Peer Recovery Support Specialist

Job Summary and Purpose

Position will implement a recovery-oriented approach to help people with a substance use condition to initiate and sustain their recovery.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assisting participants in identifying their own interests, gifts and skills, passions, life goals and hopes for the future, as wells as personal sources of resilience and hope.
• Strengthening existing community connections and building new ones that can help people move forward in their own recovery journey – connections might include natural supports like self-chosen faith communities, barbershops and beauty salons, community colleges and local libraries, recovery community organizations, recreational groups, and other places and people that can support living life as contributing citizens.
• Fostering friendships where participants help each other address and work to overcome challenges faced in the wider community such as stigma, discrimination, and misunderstanding.
• Assisting people with identifying and connecting with the supports and services that will help them sustain their wellness and recovery over time
• Facilitate groups of 2 to 10 in which participants help each other identify personal strengths, interests, social relationships, hopes for the future, and sources of well–being, as well as learn new knowledge and skills that can support their recovery journey
• Assist participants to learn how to find community opportunities, resources, and destinations that match their own interests and hopes for the future
• Assist participants to become more comfortable with self advocacy
• Help participants build personal skills and confidence in telling their own stories of recovering and moving forward in life (for instance: “What has helped me move forward in living?”; “What are some activities, experiences, and relationships that have helped?”)
• Facilitate groups in which participants help each other face challenges like stigma, discrimination, and misunderstanding in the community and with family members
• Conduct individual interviews with participants to assist them in identifying their needs, preferences, and goals related to services
• Write notes that describe client encounters and group experiences
• Serve as a role model who shares personal strengths and skills as well as the hope for recovery is possible for everyone
• To provide recovery check-ups with individuals who have transitioned from the service setting into the community
• To support individuals in developing comprehensive recovery plans
• To support individuals in identifying and then strengthening their relationships with recovery allies
• To assist individuals in identifying their personal obstacles to recovery
• To assertively connect clients to relevant community resources by periodically accompanying them so they seek opportunities to build new relationships