Substance Use Peer, Certified Recovery Support Specialist

AltaPointe Health • Ashland, AL

7d

About The Position

The Substance Use Peer, Certified Recovery Support Specialist promotes self-determination, recovery, self-advocacy, and self-direction. The role supports individuals in identifying strengths, setting wellness goals and objectives, addressing barriers, making informed decisions, and building community connections. The peer specialist shares personal recovery experience to model stability and supports individuals with treatment, housing, benefits, employment, transportation, crisis planning, and recovery goals.

The position also provides education and peer support to staff, connects individuals with community support groups, and may lead recovery support groups and NA/AA meetings when appropriate. It requires maintaining confidential files and timely documentation that meets funding-source requirements, participating in supervision, performance improvement activities, committees, training, and other assigned duties, and treating consumers, visitors, and coworkers with respect and compassion.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Peer Specialist Certification through the State of Alabama Department of Mental Health.
• At least 23 years of age.
• Valid Alabama driver license and acceptable driving record.
• Maintain proof of current liability insurance.
• Proficient in basic computer word processing.
• Two consecutive years in substance abuse recovery and comfort with self-identifying as being in recovery.
• Within six months of hire, acquire knowledge of addiction as a primary illness; cultural and gender-specific issues related to addiction; substance abuse treatment principles; and psychiatric rehabilitation principles.
• Within six months of hire, acquire knowledge of twelve-step and other self-help groups, including AA, NA, and CA.
• Within six months of hire, understand codependency dynamics and typical behaviors of consumers with addiction, including denial and manipulation.
• Within six months of hire, understand the behavioral, psychological, physical health, and social effects of psychoactive drugs, including alcohol and tobacco, on consumers and significant others.
• Within six months of hire, acquire knowledge of strategies to reduce the negative effects of substance abuse and dependency and how to tailor strategies and treatment modalities to a consumer’s stage of dependency, change, or recovery.
• Within six months of hire, acquire knowledge of medical and pharmaceutical resources for addictive disease and other substance-related disorders.
• Within six months of hire, acquire knowledge of illness risks among IV drug users, including HIV/AIDS and TB.
• Within six months of hire, acquire knowledge of the criminal justice system, including court hearings, judges, court referral officers, and probation officers, if applicable.
• Within six months of hire, acquire knowledge of behavioral management and crisis intervention for consumers with substance abuse or addiction issues.

Responsibilities

• Promote self-determination, recovery, self-advocacy, and self-direction; help individuals identify strengths, wellness goals, objectives, and barriers.
• Attend treatment team meetings with individuals and support self-directed advocacy, goal planning, and requesting appropriate community services.
• Help individuals obtain information about benefits such as SSI, SSDI, and Medicaid.
• Engage individuals in outpatient programs and services to encourage recovery.
• Model self-advocacy skills and share personal recovery experience to demonstrate choosing, obtaining, and maintaining stability.
• Teach wellness management strategies and help individuals develop self-management plans and tools, using manualized approaches such as IMR/WMR and WRAP.
• Connect individuals with community support groups to promote hope, problem-solving, and reduced social isolation.
• Educate staff about self-advocacy and peer support and promote a culture that respects and integrates individuals’ perspectives and preferences into service delivery.
• Provide resources and teach transportation skills, including how to use bus routes.
• Support informed decisions about treatment, housing, benefits, and community connections.
• Help individuals develop crisis and safety plans, build community social skills, overcome barriers to recovery, and address challenges.
• Assist with obtaining documentation for benefits, employment, and housing, and with completing paperwork.
• Explore individuals’ aspirations and lead recovery support groups and NA/AA meetings with the job seeker when appropriate.
• Seek supervision and consultation as needed and accept and apply suggestions for improvement.
• Maintain confidential files and service documentation, providing timely documentation that meets Medicaid and other funding-source requirements.
• Treat consumers with care, dignity, compassion, courtesy, and respect; protect privacy and confidentiality and respond sensitively to individual needs and differences.
• Participate in Performance Improvement activities and AltaPointe committees as required.
• Complete assigned tasks in a timely manner, follow AltaPointe policies and procedures, and attend required in-service training and workshops.

What This Job Offers

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