Committee approves pay grade and six county positions for certified peer specialists

Chautauqua County’s Human Services Committee approved setting the salary/pay grade for certified peer specialists to match the county's mental hygiene senior caseworker and authorized six budgeted positions to replace contracted services.

Trish McClanahan, deputy director for the Department of Mental Hygiene and Social Services, told the committee certified peer specialists use their lived experience to help clients engage with services and support recovery. "They have a superpower of being able to share their lived experience in a professional..." McClanahan said, explaining the role is billable and complementary to care coordination.

McClanahan detailed certification requirements: completion of 12 training modules, 2,000 hours of supervised experience before certification and 20 continuing‑education hours every two years. The county budgeted six peer positions for 2025 that are intended to replace existing contracted peer services, keeping the resolution budget‑neutral overall. Committee members asked about outreach and recruitment; McClanahan said Human Resources will advertise (including posting on the county website and job boards such as Indeed) and conduct targeted recruitment and interviews.

Members also heard fiscal context for the policy: peer‑delivered services can prevent hospital admissions and downstream costs. Committee discussion emphasized hiring processes, candidate screening in interviews, and ensuring candidate commitment and lived‑experience suitability for the role. The committee approved the pay‑grade resolution by voice vote and directed HR and Mental Hygiene staff to begin recruitment and report back with hiring progress.