Peer Specialist

Overview

Progressive Life Center, Inc. (PLC) is an organization providing culturally sensitive human services to children, youth and families in the District of Columbia and surrounding Maryland, throughout Greater Philadelphia, and in most of Delaware. PLC offers foster care and adoption, independent living for youth aging out of foster care, family preservation, juvenile diversion, and parenting skills training. PLC has earned accreditation from the Council on Accreditation (COA) for its delivery of services and outcomes.

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The Adolescent Clubhouse provides recovery support for adolescents, age 12-17, who have completed or are currently engaged in substance abuse treatment. It offers recovery-support models and evidence-based programs designed to attract young people, with opportunities for socializing in recovery, as well as assistance with education, employment and other needed services. The clubhouse aims to strengthen youth engagement in recovery and other important systems to enrich adolescent development through schools and families.

• Guide and support program participants in completing the Seven Challenges harm reduction program.
• Maintain Clubhouse attendance records for all participants.
• Award Challenge Points to participants for exemplary behavior and maintain records of points earned to implement this incentive program.
• Provide recovery supports such as educational/vocational, family activities, life skills, and social/recreational activities in the Clubhouse and at other locations, as needed.
• Supervise participants on field trips and other activities outside of the Clubhouse.
• Assist with transporting clients, when necessary.
• Attend individual and team meetings.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalency with commensurate experience in working with adolescents with substance use disorders. Bachelor’s degree in behavioral or social sciences from an accredited college or university preferred.
• Peer Specialist certification or demonstrated success working with adolescents with substance use disorders and their families.
• Ability to communicate effectively with streetwise youth.
• Sensitivity to and competence in the cultural differences that are present among PLC’s service population.
• Ability to forge a mutually respectful partnership with persons served and their families in which they are helped to gain the skills and confidence to address any issues and problems they face.
• Conviction about the capacity of people to grow and change.
• Ability to work in partnership with other team members.
• Ability to set limits and maintain the helping role of the practitioner and to intervene appropriately to meet the needs of the persons served or other family members.
• Driver’s license and the ability to travel within Baltimore City and surrounding areas.
• Certificate in NTU Service Delivery Model within one year of hire.

We offer an exceptional benefits package with opportunities for personal and professional growth, including:

• Paid Holidays
• Paid Time Off

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
• Occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets and office machinery.
• Operate a computer and other office productivity machinery; manual dexterity for using a calculator and keyboard.
• Must be able to position self to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Must be able to navigate stairwells.
• Must be able to drive a motor vehicle and travel as required.
• Must be able to exchange accurate information by perceiving sound, vision, and providing oral and written information.
• Frequently move files weighing up to 20 pounds.
• Must be able to participate in fire drills or other drills during an emergency.

• Normal indoors office environment.
• Client, group or family homes.
• Community-based outpatient settings and community agencies.
• Transport vehicles (company or personal).
• Work areas may be noisy, irregular and unpredictable and can be stressful due to varying levels of recovery and symptoms.

Equal Opportunity Employer

PLC is an equal opportunity employer. PLC does not discriminate in employment on account of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, military status, or other non-merit-based factors.