Peer Recovery Specialist

Primarily a field-based position within the Re-Entry Department, responsible for conducting street outreach, engagement, and case management services for individuals experiencing homelessness and those who are justice-impacted, including individuals preparing for release from incarceration or recently returning to the community.

Responsibilities

• Conduct street-based outreach and engagement and support justice-impacted individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders.
• Build trusting relationships with hard-to-reach populations and utilize harm reduction and trauma-informed approaches to engage participants who may be disconnected from traditional services.
• Complete and maintain accurate records, assessments, case notes, treatment plans, outreach logs, and reports in accordance with program requirements and agency policies.
• Develop, implement, and monitor individualized treatment, recovery, and service plans based on participant needs, goals, strengths, and barriers.
• Conduct field-based assessments of participants’ behavioral health, substance use, housing, medical, and social service needs and facilitate appropriate referrals and linkages.
• Review and evaluate participant progress toward measurable treatment, recovery, housing, and reentry goals and modify service plans as needed.
• Provide crisis intervention, advocacy, and support for participants experiencing behavioral health crises, housing instability, relapse, or other emergency situations.
• Educate participants and family members regarding substance use disorders, recovery supports, harm reduction practices, Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), and available community resources.
• Coordinate care and service delivery with physicians, behavioral health providers, case managers, probation officers, courts, correctional partners, housing providers, and community-based organizations.
• Link participants to healthcare, behavioral health treatment, housing resources, benefits, employment services, recovery programs, and other supports that promote successful community reintegration.
• Conduct follow-up, retention, and aftercare services, including field visits and outreach to participants who are disengaged from care or difficult to locate.
• Participate in multidisciplinary case conferences, team meetings, trainings, community collaborations, and quality improvement activities.
• Maintain regular communication with family members, support systems, and service providers, as appropriate and authorized, to support participant goals and treatment progress.
• Perform other duties, responsibilities, outreach activities, special projects, and program-related assignments as directed by management to support participant needs, contractual requirements, program operations, and organizational priorities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or AA.
• Minimum of two years’ experience as a Substance Abuse Counselor or work-related experience in a community behavioral health environment.
• Experience and knowledge of multi-ethnic and underserved communities.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English (Preferred).
• Demonstrated experience in a Managed Care setting or Drug Medical setting.
• Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.
• Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral disorders.
• Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
• CADC-II certification.
• Reliable transportation and flexibility to travel between Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties as needed.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed for community events.

Benefits

• Free Medical, Dental & Vision
• 403 (B) retirement match
• Life insurance, EAP
• Tuition Reimbursement
• SEIU Union
• Flexible Spending Account
• Continued workforce development & training
• Opportunities for growth