Omaha Peer Specialist

The Company

We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a wide range of services across Southeast Nebraska, supporting individuals seeking wellness, healing, and recovery.

The Job

The Peer Support Specialist utilizes their lived experience with mental health, trauma, substance use, and other significant life events to relate to, connect with, and support others as they navigate their journey. We employ the Intentional Peer Support framework to cultivate strong connections, foster community, and offer alternative service options.

Our Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a mission-driven nonprofit leader with proven skills in organization, communication, and time management. They have extensive experience in team supervision, program oversight, and regulatory compliance, and are dedicated to delivering ethical, person-centered services.

Grounded in Intentional Peer Support, the candidate fosters mutual respect, meaningful connections, and non-judgmental support. They are self-aware, open-minded, and value diverse perspectives. The candidate is adept at navigating dynamic environments, skilled in technology, and maintains professional relationships with staff, participants, and community partners. They lead with integrity and contribute to a culture of accountability, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

Why Join Us?

At the Mental Health Association of Nebraska (MHA), we foster a supportive and empowering environment where both employees and participants can grow, connect, and reach their full potential. If you are passionate about making a meaningful impact in mental health, substance use recovery, or supporting individuals affected by incarceration—and you thrive in a collaborative, team-driven setting—this is the place for you! 

Joining MHA offers both personal and professional growth opportunities, allowing you to contribute to a mission-driven organization while developing valuable skills and connections. 

What Will You Do:

• Provide Peer Support: Use personal lived experience to offer empathy, understanding, and guidance to program participants, fostering hope and recovery.

• Team Collaboration: Work collaboratively with the REAL team and other staff to support day-to-day program operations and participant engagement.

• Participant Engagement: Support participants in identifying personal goals, navigating services, and building self-advocacy skills in a person-centered, recovery-oriented manner.

• Documentation: Complete all required participant documentation, progress notes, and data collection accurately and in a timely manner.

• Training & Development: Attend required trainings, supervision, and staff development opportunities to enhance peer support knowledge and skills.

• Communication & Meetings: Attend team and staff meetings, contribute ideas, and participate in discussions that improve service delivery and team cohesion.

• Community Representation: Represent MHA-NE with professionalism when interacting with participants, colleagues, and community partners, consistently reflecting the organization’s mission and values.

• Ethical Practice: Maintain appropriate boundaries, confidentiality, and ethical standards in accordance with MHA-NE policies and the core values of peer support.

• Flexibility & Support: Assist with program activities, events, or outreach efforts as needed to support the goals of the team and the organization.

• Continuous Improvement: Offer feedback from a peer perspective to help improve services and participant experiences.

• Lived Experience: Personal experience navigating mental health, substance use, or co-occurring challenges, and demonstrated progress in recovery.
• Communication Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to share lived experience in a way that supports and empowers others.
• Empathy and Boundaries: Ability to offer support without judgment while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
• Teamwork: Willingness to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team and contribute to a supportive work environment.
• Basic Technology Skills: Comfort using computers, email, and basic data entry platforms, or a willingness to learn.
• Commitment to Ethics: Understanding and practice of peer support values and ethics, including confidentiality, self-determination, and mutual respect.

• Reliability: Ability to manage time effectively, meet documentation deadlines, and follow through on responsibilities.
• Knowledge of Resources: Familiarity with community mental health services, social supports, or local recovery-oriented resources.
• Experience in Human Services: Any previous work or volunteer experience in behavioral health, peer-run programs, or related settings.