Mental Health Coordinator/Peer Specialist
Kathleen Taylor
Advocates
Worcester,MA
1
Certification
14
years of professional experience
Certified Peer Specialist with inpatient experience and advanced state leadership training ready for a Supervisor role. Led peer recovery groups, enhanced communication between clinical staff and patients, and upheld departmental standards. Skilled in crisis stabilization and navigating social linkages, with a trauma-informed approach to support diverse populations. Currently developing Spanish language skills to assist multilingual patients.
Work History
Mental Health Coordinator I
2 Years 9 Months- Consulted with multidisciplinary hospital teams to elevate patient perspective and foster understanding of patient pressures, hopes, and recovery goals, contributing to a stigma-free environment.
- Consult with multidisciplinary hospital teams to elevate patient perspective, reduce stigma, and foster institutional understanding of patient pressures, hopes and recovery goals.
- Actively participate in WRCH committees, including being the co-chair to the addiction consult group to brainstorm system-wide solutions, maintain open communication across disciplines, and advocate for available resources.
- Maintain a calm, grounded presence and exercise sound judgment in emotionally charged or high-stress situations to preserve safety for patients and staff.
- Verify that peer-led activities and documentation meet departmental standards.
Senior Peer Specialist/Human Rights Officer
4 Years 6 Months- Provide high-acuity, one-on-one support to individuals in acute mental health crises, including those experiencing active self-harm or suicidal ideation.
- Collaborated with supervisors to review new hire progression and co-developed performance improvement and corrective action plans.
- Actively mentor, train, and provide daily guidance to junior peer specialists at a peer crisis drop-in program, ensuring all interactions align with program and agency guidelines.
- Navigate complex social linkages to connect individuals with essential community resources, including detox facilities, higher levels of care, housing shelters, and addiction services.
- Acted as a Human Rights Officer in a group living environment; educated staff and residents on rights, facilitated self-advocacy, and documented formal human rights complaints.
- Maintained, and updated a comprehensive community resource index to equip staff with essential tools for supporting program participants and community members.
- Advocates, a nonprofit organization providing comprehensive services for people facing developmental, mental health, or other life challenges.
Peer Specialist
10 Months- Delivered trauma-informed peer support to individuals in transition, fostering resilience and stability during short-term residential respite.
- Facilitated community integration and self-advocacy, empowering individuals to identify natural support networks and establish self-directed recovery goals.
- Facilitated peer support groups to promote recovery and wellness among participants.
- Supported respite guests on learning coping strategies and available community resources.
- Facilitated group discussions to promote coping strategies and shared experiences among peers.
Unit Advocate
3 Years 2 Months- Coordinated development and implementation of annual vocational and personal goal plans for dedicated caseload of program members, enhancing individual growth and engagement.
- Ensured strict compliance with Department of Mental Health (DMH) documentation requirements to safeguard program funding and verify service efficacy.
- Organized community outings and taught professional technical skills to promote community integration and foster belonging among program members.
- Eliot Community Human Services is a nonprofit provider of behavioral health and human services in communities throughout Massachusetts.
Intern
4 Months- Collaborated in interdisciplinary drug court team meetings with legal and social service professionals to assess client compliance and coordinate placement into targeted treatment programs.
- Observed formal court proceedings regarding protection orders and probation violations, gaining a robust structural understanding of systemic client rights and advocacy.
- Conducted meetings with individuals on probation to discuss compliance and expectations.
- Assisted in case management processes by organizing and maintaining accurate client records.
Education
BS - Human Services
Honor: Summa Cum Laude, Sterlite Scholar
Skills
Professional Skills People Leadership & Mentorship
Clinical Liaison & Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration
Crisis Intervention & De-escalation
Recovery Plan Development
Program Compliance
Trauma-Informed Advocacy
Co-Occurring Disorders
Dual recovery
Substance Use and Harm Reduction Support
Detox & Level of Care Referrals
Relapse Prevention Navigation
Intentional Peer Support (IPS)
Case Documentation Systems
Microsoft Office Suite
Addiction awareness
Crisis management
Certification
- Aspiring Supervisor Program | Center for Staff Development (CSD), Commonwealth of MA | 2026
- Certified Peer Specialist | The Transformation Center, Worcester, MA | 2015
- Intentional Peer Support (IPS) Certification | Wildflower Alliance, Springfield, MA | 2022
- Trauma-Informed Peer Support & Peer Trauma Guide | Kiva Center, Worcester, MA | 2021
- Living With Suicide Certification | Kiva Center, Worcester, MA | 2022
- Continuous Professional Development: Completed over 13 advanced professional development and leadership courses via the Commonwealth's Center for Staff Development.
Timeline
Mental Health Coordinator I
Massachusetts, Department of Mental Health
11.2023 - CurrentRead More
Senior Peer Specialist/Human Rights Officer
Advocates
02.2022 - CurrentRead More
Peer Specialist
Kiva Center Respite
04.2021 - 02.2022Read More
Unit Advocate
Eliot Community Human Services, Clubhouse Program
04.2015 - 06.2018Read More
Intern
Probation Department
01.2013 - 05.2013Read More
Fitchburg State University
BS from Human Services
Read More
Community Leadership & Volunteerism
- Community Family Advocate & Crisis Resource Liaison, Massachusetts, 2018-01, Present, Sought out by community members as a trusted liaison due to established expertise in mental health advocacy and crisis stabilization., Provide voluntary crisis navigation and immediate emotional grounding to local families managing unexpected psychiatric emergencies., Empower parents to actively and effectively advocate for their children within complex educational, clinical, and state institutional frameworks., Leverage an extensive knowledge of regional healthcare networks to connect families with wrap-around outpatient services, youth advocacy groups, and natural support circles., Connect families with networks of both systemic mental health resources and natural, community-based support systems to facilitate family’s ability to navigate complex system and advocate for themselves or family member., Impact Note: Provided critical crisis guidance and resource navigation to over 10 community families and individuals during acute distress periods in 2025 alone.
- Massachusetts Dual Recovery Committee Member, 10+ years, Co-organized and facilitated annual recovery retreats and educational workshops, promoting evidence-based, recovery-oriented practices across the state.