Peer Educator and Recovery Specialist

Sacramento LGBT Community Center•Sacramento, CA

143d

About The Position

Under the supervision of the Mental Health Program Manager, the Peer Educator and Recovery Specialist plays a vital role in raising community awareness, reducing stigma, and increasing access to services related to opioid and stimulant use disorders. This position involves conducting outreach, delivering education, providing peer-based support, engaging with people who use substances, coordinating harm reduction strategies (including client referrals for Medications for Addiction Treatment, or MAT), and connecting individuals with resources. The Peer Educator will collaborate with community partners to ensure inclusive, affirming, trauma-informed and culturally responsive services. Additionally, this role will serve as a liaison to various community groups, with a specific focus on the 2S/LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities in the greater Sacramento area and surrounding regions.

Requirements

Passion for the Center’s mission and work to create a region where LGBT people thrive, and a commitment to follow all policies and procedures of the organization.
Knowledge and understanding of the issues, needs, and interests of 2S/LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC people, including a thorough understanding of the intersections of race and the spectrum of gender and sexual identities.
Education: Bachelor’s degree in social work, public health, or a relevant field. Three years of related work experience may be substituted for formal education.
Experience: 2 years of related experience in community outreach, peer-based supportive services, public health, behavioral health, or related field. Lived experience and/or connection to affected communities is highly valued.
Computer/Office Equipment Skills: Superior proficiency working with Microsoft Office, particularly Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, Teams, database systems, and social media tools.
Access to reliable automobile transportation with a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance is required. This position may occasionally require travel by air or rental car.
Offers of employment are contingent on the satisfactory results of a criminal history background check.
Employees must be legally permitted to work in the United States.
Flexibility of schedule, including some evenings and weekends as needed.
The Sacramento LGBT Community Center is a drug free workplace, employees may be subject to a drug test.
Vaccination Requirement: All employees are required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and are encouraged to stay up to date annually or obtain an approved medical or religious exemption. Documentation will be required prior to your first day of work.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with the 2S/LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities and familiarity with issues of particular relevance to 2S/LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC people.
Experience (professional or lived) with opioid and stimulant use disorders, including work in harm reduction, treatment, peer support, or recovery services.
Experience working with people experiencing homelessness, undocumented community members and asylum seekers, people living with HIV/AIDS, and people with mental health and addiction issues.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse races, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, socio-economic backgrounds, religions, ages, English-speaking skills, immigration status, and physical abilities in an intersectional environment.
Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, including public speaking and meeting facilitation.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

Community outreach, engagement and education at all Center sites and throughout community.
Provide client support, crisis intervention, resource navigation and linkage to services.
Support program implementation including data entry, client documentation and grant reporting.
Develop innovative outreach strategies, including anti-stigma messaging, with the expressed goal of reaching those most at risk.
Build relationships with affirming resource providers, including connection with Center’s LGBTQ+ cultural humility training institute, working to increase the number of affirming community providers.
Serve as a representative of the organization in collaborative partner networks and as a Center liaison directly with the community, engaging with individual stakeholders and 2S/LGBTQIA+ supporting organizations.
Develop an outreach and media strategy, in collaboration with Center’s communications team, to promote program awareness, including culturally responsive, stigma-reduction campaigns that use social and traditional media to shift public narratives around substance use and harm reduction.
Conduct outreach at community events, with an emphasis on spaces likely to engage local 2S/LGBTQIA+ people.
Collaborate with the Center’s Training Institute to support access to 2S/LGBTQIA+ training and equity assessments.
Provide peer support, crisis intervention and connection to Center and community resources.
Utilize culturally responsive, trauma-informed and client-centered interventions with thorough understanding of serving BIPOC/LGBTQ+/marginalized individuals.
Ensure a safe, inclusive environment for community members.
Identify the signs of potential crisis and work to proactively engage with clients in prevention and if necessary, de-escalation.
Maintain thorough knowledge of the internal and external resources and assist clients with linkage to care.
Provide direct client education and referrals needed to facilitate appointments for treatment and care.
Work with community agencies and organizations to establish an active referral network, targeting those who provide affirming resources for 2S/LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities.
Assist clients with gaining necessary identification and application processes, including those required as part of linkage to providers.
Accurately record all services provided to clients in the client data system in a timely manner and incompliance with agency guidelines.
Assist manager with grant reporting.
Ensure materials/supplies are adequately stocked for program needs.
Collaborate and support activities within the Center and community partners.
Support and advocate for all clients of the Center.
Function as an essential member of the Programs Team and Health Services Department.
Attend and assist in coordination of meetings, activities, and workshops relevant to the program.
Collaborate with program, development, and operations staff to ensure compliance and maximize the reach of Center programs and outreach efforts.
Participate in staff meetings, planning meetings, and other meetings as required.
Handle a variety of special projects and other related duties, as assigned.