AOT PEER RECOVERY SPECIALIST (GLEN BURNIE, MD)

Position Overview

The AOT Peer Recovery Specialist draws upon personal lived experience with mental health or substance use recovery to provide authentic, empathetic peer support to individuals enrolled in Lead4Life’s Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Program.

Core Responsibilities

• Provide individualized peer mentoring to assigned AOT participants, sharing personal recovery experiences to inspire hope, reduce isolation, and encourage sustained engagement with treatment services consistent with COMAR 10.21.20 participation requirements.
• Actively participate in treatment planning meetings alongside the Case Manager and clinical team, representing the participant’s voice and perspective and ensuring the treatment plan reflects the individual’s goals, strengths, and preferences.
• Provide structured recovery education using evidence-based frameworks such as the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), Illness Management and Recovery (IMR), or similar curricula to build participants’ self-management skills.
• Assist participants with transportation coordination, appointment accompaniment, and logistics to ensure consistent attendance at psychiatric appointments, medical visits, and court hearings as required by their AOT court order.
• Conduct resource navigation services, connecting participants to housing resources, food assistance, clothing, employment services, and other community supports that reinforce recovery and community integration.
• Develop individualized wellness plans with participants, incorporating personal strengths, coping strategies, triggers, warning signs, and crisis prevention strategies into a practical, participant-owned document.
• Facilitate and co-facilitate peer support groups for AOT program participants, creating a safe, inclusive space for sharing, mutual aid, and collective recovery skill-building.
• Accompany participants to AOT court hearings and provide pre- and post-hearing emotional support, helping participants understand court processes and reducing anxiety associated with legal involvement.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all peer contact activities, service hours, and participant engagement in the agency electronic health record (EHR) in compliance with COMAR 10.21.20 and Lead4Life documentation standards.
• Advocate for participant rights within the treatment system, supporting participants in voicing concerns, requesting accommodations, and navigating the AOT process with dignity and informed consent.
• Promote community integration by identifying and facilitating participation in community activities, recovery support organizations, faith communities, recreational programs, and volunteer opportunities.
• Serve as a role model of sustained recovery, demonstrating the possibility of meaningful life beyond mental illness or substance use through professional conduct, ongoing personal growth, and wellness practices.
• Coordinate with the AOT Case Manager on participant engagement concerns, sharing field observations and participant-reported information to inform clinical decision-making and risk assessment.
• Participate in weekly team meetings, peer supervision, and required professional development activities, including maintaining or pursuing Maryland Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) certification.
• Comply with all HIPAA, COMAR 10.21.20 confidentiality requirements, and Lead4Life policies governing the appropriate use and disclosure of participant information in peer support contexts.

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or GED required
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field preferred
• Maryland Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) certification required, or willingness and eligibility to obtain within 90 days of hire
• Personal lived experience with mental health recovery, substance use recovery, or both is required for this position
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience providing peer support, peer mentoring, or advocacy in a behavioral health or human services setting preferred
• Familiarity with WRAP, IMR, or other structured recovery tools preferred
• Lived experience navigating the criminal justice or court system a plus
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred

Additional Requirements

• Valid driver’s license and insurable driving record required
• Must pass pre-employment drug screening
• Must pass criminal background check (CJIS/FBI) per Maryland law
• Must pass Child Protective Services (CPS) clearance
• TB test or health screening as required by program
• Current CPR/First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain within 30 days of hire)
• Physical examination clearance if role involves direct client transport