Peer Support Specialist

Behavioral Health Network of Greater St Louis•St. Louis, MO

5d•$40,000 - $50,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Network of Greater St. Louis (BHN) is hiring a contracted EPICC Peer Support Specialist for a 10-month pilot initiative serving high-need, high-risk individuals with opioid addiction. The specialist provides individualized, peer-based outreach, relationship building, and recovery support to people referred to the EPICC program three or more times who continue to face challenges engaging in treatment or recovery-support services. Drawing on lived experience and recovery-oriented principles, the specialist builds trust, encourages treatment engagement, promotes hope and self-advocacy, and helps participants navigate their recovery journeys. The position works collaboratively with EPICC staff, the High Utilizer Case Manager, treatment providers, and community partners to reduce barriers to recovery, connect participants with supportive services, and promote sustained engagement. Participants must be identified for enhanced services by EPICC leadership or designated staff and voluntarily agree to participate. The role is expected to involve 32–40 hours per week, with flexibility associated with its contractual nature. Continued employment after the 10-month contract may be possible depending on funding and performance. The EPICC program connects individuals encountered through emergency rooms and emergency medical services with community-based substance use treatment and recovery services, emphasizing medication-assisted treatment. The program also supports overdose education and naloxone distribution and aims to reduce future overdoses and emergency department utilization. The work setting is hybrid. The office site is environmentally controlled, and the role requires occasional driving to meetings in BHN’s seven-county region.

Requirements

Lived experience with substance use recovery or relevant behavioral health recovery experience.
Missouri Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) credential or another applicable recognized peer support credential, as required by the program or funding source.
Knowledge of community-based treatment options, recovery pathways, peer support services, and local recovery resources.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills, including the ability to build trust and rapport with people experiencing complex challenges.
Understanding of trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and recovery-oriented principles.
Ability to use personal recovery experience appropriately while maintaining professional boundaries.
Ability to work effectively with individuals experiencing repeated crises, setbacks, or difficulty engaging in traditional service models.
Ability to promote participant choice, self-advocacy, and recovery self-direction.
Strong organizational and documentation skills, including maintaining accurate records and completing required reporting.
Ability to collaborate with the High Utilizer Case Manager, EPICC staff, treatment providers, and community partners.
Commitment to participant confidentiality, ethical peer support practices, and appropriate professional boundaries.
Valid driver’s license with no more than two points on the record and current insurance.
Ability to drive to occasional meetings in BHN’s seven-county region.
Ability to remain stationary at least 50% of the time and operate a computer and general office equipment such as a copy machine and printer.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting individuals with substance use disorders or behavioral health challenges.

Responsibilities

Conduct individualized outreach and build trusting, supportive relationships with assigned participants using shared lived experience.
Provide consistent, nonjudgmental encouragement and support using motivational and strengths-based approaches, including to people who have declined or discontinued services.
Maintain respectful ongoing contact based on participant preferences and engagement needs.
Help participants identify personal recovery goals and explore recovery pathways.
Support participants through treatment and recovery, including during setbacks and periods of increased vulnerability.
Share personal recovery experiences appropriately to encourage engagement and empowerment.
Promote self-advocacy, personal choice, and connections to positive recovery supports and networks.
Encourage participation in substance use disorder treatment, including medication-assisted treatment when appropriate, and other recovery-support services.
Explain treatment options and connect participants with community-based recovery resources.
Facilitate warm handoffs to treatment providers, peer groups, recovery community organizations, and other supportive services.
Accompany participants to appointments or service connections when appropriate and authorized, and encourage follow-through.
Provide individualized follow-up and reengage participants after missed appointments, discontinued services, or additional EPICC referrals.
Identify participant concerns and barriers to engagement and communicate relevant information to the High Utilizer Case Manager and EPICC team.
Adapt outreach and engagement strategies to participant needs and preferences.
Provide overdose-prevention education consistent with program training and approved procedures; support access to naloxone and other approved prevention resources.
Share information about recovery pathways, community resources, and supportive services, and encourage individualized safety strategies and recovery supports.
Coordinate participant engagement planning with the High Utilizer Case Manager and collaborate with the EPICC team to promote continuity of care and avoid duplicated services.
Participate in high-utilizer case reviews, case consultations, and other program meetings.
Support participant-centered transitions and connections among treatment, recovery, and community-based services.
Document participant contacts, outreach attempts, peer support activities, and recovery-support connections accurately and promptly in the designated system.
Track participant engagement, successful contacts, follow-up activities, and participant-identified barriers and needs.
Submit monthly service activity and outcome reports in accordance with BHN requirements.
Maintain confidentiality and professional peer support boundaries, and follow program procedures and documentation standards.