Summary

This Senior Social Science & Behavioral Health Associate is a member of a multidisciplinary research team that provides recovery-oriented support to female Veterans.  This role manages, contributes to, and coordinates the Multifaceted Intervention to Restore Resilience and Overcome Risk (MIRROR) research project.  The successful candidate will leverage their prior experience in mental health recovery to support Veterans in their own recovery. 

Performs therapeutic and supportive tasks that include: assisting Veterans in articulating goals for recovery and personal wellness; assisting Veterans in learnings and practicing skills; monitoring progress, assisting in treatments; modeling effective techniques and strategies; and providing support for self-advocation in obtaining effective services.

The Senior Peer Support Associate will receive training and supervision in psychoeducation, webSTAIR, and exposure therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder to provide eligible Veterans with support in each of the various modules.

Job Duties

• Participates in the training and professional activities in the multidisciplinary research team in the MIRROR research project including attending scheduled supervision, coaching, and project meetings.
• Communicates, coordinates, and develops positive collaborations with principal investigator, research team, and patients.
• Uses prior experience to provide Veterans model coping techniques and recovery tools and relevant skills needed for self-management of health and wellness.
• Conducts environment safety checks, including possibility of partner’s presence and/or suicidal ideation, at each contact with the female Veteran participant. Escalates issues and alerts research team of participant concerns.
• Observes behaviors that might indicate difficulty adapting or responding to treatment (e.g. missed assessment appointments, risk to self or others, disruptive behavior) and reports to treatment team in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Monitors study engagement and home-based completion of participant tasks; providing support as needed for on-line models.  
• Organizes and plans tasks necessary for study success; guides study team on required tasks.
• Uses on-going individual and group meetings to teach Veterans how to identify and combat negative self-talk and overcome fears by providing a forum that allows Veterans to share their experiences.
• Informs Veterans about Veteran Affairs community support and resources, including how to effectively utilize them in the recovery and wellness process.
• Maintains confidential medical records.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Four years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• One year prior experience in supporting mental health recovery in an environment similar to the study.
• Working knowledge of current trends and developments in holistic approaches in wellness and recovery.
• VA Peer Support Specialist or Apprentice Certification.