Peer Recovery Specialist III, Certified

Cecil County•Cecil, MD

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is an advanced level of work in the Maryland Department of Health (MDH), providing peer recovery support services to clients with substance use, mental health, and/or co-occurring disorders to begin and maintain a path to recovery. This position is held by a person with lived experience in recovery from mental health and/or substance use conditions who is also trained to help others find the path to recovery that is most appropriate for them. This position will leverage personal recovery experience and training to inspire hope, manage stigma, and reduce the stress often associated with change. The support provided is critical to helping individuals access and navigate complex systems of care. This position will provide personalized, non-clinical support to help clients adopt positive health behaviors. This support utilizes various skills, including (but not limited to) motivational interviewing, education, recovery planning, advocacy, coaching, and care navigation. This position will also involve screening, raising awareness of personal relationships to substance use, and developing a plan based on facilitating connection to helpful resources. This position may accompany clients as they implement certain aspects of their recovery plan. This position will also play a critical role in overdose prevention by providing education and training on the use of Narcan (Naloxone) to clients, families, and community organizations. This position includes increasing awareness of overdose risks, recognizing the signs of overdose, and equipping individuals with the skills and confidence to respond effectively in emergency situations, and is integral to ensuring access to recovery in many settings. These settings include crisis intervention, risk management, recovery support, hospitals, schools, courts, detention centers, transitional housing, and behavioral health treatment, among others. The duration of the peer-client relationship can vary. It may be brief, focusing on resolving an acute crisis and successfully linking the client with the necessary care, or it may be sustained over time to help the client achieve stability in recovery.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.
One year of experience providing peer recovery support services.
Must be in a state of recovery for 2 years from a substance use, mental health or co-occurring disorder before being qualified to be hired.
Current certification as a Peer Recovery Specialist within 12 months from date of hire from the Maryland Addictions Professional Certification Board (MAPCB).
Possession of a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland (if assigned duties requiring vehicle operation).

Nice To Haves

Experience assisting families to navigate complex family services, with a focus on pregnant and parenting women and their children.
Experience providing case management and support services to individuals with substance use disorder.
Familiarity with behavioral health treatment and other supportive resources available within Cecil County.
Experience maintaining professionalism and composure in demanding and complex situations.
Experience incorporating cultural sensitivity and ethical decision-making.
Experience adapting to changing environments while applying strong organizational skills.

Responsibilities

Providing peer recovery support services to clients with substance use, mental health, and/or co-occurring disorders.
Leveraging personal recovery experience and training to inspire hope, manage stigma, and reduce stress associated with change.
Helping individuals access and navigate complex systems of care.
Providing personalized, non-clinical support to help clients adopt positive health behaviors.
Utilizing skills such as motivational interviewing, education, recovery planning, advocacy, coaching, and care navigation.
Screening clients, raising awareness of personal relationships to substance use, and developing plans to connect clients with resources.
Accompanying clients as they implement certain aspects of their recovery plan.
Providing education and training on the use of Narcan (Naloxone) to clients, families, and community organizations.
Increasing awareness of overdose risks and recognizing the signs of overdose.
Equipping individuals with the skills and confidence to respond effectively in emergency situations.