Part-Time Peer Specialist

The Empowerment Program; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 22,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

The Empowerment Program is seeking a Part-Time Mariposa Residential Peer Specialist to support women and transwomen in transition at Mariposa House in Denver. This role focuses on recovery, safety, and community integration within a confidential congregate living setting.

Ideal candidates bring lived recovery or justice experience, strong communication, and a collaborative spirit to facilitate groups, mentor individuals, and ensure Medicaid documentation is accurately maintained.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Personal lived experience with recovery, mental health, or justice involvement preferred.
• Ability to communicate clearly and maintain professional boundaries.
• Ability to work in a team and support a diverse participant population.

Responsibilities

• Enforce house rules and safety protocols as per participant handbook.
• Monitor curfew deviations and coordinate with care managers.
• Perform walkthroughs and room checks; assist with daily chores.
• Maintain logs and report safety or maintenance concerns timely.
• Facilitate support groups and individual mentoring sessions.
• Assist with Medicaid documentation using DAP format where applicable.

Skills

Group Facilitation

Mentorship

Crisis De-Escalation

Communication

Team Collaboration

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description

Mariposa Residential Peer Specialist (Part-Time)

Program

Mariposa House (Transitional Housing & Shelter Environment)

Position Type

Part-Time (Non-Exempt)

Schedule

Sunday – Wednesday or Thursday - Saturday 5:00 PM – 11:30 PM (with occasional coverage shifts available as needed)

Reports To

WAGEES Program Manager

Job Overview

The Empowerment Program provides comprehensive health, housing, and employment and education services to women and transwomen who are involved in the criminal justice system, recently released from jail or prison, homeless, or living with HIV/AIDS, mental illness, and drug addiction.

Mariposa House is a confidentially located congregate living facility housing 18–22 women in Denver. The Part-Time Residential Peer Specialist serves as a vital recovery agent and operational anchor within the house, supporting participants living in transition. This role works primarily with WAGEES (Work and Gain Education & Employment Skills) participants, participants enrolled on our WHP team (specializing in individuals living with HIV), and general services participants. Utilizing personal lived experience with recovery, justice involvement, or mental health stabilization, the Peer Specialist models self-directed recovery, maintains a secure and therapeutic environment, facilitates support groups, and completes Medicaid-compliant clinical documentation.

Essential Job Functions

Facility Safety, Security & Operations

• House Rules Enforcement: Enforce house rules and expectations as outlined in the participant handbook.
• Curfew: Monitor and communicate curfew deviations with care managers when participants come in late or have not come back to the house at night
• Facility Walkthroughs & Room Checks: Conduct thorough walkthroughs of the house and perform at least one room check per shift to ensure participant wellbeing and environmental safety.
• Chore Management: Monitor, verify, and assist residents with daily household chore completion to reinforce life skills and communal accountability. Complete staff chores as assigned such as house laundry and stocking.
• Communication & Logs: Notify the Program Manager promptly of any maintenance, safety, or security concerns. Email significant events to the housing team and maintain the daily shift logs.

Peer Support & Group Facilitation

• Group Facilitation: Facilitate at least one group per month (peer support, skill-building, or self-help mutual support), encouraging consumer input on strengths and interests. Help participants establish, sustain, and join self-help groups.
• Individual Mentorship & Goal Setting: Assist participants in articulating personal goals for recovery using one-on-one sessions, supporting them in creating recovery plans with strengths, coping tools, and community resources.
• Sharing Lived Experience: Share personal recovery stories to demonstrate self-directed recovery, model effective coping mechanisms, and role-model the value of every individual's journey.
• Crisis De-Escalation & Mental Health Support: Recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness (e.g., hallucinations, aggressive talk/behavior, isolation, or self-harm thoughts) and assist participants using grounding strategies and positive self-talk. De-escalate environmental stressors or interpersonal conflicts.
• Community Integration & Advocacy: Help participants build social skills and combat stigma through self-advocacy (using role-playing/modeling).

Treatment Planning & Medicaid Documentation

• Treatment Planning Collaboration: Work collaboratively with the participant, Care Managers, and the treatment team (Program Manager) to support person-centered recovery/treatment plans.
• EHR & DAP Documentation: Enter timely, objective clinical progress notes into the agency's Electronic Health Record (EHR) using the DAP (Data, Assessment, Plan) format for Medicaid billing compliance.
• Plan Metrics: Document identified person-centered strengths, needs, abilities, recovery goals, specific interventions, and ongoing progress toward goals listed within the treatment plan (provided by the Care Manager).

Qualifications & Requirements

Education & Experience

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
• Personal lived experience with substance recovery, mental health management, or criminal justice system involvement, with a strong commitment to supporting women and transwomen in transition.

Certification Requirement

• Peer Specialist Certification: A State of Colorado Peer Specialist Certification is preferred upon hire. Candidates who do not already possess a peer certificate must obtain one (including passing the state exam) within the first 6 months of employment (Empowerment funding available).

Technical & Operational Knowledge

• Knowledge of the recovery process, mental health symptom management, and standardized problem-solving strategies.
• Basic proficiency with Microsoft Office products and comfort learning EHR systems for DAP Medicaid documentation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, multi-tasking capabilities, and a positive, collaborative team-player attitude.

Licenses & Screening

• A valid driver's license is required
• Ability to pass required background checks appropriate for residential and community corrections/transitional environments.

Compensation & Denver Metro Area Market Wage Range

• Hourly Wage Range: (commensurate with certification status and applicable experience).

Equal Opportunity Workplace

The Empowerment Program is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status.