Peer Support Specialist

VOA Mid-States•Owensboro, KY

32d

About The Position

Volunteers of America Mid-States (VOA) is a non-profit organization spanning four states that creates positive change in the lives of individuals and communities through a ministry of service. We provide housing for families, veterans, and low-income seniors. We provide care and support for individuals with developmental disabilities, healing accountability that brings people together with restorative justice, and free HIV testing and education. When Volunteers of America was founded in 1896, "volunteer" referred to anyone who served others as a vocation through a commitment to a mission. Today, we are still staffed by paid, mission-driven professionals working to create positive change and build thriving communities. Flexibility, teamwork, and fun are some of the reasons our employees are proud to work at VOA! We offer a comprehensive benefits package to employees who meet eligibility requirements. The Community Outreach Coordinator/Peer Support is responsible for all outreach to referral sources in our communities that include, but are not limited to the judicial system, corrections department, hospital and healthcare providers, and other community partners. Additionally, the Peer Support Specialist/Outreach Coordinator will assist with recruitment of FRC participants by attending home court dates and discussing program, discuss treatment options with potential new participants and assist with scheduling assessments as needed and securing treatment bed as applicable. They will provide ongoing support to FRC clients throughout each phase of the program through individual and group peer support sessions, attend interdisciplinary team meetings and provide updates on client progress to the treatment team. The Peer Support Specialist/Outreach Coordinator will also attend community outreach, educational sessions, training and in-services to provide relevant information regarding FRC and other programs as needed.

Requirements

High School Graduate or GED
Valid KY. Driver’s License and current automobile insurance required.

Nice To Haves

KY Certified peer support specialist preferred
Preferred applicants with 2 years of demonstrated, successful, sustained recovery

Responsibilities

Follow through intake procedures.
Maintain regular/weekly contact with referral sources including but not limited to regional and local DCBS, probation and parole, hospitals, and detox centers. This includes checking for possible new referrals and updating on bed census at Freedom House.
Actively identify and support linkages to community resources (communities of recovery, educational, vocational, social, cultural, spiritual resources, mutual self- help groups, professional services, etc.).
Provide vision-driven hope and encouragement for opportunities at varying levels of involvement in community-based activities (e.g., work, school, relationships, physical activity, self-directed hobbies, etc.).
Develop relationships with community groups/agencies in partnership with others in the agency.
Maintain project logs, reports and records in appropriate files and database(s).
Provide recovery education to service recipients for every phase of the recovery journey from pre-recovery engagement, recovery initiation, recovery stabilization, and sustained recovery maintenance.
Assist recovering persons to identify their personal interests, goals, strengths and weaknesses regarding recovery.
Recovery Planning -- facilitate (via personal coaching) the transition from a professionally directed service plan to a self-directed Recovery Plan. The goal should be to transition from professionally assisted recovery initiation to personally directed, community supported recovery maintenance.
Support connections to community based, mutual self-help groups. Link individuals to appropriate professional resources when needed. Provide vision-driven hope and encouragement for opportunities at varying levels of involvement in community-based activities (e.g., work, school, relationships, physical activity, self-directed hobbies, etc.).
Maintain contact by phone and/or e-mail with a recovery person after they leave the program to ensure their ongoing success and to provide re-engagement support in partnership with others in the agency if needed. Long-term engagement, support, and encouragement.
Other duties as directed by the Director and/or Management Staff.
Develop, implement, and promote ongoing community training opportunities.
Persistently developing leads for potential new referral partners.