Peer Support Assistant - Institute Juvenile Research

Extra Help
- Peer Support Assistant
- Institute for Juvenile Research

This Position is temporary and limited to 900 hours.

Hiring Department:
Institute for Juvenile Research

Location:

Chicago, IL USA

Requisition

Hours per Week: 32

# of Positions: 1

Workplace Type:
Hybrid

Posting Close Date:
Thursday, September 10, 2026

Salary:
The rate of pay for this position is $26.00 per hour.

UIC is among the nation's preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).

Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent "Best Colleges" rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities.

UIC has over 300,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.

This position is not eligible for benefits.

The Extra Help Peer Support Assistant will support the clinical trials team in increasing access to treatment for opioid use disorder, which remains prevalent on Chicago's west side. The Extra Help Peer Support Assistant will help grow the network of organizations working to expand services for our city's resource-deprived individuals and in so doing, increase referrals to our institution's federally qualified health clinic, Mile Square Health Center (MSHC).

In partnership with MSHC, our clinical trials division will make recovery guiding services available (through the Better Together study) to eligible individuals who begin a new treatment episode with buprenorphine for opioid use disorder.

• Assists with providing individuals with social services program information.
• Develops a rapport with clients/peers to create a safe space where clients/peers can be open and honest about their struggles.
• Develop relationships in the community.
• Maintains logs of and documents outreach, engagement, and follow-up activities.
• Engages in outreach and education activities at community and social service agencies, such as food distribution sites, needle and syringe exchange programs, city service centers, and health fairs or other community events.
• Understands and adheres to confidentiality and privacy protections for people with opioid or other substance use.
• May be assigned to attend local or national meetings and conferences to discuss peer outreach activities.
• Meets regularly with research and outreach team to track and manage community outreach, engagement, recruitment, and follow-up activities and to address recruitment and data retention issues.
• Participates in staff meetings, conferences, workshops, seminars, training sessions, and other activities which will provide meaningful learning experiences.
• Performs other related duties assigned.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Note:

This experience may include personal experience as a parent, guardian, or a loved one you have supported through such a journey.

• Have lived experience with opioid or other substance use disorders, or familiarity with populations living with substance use and/or behavioral health diagnoses.
• Knowledge about local high overdose or drug use risk areas and about organization of…