Peer Recovery Specialist III, Certified

Cecil County•Cecil, MD

3d•Onsite

About The Position

This is an advanced-level position with the Maryland Department of Health at the Cecil County Health Department in Elkton, Maryland. The Peer Recovery Specialist provides personalized, non-clinical recovery support to clients with substance use, mental health, and/or co-occurring disorders, helping them begin and sustain a path to recovery. The role is held by someone with lived experience in recovery who uses relevant training and personal experience to inspire hope, address stigma, and help clients navigate complex systems of care. Support may include motivational interviewing, education, recovery planning, advocacy, coaching, care navigation, screening, and connecting clients with helpful resources. The specialist may accompany clients as they carry out parts of their recovery plans. The role also supports overdose prevention by educating and training clients, families, and community organizations in the use of Narcan (naloxone), overdose risks, recognition of overdose signs, and effective emergency response. Work may take place in settings such as crisis intervention, hospitals, schools, courts, detention centers, transitional housing, and behavioral health treatment. Peer-client relationships may be brief, focused on resolving an acute crisis and linking the client to care, or sustained to support 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.
Applicants must have been in a state of recovery from a substance use, mental health, or co-occurring disorder for at least two years before hire.
Must obtain current Peer Recovery Specialist certification from the Maryland Addictions Professional Certification Board within 12 months of hire.
Must complete additional training deemed necessary and appropriate to maintain the required certification.
May be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in Maryland if assigned duties requiring operation of a motor vehicle.
Employees are subject to substance abuse testing under Code of Maryland Regulation 17.04.09.
U.S. Armed Forces military service as a non-commissioned officer in Peer Specialist classifications or relevant health-related Peer Specialist specialty codes may substitute for the required experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience assisting families in navigating complex family services, especially 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 in Cecil County.
Experience maintaining professionalism and composure in demanding and complex situations.
Experience adapting to changing environments while applying strong organizational skills.

Responsibilities

Provide peer recovery support to clients with substance use, mental health, and/or co-occurring disorders.
Use lived recovery experience and training to inspire hope, manage stigma, and reduce stress associated with change.
Help clients access and navigate systems of care through personalized, non-clinical support.
Use skills such as motivational interviewing, education, recovery planning, advocacy, coaching, and care navigation.
Screen clients, raise awareness of their personal relationship to substance use, develop plans, and connect them with helpful resources.
Accompany clients as they implement aspects of their recovery plans when appropriate.
Provide overdose-prevention education and Narcan (naloxone) training to clients, families, and community organizations.
Educate people about overdose risks, signs of overdose, and effective emergency response.
Provide support across settings including crisis intervention, risk management, recovery support, hospitals, schools, courts, detention centers, transitional housing, and behavioral health treatment.