0Afiya Bridger, 15 hours (Northampton)

Afiya Bridger, 15 hours, Northampton. Support individuals who are on the wait list to come in or who have recently left Afiya Peer Respite (based in Northampton). Offer phone and in person support in the community, assist with transportation, visit people or more restricted settings (hospital, jail, etc.), and help people fill out paperwork and/or get familiar with other community resources. May also be asked to assist with exploring whether or not Afiya is a good fit for someone interested in coming to stay.

Are you someone who is energized by intense conversations? Are you able to sit with someone who is thinking seriously about suicide, own your own fear, and stay present? Are you open to conversations exploring self-injury and how it is or is not working for someone? Can you listen and stay curious, even when someone is going through something you don’t fully understand or that sounds scary to you? Does the idea of supporting someone to make meaning of voices or visions sound like something you’d be good at? If so, then this job may be for you. $14.50 to $17.00 per hour (based on completion of core trainings and bilingual and related abilities).

Note: Although this position is 15 hours, the right candidate may be able to combine this position with one of our other positions available to form a 30+ hours position. Additional per diem hours offering support at Afiya will also periodically be available.

REQUIREMENTS: You MUST have first-hand experience with psychiatric diagnosis, trauma, homelessness, problems with substances, and/or other life-interrupting challenges. (This means that you yourself must have been diagnosed, survived trauma, been homeless, struggled with addiction or problems with substances, and/or similar.) A commitment to raising awareness of and undoing racism, transphobia, ableism, psychiatric oppression and other forms of systemic oppression is also required. Ability to remain present in intense/really difficult conversations and situations absolutely required. For this position, access to a reliable vehicle that you can use for work is required.

PREFERRED/A PLUS: Experience being hospitalized on a psychiatric unit or being incarcerated is preferred. Bilingual/bicultural (Spanish/English, ASL/English, etc.) a big plus. Training in Intentional Peer Support, Hearing Voices, Alternatives to Suicide, or similar a plus. Some past experience offering paid peer support and/or familiarity with psychiatric survivor, human rights, cross-disability and/or other related movements a plus.