Peer Specialist

Albany County; Laramie (WY); On-site; USD 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Albany County is seeking a Peer Support Specialist to assist participants in recovery from substance use and/or mental illness within the Albany County Court Supervised Treatment Program. The role involves mentoring, advocacy, and motivating individuals in recovery, operating within professional boundaries and confidentiality rules.

You will work as part of the Drug Court team, support linkages to community resources, facilitate access to services, and help participants progress toward their

Qualifications

• Must have history of substance abuse and/or mental health diagnosis with at least two years sobriety.
• Willingness to discuss drug/alcohol history and recovery.
• High school diploma, GED or HISET.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Wyoming Peer Specialist Certification within one year of hire.
• Clean driving record.

Responsibilities

• Support participants in recovery from substance use and/or mental illness and help engage in the recovery process.
• Serve as a role model, mentor, advocate, and motivator for individuals in recovery.
• Identify emergencies and connect participants with appropriate resources.
• Assist with transportation to appointments and treatment agencies as needed.
• Data entry and administrative duties as assigned by the Program Director.

Education

High school diploma, GED or HISET

Job description

Duties and Functions:

Peer Support Specialists are people who have been successful in their own recovery process from substance use and/or mental illness who help others experiencing similar situations. Through shared understanding, respect, and mutual empowerment, peer support workers help people become and stay engaged in the recovery process and reduce the likelihood of relapse.

The Peer Specialist’s role is to support participants of the Albany County Court Supervised Treatment Program in recovery from substance use (drug and/or alcohol) disorder. The Peer Specialist will serve as a role model, mentor, advocate, and motivator to individuals in recovery from drugs and/or alcohol. This position may work with both adult and juvenile participants.

• Peer Specialist is an active member of the Albany County Court Supervised Treatment team (Drug Court) Team.

• Must maintain professional boundaries with participants and comply with the Wyoming Certified Peer Specialist Code of Ethics and standards of practice, which also applies to personal relationships outside of work.
• Must maintain confidentiality regarding information received during the facilitation of recovery support services -maintain current understanding of federal, state, and local confidentiality rules and regulations.
• Assist participants in working with their case manager and/or treatment team in determining the steps they need to take to achieve their goals and self-directed recovery.
• Identify emergency or crisis situations and facilitate access to appropriate resources, negotiating and connecting individuals with resources and navigating the various community agencies.
• Actively identify and support linkages to community resources (communities of recovery, educational, vocational, social, cultural, spiritual resources, mutual self-help groups, professional services, etc.) that support the participants' goals and interests. This will involve a collaborative effort including the participant, agency staff, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Engage in continuing professional development and obtain/maintain IC&RC Peer Specialist Certification.
• Provide recovery education to participants for every phase of the recovery journey.
• Be comfortable working with individuals involved in the criminal justice system, which includes meeting with applicants/participants of ACCSTP at the jail.
• Assist with transportation of participants to various appointments, treatment agencies, etc., as deemed necessary by the Director.
• Data entry
• Other duties as assigned by the Program Director

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Have history of substance abuse and/or mental health diagnosis AND have a minimum of two years sobriety/stability in own recovery journey.
• Be willing to discuss drug/alcohol abuse history and recovery
• High school diploma, GED or HISET
• Valid driver’s license.
• Must obtain Wyoming Peer Specialist Certification within one year of hire.
• Must have valid driver’s license and clean driving record.

Preference will be given to applicants with a Current Wyoming Peer Specialist Certification (or equivalent certification for your State).

Position paid from grant funding and is reviewed annually.