Recovery Bridger (Recovery Learning Center

Facilitate and support people as they transition from varying levels of care (e.g. acute and continuing-care inpatient facilities, crisis stabilization units, respite beds, transitional homeless shelter programs) into natural community supports of their choosing. The Peer Bridger position will support people on a one-to-one and group basis by building a stable, trusting relationship with the person as they prepare for an upcoming transition.

Assist with the operation of peer-operated Recovery Learning Community (RLC) setting(s) in which people with lived experience of mental health conditions choose to join as participants and work collaboratively on their recovery goals along with their peers.

The essential job duties/responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to the information listed below:

• Serves as role model, mentor, teacher, advocate, and ally in order to best support and enhance the person’s transition back into the community.

• Educates and connects the person to community resources and services before and after discharge, and lead peer support groups in both the treatment and community settings.

• Fosters independence, hope, inspiration, and a sense of community.

• Shares personal experiences, provides advocacy, support, education, information, and training in recovery tools and techniques to people transitioning into the community.

• Meets with people prior to transitioning to inform them of community bridging services and identify natural community supports of their choosing.

• Collaborates with staff at inpatient facilities to facilitate transition into the community.

• Assists people in identifying and accessing resources, services, and support that they need and desire within their communities.

• Helps prepare people for successful transitions by transporting and accompanying the person to their community prior to discharge for information gathering, peer support and social networking.

• Meets with people in the community as soon as possible, to provide support and continuity of the relationship, to answer questions, and to continue to link the person to community resources.

• Educates and connects people to natural community resources (e.g. housing, grocery stores, bank accounts, laundry, public transportation, employment resources, etc.).

• Looks into and identify recreational activities accessible in a person’s community based on the person’s interests (i.e., book clubs, fishing, knitting groups, gym classes, etc.).

• Supports the development of self-advocacy skills and other strategies that promote recovery by teaching and modeling these skills.

• Promotes teamwork by demonstrating flexibility, the ability to listen to the views of others, to compromise, to handle conflict, and stay focused on a positive outcome.

• Helps participants access resources in their local community to support/enhance their recovery, including educational, employment, housing and social supports. Provide community linkage and support to people in various settings.

• Creates a welcoming and helpful RLC environment in which participants, family, friends, and others important in the lives of participants are welcome, respected, and valued.

• Performs other related duties, as required.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Willing to use and share their personal, practical experience of recovery process, wellness management, and the personal effort and commitment required for persons served to havea full and satisfying life in the community.

• Strong commitment to the right and ability of people served by Vinfen to live, work, have meaningful relationships and receive the resources and supports needed in their community of choice.

• Knowledge of recovery-oriented, person-centered and strengths-based values and principles and modalities

• Knowledge of psychiatric rehabilitation values, principles and techniques

• Knowledge of the effects of prejudice (including internalized negative attitudes about oneself), discrimination, and oppression of people with psychiatric disorders, and the effects of poverty

• Knowledge of motivational interviewing, stage of change and harm reduction techniques

• Knowledge of…