Client Advocate Assistant - Roads of Independence (Pee Dee)

Full Job Description

Are you passionate about making a real difference in people's lives? Join our team at the Office of Mental Health where we are dedicated to providing compassionate and accessible care to our community.

We are seeking a Client Advocate Assistant who is motivated to help individuals and families navigate life's challenges and achieve long-term wellness.

If you want to use your skills to build a healthier, more resilient community, we encourage you to apply.

This position is located at the SC Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) - Office of Mental Health, Pee Dee Mental Health Center, 125 East Cheves Street, Florence, SC 29506. The Roads of Independence program is based out of the 607 W. Evans Street, Florence, SC location.

Responsibilities for the Client Advocate Assistant:

Serve as an active member of the client's treatment team. Advocate for services requested by the client.

Provide structured, youth-centered engagement activities that support active participation in treatment and recovery-oriented services while helping youth and young adults navigate systems of care that align with their individual needs and preferences.

Coordinate outreach efforts and community events to foster connection and accessibility, and strategically share lived experiences to promote hope, resilience, and recovery.

Serve as a bridge between youth, service providers, and practitioners, help reduce identifiable behavioral and physical health risks while participating in coaching and mentoring interventions that encourage self-advocacy, social connection, healthy lifestyles, and successful transitions into adulthood.

Engage in advocacy and policy or systems-change initiatives, support youth in gaining information, skills, and connections to community resources, and promote positive, strengths-based messaging that elevates youth voice and leadership.

Offer clients hope of recovery from mental illness by sharing their own recovery stories and by teaching clients how to tell their own recovery stories effectively.

Use their unique recovery experience to model the value of every individual's recovery experience and to teach effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.

With assistance from a supervising MHP, will document the following the client's treatment plan:

• Identified, person-centered strengths, needs, abilities, and recovery goals.
• Interventions to assist the consumer with reaching their goals for recovery.
• Progress towards goals.

Maintain a working knowledge of current trends and developments in the areas of mental health through relevant materials and through continuing education when offered by the Office of Human Affairs and SCDBHDD.

Requirements

• A high school diploma or GED equivalent and be able to self-identify as a person who has or is receiving mental health services as a youth with lived experience and is prepared to use that experience in helping youth with mental health conditions.

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to lift five (5) pounds.
• Ability to drive a state vehicle.
• Can demonstrate one (1) year volunteer service and/or experience with other youth-serving organizations (child welfare, juvenile justice, foster care, education, etc.)
• Be able to meet OMH credentialing requirements.

Qualifications

• Bilingual abilities in English and Spanish (or another language) are a plus.
• Between the ages of 18-30.

Additional Information

Post hire, employees must:

• Be able to provide structured engagement activities for active participation in treatment services.
  
• Help youth navigate services and support that reflect their needs and preferences.
• Coordinate outreach and community events for youth and young adults.
• Strategically share stories to promote hope and recovery.
• Serve as a bridge between service providers and practitioners to reduce identifiable behavioral and physical risks.
• Participate in coaching interventions to promote recovery, self-advocacy, socialization, and healthy lifestyles for successful transition to adulthood.
• Participate in and advocate for policy and system change initiatives.
• Help young people gain information, skills, and connection to community resources.
• Promote positive messaging that supports youth voice.
• Be eligible to complete Certified Peer Support Specialist approved curriculum and ongoing training.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions including, but not limited, to lactation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

Supplemental questions are considered part of your official application. Any misrepresentation will result in your disqualification from employment.

Please complete the state application to include all current and previous work history and education.

A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.

The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities offers an exceptional benefits package for full time (FTE) employees:

• Health, dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance for employees, spouse, and children. Click here for additional information.
• 15 days annual (vacation) leave per year
• 15 days sick leave per year
• 13 paid holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• S.C. Deferred Compensation Program available (S.C. Deferred Compensation)
• Retirement benefit choices *
  • State Retirement Plan (SCRS)
  • State Optional Retirement Program (State ORP)

*Enrollment in one of the listed plans is required for all FTE employees; please refer to the contribution section of hyperlinked retirement sites for the current contribution rate of gross pay.