Peer Recovery Specialist - Recovery and Reentry Grant
About The Position
The Recovery and Reentry Peer Recovery Specialist draws on lived experience with recovery from substance use and/or co-occurring mental health conditions to inspire hope, promote recovery, and support justice-involved individuals transitioning from incarceration to the community. The specialist works collaboratively with correctional staff, clinicians, case managers, and community partners. Responsibilities include engaging participants during incarceration, providing recovery coaching and mentorship, assisting with individualized reentry planning, and facilitating connections to treatment, medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), recovery supports, housing, employment, transportation, and other community resources. The role promotes recovery capital, reduces barriers to engagement, supports overdose prevention, and provides ongoing encouragement and follow-up to improve treatment engagement, sustain recovery, and reduce recidivism. This is a grant-based position and may end when grant funding ends. The position is full-time, 37.5 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Requirements
- High school diploma or GED.
- At least one continuous year of sustained recovery for individuals with lived experience of mental illness or substance use.
- Knowledge of the recovery process, including established standardized mental health, substance use, and co-occurring processes.
- Basic knowledge of problem-solving strategies that support self-directed recovery.
- Basic knowledge of multiple pathways to recovery, signs and symptoms of mental health and/or substance use challenges, and strategies to address these symptoms.
- Ability to identify individuals’ needs for resources, services, and other supports.
- Ability to coordinate services with diverse public and private providers.
- Ability to use personal experience to support others in recovery.
- Ability to work as part of a team and maintain effective, professional working relationships within the agency and community.
- Ability to work independently under general supervision.
- Ability to establish and sustain professional relationships with individuals receiving services through appropriate boundary setting.
- Knowledge of the operation and care of computer equipment and cellular devices.
- Basic computer skills and ability to use internet searches efficiently to identify resources relevant to peer supports.
- Ability to participate in and successfully pass behavioral intervention training, including verbal de-escalation and physical skills techniques for use with consumers as needed.
- Ability to drive and possess a valid driver's license.
- Willingness and availability to work modified schedules, including weekends and holidays, as required.
Responsibilities
- Engage justice-involved participants during incarceration and support their transition to the community.
- Provide recovery coaching and mentorship using personal lived experience.
- Assist participants with individualized reentry planning.
- Facilitate linkage to treatment, medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), recovery supports, housing, employment, transportation, and other community resources.
- Promote recovery capital, reduce barriers to engagement, and support overdose prevention.
- Provide ongoing encouragement and follow-up to improve treatment engagement, sustain recovery, and reduce recidivism.
- Coordinate with correctional staff, clinicians, case managers, and community partners.
- Work modified schedules, including weekends and holidays, as required.
Benefits
- Participation in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS).
- Options for life, health, dental, and vision insurance.
- Generous annual leave policy.
- Separate sick leave.
- Paid holidays.
- Annual wellness programs.
- Opportunities to interact with the community throughout the year.
- Clinical sites are NHSC/HRSA-approved for clinical student loan repayment.
- Qualifies for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and Behavioral Health State Loan Repayment (BHLRP) programs.
- Discounts at some local universities for continuing education.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Education Level
High school or GED
