Peer Recovery Specialist - Project Bridge Year 2

University of Colorado Anschutz

Department:
Psychiatry – Addiction Research & Treatment Services (ARTS) – Adult Outpatient Program

Job Title:
Peer Recovery Specialist – Project Bridge Year 2

Position #:  – Requisition #: 39488

The Peer Recovery Specialist operates within the Addiction Research and Treatment Services (ARTS) Adult Outpatient Program, located in Denver, Aurora, and Arvada. ARTS is part of the School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. Clinics provide drug and alcohol assessment, psychosocial and pharmacological treatment for adults, including traditional outpatient, intensive outpatient, and specialty services for clients referred by the criminal justice system, county departments of human services, pregnant women, HIV‑positive individuals and gender‑responsive services.

The role requires an individual with lived substance use disorder experience to support drug and alcohol assessment, psychosocial, and pharmacological treatment for adults who first enter care at the CU Health Emergency Department (ED) and transition into SUD treatment at the ARTS Potomac Street Center in collaboration with STRIDE Community Health Center Potomac Street.

This position engages, educates, and offers support to adults with SUD, their family members, and caregivers to connect patients to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and follow‑up sessions. It also conducts outreach activities with patients, staff, community partners, subcontracted agencies and other entities, travels to various sites, and performs other duties as assigned.

Working hours are a standard 40‑hour week, typically 10:30 am – 9:00 pm on any day, with Saturdays/Sundays required. Locations include the ED, ARTS, STRIDE, community, and other outreach sites. Hours and locations may change per project needs.

This full‑time position is supported by grant funds. Funding may change and the position is contingent on grant support and term limited.

• Coordinate assessment and treatment for individuals living with SUD first entering the CU Health Emergency Department.
• Communicate, facilitate, and collaborate among the CU Health Emergency Department, ARTS Potomac Street Center, and STRIDE Community Health Center Potomac Street to ensure a smooth transition to outpatient SUD and/or Medication Assisted Treatment at the ARTS Potomac Street Center.
• Leverage lived experience and recovery supports to encourage and support patients reluctant or hesitant to enter treatment.
• Be responsive to and affirmative of each patient’s individualized and differing needs.
• Follow up and outreach all patient participants, including those referred to the project but not admitted.
• Work with project staff to track project data and peer contacts.
• Facilitate peer‑led groups to support patient recovery.
• Track referrals and follow up/outreach regardless of the treatment agency to engage patients in treatment and offer recovery resources.

Onsite – expected to work onsite and located in Aurora, CO.

This position offers a unique opportunity for individuals with lived experience and recovery from SUD to use their specialized knowledge to support others living with SUD. Employees work in a supportive, professional, and nurturing environment that values evidence‑based, multi‑faceted care.

Benefits include medical, dental, additional insurance (disability, life, vision), 401(a) retirement with 10% employer contribution, paid time off (vacation, sick, holiday), tuition benefit, ECO Pass, and more. Please note that benefits are described generically; further details are available from the University of Colorado.

• High School diploma or General Education Diploma (GED).
• At least one year of professional experience connecting individuals in SUD treatment or addiction recovery to resources directly associated with SUD treatment, MAT, or addiction recovery.

• Associate’s degree or higher in psychology, social work, counseling, human services, or related field from an accredited institution.
• Prior experience in patient navigation and connecting patients to required…