Peer Mentor

Job DetailsJob Location: Madison, WI 53714Position Type: Part TimeEducation Level: Not SpecifiedSalary Range: $16.35 - $16.35 HourlyJob Shift: VariesJob Category: Behavior ServicesJob Summary

Peer Mentors support people with developmental disabilities to live, work and belong in their communities. 

Peer Mentors help people to:

Be independent
Learn problem-solving and self-advocacy skills
Build self-esteem and self-confidence
Set goals and make action plans
Prepare for their Person-Centered Planning (PCP) meetings and provide support at the meeting, if asked 
Connect to resources for public benefits, health and wellness, housing, employment, transportation, training and education, advocacy, and recreation

Peer Mentors are expected to: 

Share their personal life experiences about reaching goals
Share how they used services and supports to reach their goals
Share how they became more self-directed and self-empowered
Build positive, trusting relationships
Make a safe, understanding space for people to talk about their problems and challenges

Qualifications and Requirements

18 years old
Have an intellectual/developmental disability (IDD)
Willingness to share personal experiences to guide and support others
Experience receiving disability-related supports and services
Understand and explain individual rights
Obtain certification as a Peer Mentor by attending Peer Mentor 101 training and successfully complete a 90-hour internship 
Ability to work in-person and virtually
Ability to use phone, email, computer, and virtual technology 
Preferred experience:
lives or has lived independently (with or without support, not in your family home)
has or has had a job in the community, and
is actively involved in your community.

Knowledge and Abilities

Ability to be excited, honest, and upbeat with people
Ability to listen closely and work to find solutions to problems
Ability to support people to develop Self-Determination skills
Ability to find services and resources
Knowledge about local agencies
Ability to develop relationships with agencies

Duties and Responsibilities:

Duty 1 Peer Mentoring (70% of their work time)

Create good relationships with people they mentor
Get to know the people’s hopes and dreams
Develop a list of goals and action steps with people. 
Assist people in building their circle of support 
Assist people to connect with community resources to meet their goals
Serve as an advocate with family members and friends to assist the people in having self-direction
Participate in the person-centered planning process, when invited 
Spend time with people support them to reach their goals
Medicaid reporting: log the date of your meetings, the length of time of your meetings, what you talked about, if it was in-person or virtual meeting, next steps with the action plan. This reporting may be done using a computer. 

Duty 2 Ongoing Peer Mentor Training and Networking (15% of their work time)

Attend trainings in person or virtually to improve skills with mentoring, person-centered planning, independent facilitation, self-determination, community inclusion, employment, health and wellness, independent living, and transportation.
Stay involved with the Peer Mentor group through monthly and quarterly virtual meetings and other scheduled meetings.
Attend an in-person Peer Mentor retreat once a year 
Present about Peer Mentoring and self-determination at conferences, trainings and other events, when asked.
Provide group peer education on self-advocacy, self-determination, and rights.

Agency Requirements (10% of their work time)

Attend agency new employee orientation and training.
Complete all State, County, and agency training requirements.
Follow all agency policies and procedures, including code of conduct and ethics.

Educational Support (5% of their time)

Share information at meetings for people, staff, and funders about the role of a Peer Mentor and Peer Mentor services