Familiar Neighbors Peer Support Specialist

Work, Serve, Thrive. With the City of Durham Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.

Hiring Range: $23.91-$28.66 per hour

Schedule:

Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. Full-time with benefits, 40 hours per week.

In 2022, the Durham Community Safety Department (DCSD) launched four 911 crisis response programs—collectively known as HEART (Holistic Empathetic Assistance Response Teams). Please visit our website and dashboard, watch this CNN clip, listen to this NPR segment, or read this piece from The Assembly. In 2025, DCSD has added a new division focused on Stabilization Services. This expansion represents an exciting new phase in DCSD’s development—and a thrilling opportunity to pair alternative response programs with stabilization services that can better support Neighbors.

The Durham Community Safety Department (DCSD) exists to reduce harm, extend care, and increase stability for our neighbors facing crises. Established in 2021, DCSD advances community-centered approaches to public safety that offer alternatives to policing and the criminal legal system. As of July 2025, our department is organized into two direct service divisions: 911 Crisis Response and Stabilization.

Familiar Neighbors is a part of our Stabilization Services support for neighbors navigating housing insecurity, reentry after incarceration, behavioral health needs, and other complex life challenges—connecting them to resources and longer-term support. DCSD also leads Durham’s Continuum of Care (CoC) and coordinates local homeless services to prevent and end homelessness through collaboration, service alignment, and strategic investment. Familiar Neighbors aims to connect to resources and build relationships with neighbors experiencing frequent emergency service, justice involvement, and/or serious mental illness.

• Complex Case Management:
  Proactively develop and implement care plans to address needs of individuals with high barrier needs (including working with those with Severe and Persistent Mental Illnesses and substance use); advocate for appropriate resources
• Community
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Work closely with HEART crisis response, PD, Justice Services, and Health Systems to creatively collaborate on behalf of neighbors who frequently utilize emergency services/are justice involved
• Peer Support:
  Provide intensive peer support services and resource advocacy as assigned, in the field
• Partnership Meetings:
  Represent Durham Community Safety Department by actively participating in housing, medical, and emergency response case conferencing
• Documentation:
  Reviews and maintains accurate documentation in accordance with local, state and federal regulations and policy.
• Works as a team leader to develop and implement care plans to address the needs of individuals; identifies, engages and makes referrals to community resources and other support areas or organizations; follows up to ensure connections are made to additional services; and provides peer counseling services.
• Trains new peer support staff; provides input into the work of other staff; and provides input into the development of training materials and programs.
• Responds to non-law enforcement 911 calls for service utilizing assessment and intervention strategies as part of a crisis response team with clear communication and teamwork.
• Ensures up-to-date knowledge and methods of profession by attending and participating in training, case reviews and other staff developmental activities; and provides input to department procedures and operations.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature and level as assigned.

• High school diploma or GED
• Completion of a mental health, peer support specialist, or equivalent certificate program
• Two years of related human services, substance abuse, behavioral health experience
• Must have a valid, unrestricted, North Carolina driver's license "or" if you currently have another state driver's license, must be willing and able to obtain a valid NC driver's license within 60 days of hire

• Ability to speak multiple languages with a priority on the Spanish language.
• Basic EMT certification as issued by the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services.