Peer Recovery Support Specialist-Behavioral Health

Cherokee Nation•Tahlequah, OK

About The Position

The Peer Recovery Support Specialist supports individuals recovering from alcohol and other drugs and/or mental health issues. The specialist serves as a role model, mentor, advocate, and motivator to help prevent relapse and promote long-term recovery. The role requires sharing personal recovery experiences and building authentic peer-to-peer relationships with people who use substances and/or have other wellness concerns. The specialist supports people at different stages of recovery, helps them identify goals and strengths, and connects them with clinical and community resources. The role also includes outreach, community collaboration, follow-up with people who have left the program, and maintaining records in appropriate files and databases. The position is located at the Cascade Building in Tahlequah.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED; no exceptions.
At least one year of experience in a related field.
At least one year of lived recovery experience with alcohol, drugs, and/or other related conditions.
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
Ability to write routine reports and correspondence and speak effectively before groups of customers or employees.
Ability to perform basic arithmetic using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals, and to compute rates, ratios, and percentages and interpret bar graphs.
Knowledge of word processing software.
Ability to apply common-sense understanding to instructions and solve problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
Valid driver's license and driving history verified through a motor vehicle report that meets Cherokee Nation underwriting rating requirements.
Peer Recovery Support Specialist Certification from the State of Oklahoma (ODMHSAS).

Responsibilities

Show unconditional positive regard for individuals at different stages of recovery.
Meet people where they are and provide education appropriate to each stage of the recovery journey, including harm reduction, pre-recovery engagement, recovery initiation, stabilization, and sustained recovery maintenance.
Identify barriers to participation in recovery pathways and access to community resources, and develop individualized strategies to help clients overcome them.
Model the possibility of recovery for people in active use, people in recovery, and staff.
Help participants identify their interests, goals, strengths, and weaknesses in relation to suitable recovery pathways.
Promote self-advocacy by helping recovering persons ensure their voices are heard and their needs, goals, and objectives guide the services they receive.
Identify ways to support and connect service recipients with clinical and community resources aligned with their goals and interests.
Offer hope and encouragement toward community-based activities at varying levels of involvement.
Build relationships with community groups and agencies to increase access to services and reduce barriers and stigma associated with substance use, recovery, and treatment.
Visit community resources with recovering persons to help them become familiar with opportunities to serve others.
Maintain phone and/or email contact with recovering persons after they leave the program to track progress and provide re-engagement support when needed.
Maintain logs, reports, and records in appropriate files and databases.