Javier Soto
Pflugerville
Summary
Experienced Recovery Support Peer Specialist/Peer Specialist Supervisor with a decade of expertise in substance use and mental illness. Strong advocate for individuals in need, dedicated to providing top-notch service as a subject matter expert. Skilled in active listening and offering attentive support to those requiring assistance. Proficient in connecting individuals with community services and resources, eager for a new opportunity to share knowledge, collaborate with colleagues, and enhance peer support services statewide.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Program Specialist V
Health and Human Services Commission
08.2022 - Current
- I am a Subject Matter Expert who supports Mental Health Programs and capacity building programs. Those programs are:
- Mental Health Peer Reentry Pilot: I support 3 programs with technical assistance during monthly check-in calls. I periodically check-in with programs 1 on 1 and let them know they can reach out to me for any questions.
- Consumer Operated Service Providers: I support 9 programs with technical assistance during monthly calls and on 1 on 1's. I share all types of resources, events, and receive feedback on how to advocate for these programs. I receive their form N's which helps me navigate monthly topics where they may need extra support.
- Mental Health Clubhouses: I support 6 Clubhouses with technical assistance during monthly check-in calls as well as support them on 1 on 1 calls. I receive their monthly invoices and support them by making sure they spend down their fiscal year budget.
- Peer Organization Growth Academy: Worked alongside other professionals to outline and implement program plans and objectives. This program was less on hands approach, but I was able to advocate and support POGA by representing HHSC and showing up to online and in-person events.
- Recovery Oriented Systems of Care: Facilitate the Statewide ROSC Monthly call consistently and developing the calls tailored to the stakeholders. Provide strategic support for emerging and re-emerging ROSCs around the state. Work closely with our partner, TIEMH, to meet the needs of the greater Statewide ROSC.
Recovery Support Services Manager
Communities for Recovery
01.2020 - 08.2022
- Supervised 3 Peer Specialists Supervisors and 2 Recovery Support Peer Specialists. We abide by the Core Competencies & Peer Supervision Core Competencies.
- I managed our HHSC grant and SAMHSA grant. I supported our supervisors and coaches to make sure we hit our performance measures for these 2 grants. I also managed our financial assistance for these 2 grants along with 2 other grants.
- I facilitated our Staff and Coaching meetings to keep our Recovery Center Organization with up to date changes with mileage reimbursement rate, ethics, change of organization forms, recovery events, and staying connected with our partners.
- Trainer for the Developing Excellence in Recovery Coaching and Peer Specialist Supervisor
- Consistent with managing work emails with partners, staff, and committees.
- I have been a member of the Behavioral Health Advisory Justice Committee for 3 1/2 years. I have also been a member of the HHSC Behavioral Health Advisory Committee for 15 months.
- Adapted to a new way of coaching and supervising during the pandemic. (New Forms, Policy and Procedures, Stayed up to date with State and National Rules on Confidentiality, and learned a new data system)
- Learned and trained how to transition from Salesforce to Recovery Data Platform during COVID.
- Advocated by training out in our community on Recovery 101, Stigma, and Narcan training with a partner organization.
- Supported our jump from 14 Peer Support Specialists in 2020 to 24 Peer Support Specialists in 2022.
- Continued to have FUN when it came to self care and joining new organizations that incorporated wellness around Austin.
- Role Modeled professionalism to our 3 Supervisors and 22 coaches
- I started to learn how our budgets and allocations worked at Communities for Recovery and helped our Executive Director with multiple reports.
Peer Recovery Coach Coordinator
Communities for Recovery
07.2014 - 08.2022
- Hired as a Peer Recovery Support Specialist, so I had a peer circle of 20-25 peers that I coached
- Worked with men from different backgrounds such as: justice involved, treatment, and homelessness
- Helped peers to navigate resources around Travis County and help them help themselves to improve their quality of life
- I became a liaison working with peers who had justice involvement. (ex. Austin Community Court, Travis County Sheriffs Office, Family Drug Treatment Court and SMART program)
- Became the Justice Involved Coordinator in October 2016
- Supervise 5 Peer Recovery Support Specialists
- I have been working strongly with Travis County Sheriffs Office and building our relationships in working together as partners
- Facilitate Justice Involved meeting every Thursday called "Stay Out of Jail"
- Making sure sessions were entered at a timely manner for reports to be sent out to our contracts and community partners
- Advocate for my peers, self, and Communities for Recovery
- Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist/Recovery Support Peer Specialist trainer
- Peer Specialist Supervisor
- Overlook two grants to make sure we get in our data form SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Health and Human Services Commission)
- Certified Train of Trainers for Naloxone
Sales Manager
Journeys
07.2011 - 02.2014
- Lead and motivate team of 5-10 employees
- Hiring and Training
- Transfer Ins and Out of merchandise
- Doing weekly paper work, e-mail, and conference calls
- Meet and exceed all sales goals as well as helping team meet their goals
- Recruiting
- Plan weekly staffing schedules in compliance with payroll
- Provide feedback and coaching to the whole team
- Maintaining store appearance including back stock
- Identifying improper work performance and conduct appropriate disciplinary action
- Provide a fun environment for staff and customers
- Resolve customers issues
Sales Associate
Journeys
02.2010 - 06.2011
- My job was to make sure I made my goals for the company, and to maintain the warehouse
- My other duties consisted of helping new employees reach their goals, and understand company standards
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Texas A&M International University
Laredo, TX05.2010
Associate of Arts - Psychology
Laredo Community College
Laredo, TXSkills
- Team leadership
- Understanding social dynamics
- Problem-solving skills
- Trauma Informed
- Proficient in motivational interviewing
- Active Listening
- Instructing and Facilitating
- Confidentiality and Ethics
- Bilingual in Spanish (reading)
- Excellent communication
- Training and Development
- Mentoring and coaching
- Experienced in grant management
- Willingness to learn
Certification
Recovery Support Peer Specialist (RSPS)
Peer Specialist Supervisor (PSS)
Timeline
Program Specialist V
Health and Human Services Commission
08.2022 - Current
Recovery Support Services Manager
Communities for Recovery
01.2020 - 08.2022
Peer Recovery Coach Coordinator
Communities for Recovery
07.2014 - 08.2022
Sales Manager
Journeys
07.2011 - 02.2014
Sales Associate
Journeys
02.2010 - 06.2011
Associate of Arts - Psychology
Laredo Community College
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Texas A&M International University
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