Peer Recovery Specialist - (Onward/Reach One)

Independent Living Inc•Town of Newburgh, NY

About The Position

The Peer Recovery Specialist (Onward/Reach One) plays a vital role in supporting individuals and families navigating substance use and mental health recovery. Drawing on lived experience, this position provides compassionate, person-centered support across all stages of recovery, helping individuals build resilience, access services, and achieve self-defined goals. In this role, you will serve as both a mentor and advocate, guiding individuals through complex systems of care, promoting multiple pathways to recovery, and fostering independence and wellness. You’ll lead and support groups, assist with recovery and wellness planning, and connect individuals to critical community resources such as housing, healthcare, employment, and education. Working collaboratively with internal teams and community partners, the Peer Recovery Specialist helps create a supportive environment where individuals feel empowered, respected, and capable of leading meaningful lives in their communities.

Requirements

Excellent written and verbal presentation skills.
Must have good time management skills and be self-directing.
Must possess a valid driver’s license and have reliable transportation.
Must have lived experience with substance use recovery and/or mental health recovery and be comfortable with self-disclosure as needed.
High School diploma/equivalent
Must have a working knowledge of the recovery process and be willing to promote multi-pathways to recovery.

Nice To Haves

Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA or CRPA-P) and/or New York Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (NYCPS or NYCPS-P) strongly preferred.
Bilingual Spanish/ English strongly preferred.
Knowledge of ASL a plus.

Responsibilities

Serve as a source of support for individuals during all stages of substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health (MH)recovery.
Proactively engage families and individuals and provide guidance on how to access and navigate the substance use and mental health treatment systems and negotiate insurance barriers to treatment.
Advocate for multiple pathways to recovery and engage in MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment) program partnerships.
Provide group support, education, recovery information and skill building classes and workshops to families and individuals based on the 8 Dimensions of Wellness.
Support Individuals and families, both individually and in small groups, with the following activities: ? Creating recovery service plans based on their individual recovery goals and determine steps to achieve those goals; ? Use recovery-oriented tools to help Individuals address challenges; ? Assist individuals to build their own self-directed wellness plans and Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP). ? Assist Individuals to access benefits, entitlements, legal assistance, civic restoration, transportation support, health management, stable housing, and education and employment connections; ? Support Individuals in their decision-making; ? Set up and sustain peer and family self-help and educational groups; ? Support Individuals in crisis;
Coordinate a variety of activities that encourage engagement, employment, self-management and personal wellness.
Promote stabilization and acclimation in the community, leading to a greater degree of independence and improved quality of life for people with substance use disorders.
Maintain a current and working knowledge of systems.
Engage in individual advocacy by assisting individuals with substance use disorders and mental health disorders in protecting and promoting their rights, resolving complaints, accessing services and navigating community supports of their choice. Act as a role model/mentor to empower individuals.
Network with other agency providers and community support services.
Complete all reporting and record keeping as required.
Attend and actively participate in all meetings and training sessions provided by Independent Living, Inc. and those provided by outside agencies that are specific to the job responsibilities of the position.
The above list of responsibilities is not intended to be all inclusive, other responsibilities and/or training may be assigned or required.