Forensic Veteran Certified Peer Specialist
About The Position
The Veteran Initiatives Forensic Certified Peer Specialist (VICPS) works in the Veteran Initiatives Unit (VIU) at the Behavioral Health and Justice Division (BHJD) within the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS). The role supports veterans referred to DBHIDS, with the aim of inspiring hope and promoting active involvement in their own recovery. Referrals come through Philadelphia Municipal Court’s Veteran Court of the First Judicial District, BHJD’s Resource Portal, family, and other sources. The VICPS focuses on the veteran receiving services and works with veterans in their community environments. Through self-disclosure and other peer support strategies, the specialist encourages veterans to understand their behavioral health, advocate for themselves, develop interpersonal skills and social support networks, manage funds more independently, plan leisure and recreational activities, and connect with self-help groups and other community resources to advance their personal recovery objectives.
Requirements
- Must be a veteran who completed the first military term with a General discharge or higher.
- Must provide a DD214 with the application or bring it to the interview.
- Must have completed Certified Peer Specialist or Certified Recovery Specialist training; the posting specifies successful completion of the DBH-sponsored CPS Training Program or Certified Recovery Specialist training.
- Must have a high school diploma or GED.
- Must have prior forensic involvement.
- Must be a current or former recipient of behavioral health services for at least two years.
- Must have achieved at least one year of recovery.
- Must have good verbal and written communication skills and work effectively with people without regard to protected characteristics.
- Must have creative problem-solving skills.
- Must be able to work independently and as part of a team, adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment, and use a computer for service documentation.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor’s degree in a social science field.
- Prior experience working with criminal courts or in other criminal justice environments.
Responsibilities
- Work closely with the VIU Manager to provide supportive services to veterans referred through Philadelphia Municipal Court Veterans Court, BHJD’s Resource Portal, family, and other sources.
- Assist in developing forensic recovery plans and Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP) for veterans with behavioral health challenges.
- Support veterans in developing independent living skills through referrals to professional agencies, self-help organizations, and other support strategies.
- Build relationships with community resources and conduct outreach to veterans, including those who are homeless or dishonorably discharged, to connect them with resources that may divert them from the criminal justice system.
- Promote awareness and use of available service options, choices, and natural community resources.
- Help people receiving services direct their own recovery, foster hope, and acquire and use recovery skills.
- Facilitate development of self-worth and wellness.
- Track project outcomes and data, monitor veterans’ treatment progress, and enter data into tracking systems.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Education Level
High school or GED
