Recovery Support Technician II/Peer Support

About the role

Volunteers of America Mid-States is a non-profit organization spanning four states that creates positive change through housing, developmental disability care, restorative justice, HIV testing, and more. The Recovery Support Technician II/Peer Support position is part of Addiction Recovery Services, reporting to the Senior Program Manager - RCC. The role provides peer support for persons in recovery, helping them maintain sobriety, develop recovery plans, and connect to community resources.

Benefits

• Health and Wellness Employee Assistance Plans (EAP)
• Health and Wellness Program
• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Spending Account
• Short Term Disability
• MetLife Legal Plans
• Financial Wellbeing
• Competitive Compensation Packages
• Life Insurance (company paid)
• 403b retirement plan with company fund matching
• Employee discounts
• Loan forgiveness options through federal programs (National Health Corp & Public Service Loan Forgiveness)
• All company paid benefits and paid time off effective day one
• Work Culture Commitment Committee
• Justice Committee
• Integrity Committee
• Compassion Committee
• Retention Committee
• Training & Development
• VOA LEAD Program- Leadership Development Program
• VOA University - Staff Development
• VOA Academy - Clinical Training and Development

Responsibilities

• Maintain project logs, reports and records in appropriate files and database(s).
• Provide recovery education to service recipients for every phase of the recovery journey from pre-recovery engagement, recovery initiation, recovery stabilization, and sustained recovery maintenance.
• Provide a model for both people in recovery and staff by demonstrating that recovery is possible.
• Assist recovering persons to identify their personal interests, goals, strengths and weaknesses regarding recovery.
• Assist/coach recovering persons develop their own plan for advancing their recovery; for “getting the life they want.”
• Recovery Planning -- facilitate (via personal coaching) the transition from a professionally directed service plan to a self-directed Recovery Plan. The goal should be to transition from professionally assisted recovery initiation to personally directed, community supported recovery maintenance.
• Promote self-advocacy by assisting recovering persons to have their voices fully heard; their needs, goals and objectives established as the focal point of rehabilitation and clinical service.
• Actively identify and support linkages to community resources (communities of recovery, educational, vocational, social, cultural, spiritual resources, mutual self- help groups, professional services, etc.) that support the recovering person’s goals and interests. This will involve a collaborative effort including the recovering person, agency staff and other relevant stakeholders.
• Support connections to community based, mutual self-help groups.
• Link individuals to appropriate professional resources when needed.
• Provide vision-driven hope and encouragement for opportunities at varying levels of involvement in community based activities (e.g., work, school, relationships, physical activity, self-directed hobbies, etc.).
• Develop relationships with community groups/agencies in partnership with others in the agency.
• As recovery specialist position evolves and knowledge increases, visit community resources with recovering persons to assist them in becoming familiar with potential opportunities.
• Identify barriers (internal and external) to full participation in community resources and developing strategies to overcome those barriers.
• Maintain contact by phone and/or e-mail with recovering person after they leave the program to insure their ongoing success and to provide re-engagement support in partnership with others in the agency if needed.