Certified Peer Specialist - Community Reentry & Recovery

Peerstar LLC; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Peerstar LLC seeks a Certified Peer Specialist to support reentrants in Franklin County Community Corrections. You will draw on lived experience and peer support skills to help individuals develop recovery-oriented reentry plans and connect them with community resources.

The role requires active CPS certification, strong communication, and the ability to work with diverse populations. The contract ends 9/30/26 with potential for full-time placement thereafter.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in reading, writing and documentation.
• Ability to follow policies and procedures of the CCC and uphold ethical standards of confidentiality.
• Lived experience with a mental illness and justice-involvement living successfully.
• Knowledge of mental health peer support services, the recovery process and how it applies to individuals with serious mental illness.
• Ability to be a team player.
• Demonstrates ability to arrive at work in a timely fashion.
• Ability to follow written and oral instructions.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Assists reentrants with developing their individual reentry plans by drawing on their common experience(s) and other activities aimed at increasing their peers’ active participation in person-centered planning and the delivery of individualized services.
• Meets reentrants upon their initial reception into the CCC, provide information on mental health services available, and observe new reentrants for evidence of mental illness or impending crisis
• Promotes participation in Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) planning among peers and partners with peers to create, review, and attain goals associated with these and other recovery plans.
• Shares personal recovery stories and describes personal experiences to inspire and support individuals throughout the recovery process.
• Supports reentrants with problem solving related to their reintegration into the community.
• Provides information to reentrants regarding mental health and peer support services available at the CCC and in the local community
• Advises and informs individuals on community resources, including housing, employment, education, transportation, recreation, health, religious/spiritual, and other resources to meet their individual recovery goals.
• Provides reentrants with assistance in traveling out into the community, including attending appointments and using public transportation alongside the reentrant, during program hours of operation
• Provides individuals with support and guidance on recognizing the early signs of crisis, developing crisis plans, and implementing identified coping strategies; provides education about symptoms of mental illness to assist peer in understanding their mental illness and identifying relapse symptoms
• Assists individuals with developing and maintaining positive personal and social support networks, rehabilitation social support, advocacy, educational and vocational mentoring, and self-maintenance.
• Assists individuals with developing their self‑help skills and cultivates their ability to make informed, independent choices; supports reentrant participation in community self‑help groups
• Acts as a role model for reentrants in areas such as identifying personal strengths, conflict resolution, communicating effectively, and participation in treatment planning
• Plans and facilitates practical activities for individuals to increase their self-worth and improve their self‑concepts.
• Assists in facilitating life skills groups within the Community Corrections Center (CCC).
• Coaches or teaches basic individual living skills, such as food preparation, meal planning, laundry, bill payment, and personal hygiene
• Attends treatment/recovery team meetings both in the CCC and in the community with reentrants
• Assists CCC staff in responding to crisis situations in the CCC and acts as an advocate for reentrants in crisis.
• Assists staff in identifying program elements that are conducive to recovery by sharing their unique perspective as a CPS and as a reentrant.
• Serves as an advocate to promote the development of needed services and the understanding of reentrant perspectives regarding CCCs and their role in the mental health delivery system.
• Observes and documents reentrants’ progress towards their reentry plan objectives
• Attends weekly one‑on‑one meetings with the position’s supervisor to discuss performance and current caseload.
• Documents services provided to individuals in the provided reporting format.
• Acts as an advocate for individuals to facilitate positive changes in their recovery.
• Attends workshops and trainings as required/approved to maintain a current perspective and skills in provision of mental health advocacy, and to maintain the required Certified Peer Specialist credential.
• Attends CCC and PADOC required trainings and workshops.
• Models coping techniques and self‑help strategies.
• Reinforces hope and the potential for recovery to peers and others.
• Encourages and provides support for peers to advocate for themselves.
• Performs related work as required.

Skills

Reading/Writing

Confidentiality

Lived experience

Team player

Effective communication

Independent work

Job description

Peerstar LLC seeks a Certified Peer Specialist to support reentrants in Franklin County Community Corrections. You will draw on lived experience and peer support skills to help individuals develop recovery-oriented reentry plans and connect them with community resources.

The role requires active CPS certification, strong communication, and the ability to work with diverse populations. The contract ends 9/30/26 with potential for full-time placement thereafter.