Police Peer or Behavioral Health Responder -Joplin PD

Job Description Summary:

The Community-Focused Peer Support Specialist plays a crucial role in bridging community members with necessary support services. This position emphasizes community engagement, crisis intervention, and collaboration with law enforcement. Key aspects of this role include:

• •Lived Experience: Peer support specialists bring their own lived experience of overcoming mental health challenges or substance use. This unique perspective fosters empathy and understanding.
• •Holistic Approach: Peer support services focus on the whole person, considering social, emotional, and practical needs.
• •Reducing Stigma: By sharing their stories, peer specialists help reduce stigma around mental health and substance use.
• •Building Trust: Community members often feel more comfortable confiding in peers, leading to stronger relationships and better outcomes.
• •Trauma Informed: Services are delivered within trauma-informed principles

Responsibilities:

• •Community Outreach and Engagement:
• •Actively engage with community members to identify those in need of peer support services.
• •Build relationships with local organizations, community leaders, and residents.

• •Crisis Intervention:
• •Respond promptly when law enforcement identifies individuals requiring peer support.
• •Provide emotional support, active listening, and practical assistance during crises.
• •Help de-escalate situations and prevent further legal entanglement.

• •Resource Connection:
• •Connect individuals to mental health services, substance use treatment, housing, domestic violence, housing, and other community resources.
• •Collaborate with social workers, counselors, and other professionals.

• •Collaboration with Social Work Team:
• •Work closely with other members of the Police Social Work team.
• •Consult and coordinate services to ensure comprehensive support for community members

Perform all other duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements:

• •Typical physical demands include prolonged sitting, frequent standing, bending, and stooping.
• •Requires normal range of hearing and manual dexterity sufficient to operate keyboard, telephone, photocopier, calculator, and other office equipment as needed.
• •Requires ability to work under stressful conditions and to work irregular hours.
• •TB test upon hire.