Recovery Mentor +$22.44 DOE

Volunteers of America Oregon•Portland, OR

6d•$22 - $30•Hybrid

About The Position

Mentors assigned to the BHRN program provide peer support and resource navigation to individuals with substance use concerns as part of Oregon’s Behavioral Health Resource Network. They work primarily in the field to conduct outreach, build trust, and support early engagement in services. BHRN Mentors help individuals access treatment and recovery resources, navigate systems of care, and reduce barriers to participation in services through consistent peer contact and harm reduction strategies.

Requirements

A high school diploma or GED is required for this role.
Lived experience with substance use recovery.
Demonstrated ability to use that experience to support others in a professional peer role.
Must complete a criminal history background check and receive authorization from the State of Oregon’s Background Check Unit.
Must not be excluded from participation in federal healthcare programs, including but not limited to listings on the Office of Inspector General (OIG) List of Excluded Individuals/Entities and the System for Award Management (SAM) exclusion list.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
If driving is required for the position, the individual must have an active driver’s license, current insurance, reliable transportation and ability to meet VOA Oregon’s and VOA Oregon’s insurer’s driver standards.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with individuals who have co-occurring substance use, and mental health challenges is preferred.
Experience working with individuals involved in the criminal justice system or experiencing housing instability is preferred.
Experience using electronic health records (EHRs) or similar documentation systems is preferred.
Experience working in Medicaid-billable peer services or behavioral health settings is preferred.
An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be used to satisfy these requirements.

Responsibilities

Builds and maintains supportive peer relationships grounded in mutual respect, shared lived experience, and recovery principles to promote client engagement and hope.
Supports clients in identifying and working toward individualized recovery goals across areas such as treatment engagement, housing, employment, education, and wellness to foster stability and self-determination.
Provides mentorship and guidance using trauma-informed, person-centered, and harm reduction approaches to reduce barriers to care and increase trust.
Facilitates peer-led recovery groups and structured activities to support community building, skill development, and shared accountability.
Introduces clients to a range of recovery supports including 12-step, mutual aid, cultural, spiritual, or wellness-based resources to increase connection and sustained recovery.
Assists clients in navigating behavioral health, social service, and criminal justice systems, including court, probation/parole, child welfare, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT), to increase service access and continuity.
Conducts outreach and maintains regular client contact through scheduled sessions, field visits, or phone/text outreach to enhance engagement and service consistency.
Supports clients in meeting practical needs such as obtaining ID, applying for benefits, securing housing, and attending critical appointments.
Transport clients safely to appointments, court, or recovery activities using agency vehicles to ensure reliable access to essential services.
Observes clients for signs of relapse, intoxication, withdrawal, or behavioral escalation and follows agency protocols to support client safety and program integrity.
Responds to client crises using de-escalation strategies and peer-appropriate interventions, and assists with emergency response (e.g., Narcan or CPR) if trained.
Maintains accurate and timely documentation in the electronic health record to ensure continuity of care and compliance with regulatory standards.
Obtain and track Release of Information (ROI) forms to coordinate care and support information sharing with external partners as needed.
Collaborates with internal interdisciplinary staff, including medical providers, counselors, case managers, as well as community partners such as court staff, parole officers, and legal representatives, to align treatment efforts and ensure consistent implementation of care plans, problem-solving, and quality of care.
Incorporates client feedback and outcome monitoring tools, e.g., feedback Informed Treatment (FIT), to improve peer services and client-centered care.
Promotes recovery culture and model recovery values through ethical behavior, emotional regulation, and boundary-setting.
Participates in supervision, team meetings, and professional development to strengthen skills, maintain certification, and contribute to a collaborative work environment.
Manages administrative responsibilities such as checking email, responding to phone calls, managing appointment schedules, and maintaining timely documentation.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical insurance options with employer-paid premiums covering 71%–89% of employee-only coverage, with employee costs starting at $66.23 per paycheck
Optional dental and vision coverage at employee cost.
Employer-provided life insurance, along with short- and long-term disability coverage.
403(b) retirement plan with an automatic 5.5% employer contribution after 18 months of employment, regardless of employee contribution.
A generous paid time off (PTO) plan, with accruals of 15 days in the first year, 23 days in the second year, and 26 days in the third year.
80 hours of frontloaded sick time (prorated in the first year), resetting annually on January 1.
10 paid holidays each year, plus 3 personal holidays (prorated in the first year) to allow employees time off for important holidays, events, or milestones.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, VOA Oregon is a qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which may help reduce or eliminate federal student loan debt for employees who meet eligibility requirements.
Flexible spending accounts
Employee assistance program (EAP)
Access to other voluntary benefits and employee discounts.