Certified Peer Support Specialist - Women's Health and Recovery Program

Job Code: 2026‑CSCA‑016 | Location: Waukesha | Department: Waukesha | Full‑Time

Job Summary

The Peer Recovery Coach provides peer‑based recovery support to women participating in the WHARP program who are experiencing or have experienced substance‑use challenges. Using lived experience and professional peer‑support training, the Coach builds trusting relationships, connects participants to the recovery community, and helps develop the resources, skills, and natural supports needed to sustain recovery. Services are delivered at the Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) outpatient behavioral health clinic and in community settings such as treatment facilities, recovery housing, peer‑support meetings, participants’ homes, and other mutually agreed‑upon locations. The Coach may accompany participants to appointments, recovery meetings, and other community‑based activities to support individualized recovery goals and may serve as a community liaison at health fairs and local events.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide individualized peer recovery support to women, using lived experience to promote hope, engagement, self‑direction, and recovery.
• Develop supportive, respectful, recovery‑focused relationships while maintaining professional and peer‑support boundaries.
• Meet with individuals at the DHHS outpatient clinic and in community settings (treatment facilities, recovery housing, homes, peer‑support groups, etc.).
• Support individuals in identifying recovery goals, strengths, needs, interests, barriers, and sources of support.
• Introduce individuals to the recovery community and assist them in exploring pathways, resources, and connections aligned with personal goals.
• Assist individuals in accessing peer‑support groups and community‑based recovery resources (e.g., Alcoholics Anonymous) based on choice and preference.
• When appropriate, attend appointments, recovery meetings, and other activities with individuals to provide encouragement and support.
• Serve as a positive recovery role model, sharing lived experience to foster hope and demonstrate that recovery is possible.
• Help individuals identify and strengthen natural supports and develop healthy connections with peers, family, community resources, and recovery supports.
• Support development of practical recovery and coping skills, problem‑solving strategies, self‑advocacy, and individualized maintenance plans.
• Assist individuals in navigating substance‑use treatment, behavioral health services, recovery housing, and other helpful systems.
• Encourage self‑determination, informed choice, self‑advocacy, and independence, promoting active leadership in recovery.
• Coordinate peer recovery services with WCS staff, DHHS staff, treatment providers, and community partners while respecting confidentiality.
• Maintain timely, accurate documentation of services, contacts, travel, outreach activities, and required program information.
• Participate in staff meetings, supervision, treatment team meetings, trainings, and other meetings, representing individuals’ goals and priorities.
• Participate periodically in community outreach activities (health fairs, recovery‑focused events) to increase program awareness.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of recovery resources throughout Waukesha County and surrounding areas.
• Maintain a flexible schedule based on client needs and program requirements, including occasional evenings or community‑based activities.
• Travel throughout Waukesha County and surrounding communities as necessary to provide services and outreach.
• Complete required WCS and DHHS training within established timelines.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Program Manager.

Required Qualifications

• High‑school diploma.
• Valid driver’s license, automobile, and insurance meeting agency requirements.
• Pass a driving‑record background check to drive in the community during work hours.
• Meet all employee requirements (references, criminal background check – both WCS and DHHS, drug test, driver’s‑license check).
• Certification with the State of Wisconsin for Peer Support.
• One to two years of experience as a peer support specialist (preferred; may be required for some contracts).
• Lived experience with substance‑use or mental‑health disorders and extensive understanding of core peer‑support competencies.
• Comprehensive understanding of substance‑use and mental‑health disorders and knowledge of community resources (housing, employment, treatment, food insecurity, parenting resources, etc.).
• General knowledge of psycho‑education services, medication compliance, addiction as a disease, cross‑addiction, and abstinence from non‑prescribed substances.
• General knowledge of supporting individuals in crisis.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Communication – ability to convey information effectively to a diverse population (clients, Peer Navigator, agency leadership, DHHS clinical team, partners) in both written and oral forms.
• Technological aptitude – proficiency with email, internet, Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, Windows), and agency‑specified systems.
• Managing priorities/deadlines – ability to maintain schedules, meet deadlines, and manage multiple projects.
• Problem‑solving – critical thinking and solution‑oriented approach in a fast‑paced environment.
• Judgement – demonstrate good judgement when faced with peers in crisis.
• Adaptability – manage change, respond to situations as they arise, and work independently or as part of a team.
• Teamwork – collaborate effectively with WCS staff, Peer Navigator, and DHHS clinical team while handling independent duties.
• Motivation – commitment to the job, peers, mission, and core values, supporting a respectful work setting.
• Professionalism – high level of conduct, integrity, ethics, and boundary maintenance.
• Multicultural sensitivity – professionalism, respect, cultural sensitivity, and strong interpersonal skills when interacting with diverse populations.
• Program‑specific knowledge – psycho‑education, behavior tailoring, relapse‑prevention planning, recovery action planning, resilience training, social‑support building, coping‑skill teaching, health/telehealth engagement, post‑overdose outreach, harm‑reduction resources, communicable‑disease screening and education.
• Agency‑specific knowledge – familiarity with the agency Employment Handbook, Employee Code of Conduct, UKG payroll system, Power DMS policies, Avatar database, SharePoint resources, Empathy Interviews, and related administrative tools.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The position is not remote. The majority of work is performed at the DHHS office (sitting at a desk, using a computer). Community‑based work is required, including home visits and other locations; the employee must be able to go up and down stairs, stand, sit, get in and out of a vehicle, and drive their own vehicle. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities. The work environment includes an office setting with limited travel to community sites for peer engagement and documentation of billable activities. Typical schedule is 40 hours per week.

Schedule

Typical work hours are flexible, generally 8:00 am – 4:40 pm, with occasional evenings or weekend work for crisis response (mostly phone, limited face‑to‑face). All hours worked outside normal business hours must be pre‑approved by the Peer Support Program Manager.