RSS Peer Specialist

The RSS Peer Support Specialist (PSS) will provide wraparound recovery support services to individuals facing significant barriers to self-sufficiency, including substance use, mental illness, incarceration, homelessness, poverty, and involvement with the criminal legal system. PSS will work alongside participants and care managers to provide non-clinical support across all programming, which includes behavioral and physical health services, emergency and long-term housing support, skills training, and employment assistance.

Specific goals of the Peer Support Specialist includes serving an additional 100 clients per year and supporting participants to achieve improved outcomes in the arenas of income, health, housing, purpose, and community integration, in alignment with the SAMHSA definition of recovery.

PSS will be equipped to oversee and streamline all peer support-related initiatives currently in place at Empowerment, as well as to begin new projects within existing programs as opportunities and needs are presented by the community served.

• Manage case load of around 20-30 participants enrolled in services.
• Provide at least 1 group per month to program and agency participants. Peer Support Specialist should lead non-clinical, peer-driven, and participant-centered support groups aligned with SAMHSA's four dimensions of recovery (Health, Home, Purpose, and Community).
• Recommend appropriate courses and activities for new participants
• Collaborate with agency case managers to best serve new participants when appropriate
• Must document accurately and in a timely manner participant progress through progress notes, service plans and follow-up contacts according to agency policy and procedure.
• Provide referral, linkage, and advocacy for participants, assisting them in obtaining needed benefits and resources including, but not limited to, housing, social security, employment, medical, recreation, social and family supports, nutrition and wellness information and medication.
• Help participants to recognize and utilize their own strengths, skills, talents and abilities to increase the participant 's independence and self-sufficiency in the community.
• Meet with new participants to conduct intakes.
• Attend agency required staff meetings.
• Performs other duties as required and/or assigned by supervisor and/or executive staff.

This position will be held by a person who has sufficiently progressed in their own recovery from substance abuse and/or mental health disorders and is willing to self-identify as a peer and work to help others with similar challenges.

Minimum 1 year sobriety (current MAT acceptable).