Job 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