved curriculum and ongoing training model.
Education and/Or experience
High School Diploma/GED. Peer Specialist must actively pursue DCH certification as a Peer Support Specialist as soon as possible and not later than one year after beginning employment. DCH Group Home Certification required within the first three months of employment.
Language skills
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
Mathematical skills
Basic Skills
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Has the ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
Reasoning ability
Intermediate Skills
Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
Computer skills
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Word Processing software. Typing speed of 45 wpm is recommended.
Certificates, licenses, registrations
Valid Chauffeurs' Licensed.
Other skills and abilities
Physical demands
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 accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee must be able to lift no less than 50 pounds as needed. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Work environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works near machinery or in vehicles, is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The employee frequently works in areas where universal precautions and confrontation avoidance techniques are required, and is occasionally exposed to risk from body fluids or client actions. The noise level in the work environment is quiet to moderate.
The work environment will include the program site, agency activities and vehicles, and the community at large. Year round driving with or without consumers in the vehicle may be required.
Sanilac County CMH embraces an employment environment that promotes recovery and discovery, a person-centered approach to treatment/services, and cultural competence. An employee in this or any position is expected to support the employment environment. This includes having lived experience with behavioral health issues.
Market context
Michigan behavioral health roles stay competitive
Behavioral health openings in Michigan often draw steady interest because employers need independently licensed clinicians who can provide consistent weekly availability. For this LMSW role, competition may center on licensure status, schedule flexibility, and readiness to meet a 25-session, 30-hour weekly commitment. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time versus reading the full posting, then confirm your Michigan licensure and availability before applying.
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