Peer Recovery Specialist – Marcus Alert (ID205)

Northwestern Community Services Board; Virginia (IL); On-site; USD 33,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwestern Community Services Board is seeking a Peer Recovery Specialist (Marcus Alert) to provide community-based outreach and recovery support after crisis events. You will engage individuals, connect them with behavioral health treatment, housing resources, benefits, and community supports, and navigate systems of care as a bridge to ongoing services.

This field-oriented role requires independent travel across the service region and collaboration with responders to reduce barriers to care

Qualifications

• Completion of Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services 72-hour peer-support training required.
• High School diploma or GED required.
• At least one year experience in behavioral health services or with behavioral health populations.
• Lived experience of recovery from mental illness and/or substance use disorder with at least 1 year of psychiatric stability and/or sobriety.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and ability to provide personal transportation.

Responsibilities

• Conduct timely outreach and follow-up with individuals identified through Marcus Alert and crisis encounters.
• Provide recovery-oriented peer support utilizing lived experience and engagement principles.
• Build rapport with individuals who may be reluctant to engage in behavioral health services.
• Assist individuals in accessing and navigating behavioral health treatment, substance use services, housing resources, benefits, primary healthcare, and social supports.
• Conduct community-based visits in homes, public settings, or other environments.
• Collaborate with co-responders, emergency services staff and law enforcement partners.
• Support continuity of care after crisis events to reduce repeat interventions and improve engagement with services.
• Maintain timely documentation in accordance with agency, Medicaid, and DBHDS requirements.
• Exercise independent judgment while working in community settings.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Peer support

Outreach

Engagement

Navigation

Education

High School diploma or GED

Job description

The Peer Recovery Specialist (Marcus Alert) provides community-based outreach, follow-up, and recovery support to individuals identified through relevant referral sources. This position focuses on engagement after crisis events, helping individuals connect with behavioral health treatment, community resources, and ongoing supports to reduce barriers to care and promote long-term stabilization. The Peer Recovery Specialist (Marcus Alert) serves as a bridge between Marcus Alert response and continued community support by building relationships, conducting outreach, and supporting individuals in navigating systems of care. This position is primarily community-based and field-oriented, requiring independent travel throughout the service region.

This job description is based upon an evaluation of agency requirements at the time this description was written. This job description will change as the position is developed further, or in response to organizational or technological changes.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct timely outreach and follow-up with individuals identified through Marcus Alert and crisis encounters.
• Provide recovery-oriented peer support utilizing lived experience and evidence-based engagement principles.
• Build rapport with individuals who may be reluctant to engage in behavioral health services or have experienced repeated crisis encounters.
• Assist individuals in accessing and/or navigating situations which may include but are not limited to:
  • Behavioral health treatment
  • Substance use services
  • Housing resources
  • Benefits and entitlement programs
  • Primary healthcare
  • Social supports and community resources
• Conduct community-based visits in homes, public settings, or other appropriate environments.
• Collaborate with co-responders, emergency services staff and law enforcement partners regarding outreach and linkage efforts.
• Support continuity of care following crisis events to reduce repeat emergency interventions and improve engagement with services.
• Maintain timely documentation in accordance with agency, Medicaid, and DBHDS requirements.
• Exercise independent judgment while working in community settings and managing outreach activities.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Qualifications

• Completion of Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services 72-hour peer-support training required.
• High School diploma or GED required.
• At least one year experience in behavioral health services or with behavioral health populations, whether through previous employment or participation in services, is required.
• Lived experience of recovery from mental illness and/or substance use disorder with at least 1 year of psychiatric stability and/or sobriety.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license, good driving record and the ability to provide personal transportation as necessary to perform job duties.

Preferred Qualifications

For this position, the most competitive candidates will additionally possess:

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• May be exposed to allergenic environments from client’s homes, including extreme heat, humidity, dust, smoke, pet contamination, cleaning supplies, etc.
• May be exposed to clients with infectious diseases.
• Must be able to drive for long periods of time to visit clients in and out of the catchment area as needed.
• Must be able to walk distances, climb and descend stairs, maneuver in and out of agency vehicles.
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift/push/pull up to 25 pounds at times.

SALARY: $39,095

POSITION: ID205

RETIREMENT: NWCSB participates in Virginia Retirement System.

DISCLAIMER:All full-time employees are eligible for a complete benefits package that includes enrollment in Virginia Retirement System. For more information about benefits and a complete list of current job openings, please visit our website, www.nwcsb.com. Positions remain open and advertised until filled.

Northwestern Community Services Board provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.