Certified Peer Support Specialist - CORE

Wisconsin Community Service sis an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/Disability/Vet).

Job Code: 2026-SPECIALI-074

Location:

Milwaukee

Department:
Wraparound

FT/PT Status:
Full Time

Compensation: $19.00 - $20.00

Benefits include: Health,Vision, Dental, PTO, Holidays, Mileage Reimbursement, Retirement Savings Plan Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8 hours, 1 st Shift; may vary basedon participant need

Make a Difference Through the Power of Lived Experience

We are looking for a compassionate, motivated, and dependable Peer Support Specialist to join our team!

The Peer Support Specialist uses personal lived experience with mental health, substance use, co-occurring conditions, and other life challenges to connect with, empower, and advocate for individuals and families receiving services.

In this role, you will serve as a coach, mentor, advocate,and positive role model, helping individuals recognize their strengths, build confidence, develop life skills, and work toward meaningful recovery and wellness goals.

Through authentic relationships and person-centered support,you will help individuals and families navigate systems of care, overcome barriers, strengthen natural support networks, and build a path toward greater independence and improved quality of life.

Your lived experience can make a lasting difference.

• Provide Individualized Peer Support: Deliver one-on-one peer support to individuals and families in their homes and community settings, using lived experience to establish trust, encourage engagement, and model hopeand recovery.
• Advocate and Empower: Help individuals and caregivers navigate mental health,substance use, behavioral health, child welfare, and other systems of carewhile ensuring their voices, preferences, and needs are heard and respected.
• Buildon Individual Strengths: Work alongside participants and families to identify personal strengths, needs, barriers, priorities, and goals.
• Support Recovery and Wellness Planning: Collaborate with individuals,families, and care teams to develop strategies, plans of care, crisis plans, and ongoing recovery supports.
• Promote Skill Development: Provide coaching, education, encouragement, and practical support to strengthen problem-solving, self-advocacy, wellness,and crisis management skills.
• Connectto Community Resources: Help individuals and families access community services, natural supports, recovery resources, and other opportunities that promote stability and independence.
• Encourage Active Participation: Support engagement in services and recovery activities by accompanying participants to appointments, meetings, and community activities when needed.
• Maintain Accurate Documentation: Complete progress notes, case records, andother required documentation accurately and on time, following agency,funding, and regulatory guidelines.
• Collaborate as a Team: Participate in supervision, staff meetings, requiredtrainings, and team discussions to support quality services and positive outcomes.
• Provide Team Support: Assist with staff coverage and other related responsibilities as needed.

• High school diploma, GED, or HSED.
• Completion of Wisconsin peer support training or the ability to obtain the required peer support certification within one year of hire.
• Personal lived experience with mental health, substance use, co-occurring conditions, or related life challenges.
• Experience working with children, youth, young adults, adults, and families.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated cultural awareness and understanding of recovery-oriented, person-centered support.
• Abilityto meet agency and contractor requirements, including background checks,caregiver background checks, driving record reviews, and reference checks.
• Willingness to complete all required agency and program training.
• Valid Wisconsin driver's license, current automobile insurance, and reliable access to a personal vehicle.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Knowledge of mental health, substance use, co-occurring needs, recovery principles,and peer support practices.
• Abilityto establish respectful, trusting, and supportive relationships with individuals, families, and team members.
• Abilityto remain calm, professional, and responsive when supporting individuals experiencing difficult or crisis situations.
• Strong active listening, communication, advocacy, and problem-solving skills.
• Abilityto follow written and verbal instructions and demonstrate…