Peer Support Specialist

TRILLIUM HEALTH RESOURCES • Greenville, NC

12d • Remote

About The Position

The Peer Support Specialist joins Trillium Health Resources’ Support Transition and Reentry (STAR) team and supports recipients enrolled in the STAR program. STAR serves adults with behavioral health or intellectual/developmental disability conditions who are exiting incarceration. Recipients may be referred by a correctional facility up to 90 days before release, and STAR provides care coordination before and after release until the individual transitions to ongoing Care Management services and supports.

The specialist educates recipients and guardians on navigating the criminal justice, behavioral health, physical health, and social services systems, as well as on available community-based services and supports. Working with each recipient’s care team and community resources, the specialist helps coordinate transition linkages such as school, employment, housing, community service opportunities, provider services, and other identified treatment supports. The role also addresses reentry barriers, which may include access to insurance, disability benefits, transportation, food, clothing, and safe housing.

The position establishes relationships with local justice systems, including county jails, prisons, Probation and Parole, and pre-release officers. It involves meeting with justice-involved members in correctional facilities and in the community, providing warm handoffs to treatment and support, assisting with transition planning, and using person-centered planning approaches to understand recipients’ needs. The specialist also educates members who meet criteria for the Transitions to Community Living special needs population about permanent supportive housing and related resources.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• One year of lived experience with a behavioral health condition and/or substance use; lived experience is defined as living in recovery with mental illness and/or substance use disorder.
• North Carolina Peer Support Specialist Certification.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Must reside in North Carolina within 75 miles of Trillium’s North Central Region, specifically Pitt County.
• Ability to travel within the catchment area as required.

Nice To Haves

• Personal history of criminal justice system involvement, incarceration, or mental health/substance use recovery.
• Education, training, and work experience demonstrating a history of learning and applying skills to work with people from varied socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, educational, and other diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Support recipients enrolled in the STAR program as they transition from incarceration to the community.
• Educate recipients and guardians on navigating the criminal justice, behavioral health, physical health, and social services systems and on available community-based services and supports.
• Work with recipients’ care teams to coordinate transition linkages for school, employment, housing, community service opportunities, provider services, and other identified treatment supports.
• Coordinate with community resources and services to address recipients’ identified needs and barriers to reentry, including access to insurance, disability benefits, transportation, food, clothing, and safe housing.
• Establish relationships with local justice systems, including county jails, prisons, Probation and Parole, and pre-release officers.
• Ensure recipients are connected to identified treatment and support services and provide warm handoffs.
• Meet in person with justice-involved members in correctional facilities and in the community to facilitate care management activities.
• Educate members who meet criteria for the Transitions to Community Living special needs population about permanent supportive housing, supports, services, and community resources.
• Assist with transition planning and support effective delivery with a focus on quality outcomes.
• Use person-centered planning methods and strategies to learn about members and legally responsible persons and identify individual needs.

Benefits

• Collaborative, mission-driven work environment.
• Competitive benefits and work-from-home options for most positions.
• Opportunities for professional growth in a diverse, inclusive culture.
• Flexible work schedules available for some positions with management approval.
• Health insurance with no premium for employee coverage.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• 24 days of paid time off plus 12 paid holidays in the first year.
• North Carolina Local Government Retirement Pension (defined-benefit plan).
• 401(k) with 5% employer match and immediate vesting.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualifying employer.
• Quarterly stipend for remote work supplies.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED