Peer Specialist (Co-Occurring Disorders)

PFH Preferred Family Healthcare; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Program

Mileage Reimbursement

Employee Discounts

Workplace Culture

Additional perks

Job summary

PFH Preferred Family Healthcare seeks a Peer Specialist in Saint Louis, MO, to help clients on their recovery journeys with empathy and practical support. You will use your lived experience to inspire hope, develop recovery goals, and connect individuals to community resources and services.

The role emphasizes advocacy, mentoring, and collaboration with treatment teams to promote independence and recovery-focused outcomes, while meeting regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• Must identify as a current or former recipient of mental health or substance use services.
• Minimum one year of direct personal experience with the mental health system.
• High school diploma or equivalent required for eligibility.
• Carefully maintain professional boundaries while using lived experience.
• Willing to complete Missouri Peer Specialist certification and training on time.

Responsibilities

• Utilize personal recovery experience to inspire hope while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Assist clients in developing recovery goals and personalized treatment plans.
• Coach, mentor, and advocate to promote independence and improved quality of life.
• Connect clients with community resources and recovery supports.
• Maintain timely documentation in accordance with regulations and standards.

Skills

Recovery experience

Communication skills

Computer proficiency

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Missouri Peer Specialist certification requirements

Job description

Job Description: Job Title: Peer Specialist Location: Saint Louis, MO Department: CB Adult Community Services Employment Type: Full-Time Job Summary: Are you passionate about helping others find hope, healing, and lasting recovery? Join our compassionate and collaborative team as a Peer Specialist and use your lived experience to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals navigating mental health and substance use challenges. This rewarding opportunity allows you to support others on their recovery journey, build genuine connections, promote independence, strengthen community engagement, and serve as a powerful example of resilience and recovery. We are seeking a caring, dependable, encouraging professional who is committed to empowering others and fostering positive change. As a Peer Specialist, you will partner with individuals and families to help develop recovery goals, access community resources, build essential life skills, and strengthen support networks. Through mentoring, coaching, advocacy, and peer support services, you will help clients engage in treatment, increase self-sufficiency, and maintain progress toward their recovery goals. This role combines direct client support, community outreach, care coordination, transportation assistance, group facilitation, and recovery-focused interventions to promote long-term wellness and success. This position offers…

• Employee Assistance Program – 24/7 counseling services, legal assistance, & financial consultation for you and your household at no cost
• Mileage Reimbursement – Company paid for work functions requiring travel
• Employee Discounts – Hotels, Theme Parks & Attractions, College Tuition
• Workplace Culture - An environment cultivating employee wellbeing, valuing each individual's humanity, and actively promoting a healthy, joyful workforce
• Additional Perks & Benefits - Scroll down to bottom of this post to learn more

Key Responsibilities

• Utilize personal recovery experience to inspire hope, resilience, and engagement in the recovery process while maintaining professional boundaries
• Support individuals in developing recovery goals, identifying strengths, and creating personalized treatment and recovery plans
• Coach, mentor, and advocate for individuals as they work toward increased independence and improved quality of life
• Connect clients with community resources, recovery supports, mutual aid groups, and other services that promote successful recovery
• Build supportive relationships with individuals, families, guardians, and referral sources to encourage progress and continuity of care
• Assist clients in accessing medical, behavioral health, and community-based services while providing transportation and appointment support as needed
• Accompany clients to appointments when appropriate and represent the organization in a professional manner
• Facilitate recovery-focused groups, educational sessions, and wellness activities that promote skill building and personal growth
• Provide crisis intervention and support during challenging situations while promoting recovery-oriented solutions
• Participate in treatment team meetings and collaborate with providers to ensure coordinated, person-centered care
• Research and refer individuals to external resources that support recovery, stability, and community integration
• Maintain timely, accurate documentation in accordance with regulatory, state, and CARF standards
• Participate in ongoing training and professional development activities to enhance peer support skills and maintain required credentials
• Support organizational goals and uphold ethical, confidentiality, and professional standards

Education, Experience, and/or Credential Qualifications

• Must be willing to self-identify as a present or former recipient of mental health and/or substance use services, or as a person in recovery from a mental health and/or substance use disorder
• Requires at least one year of direct personal experience with the mental health system as a primary consumer of services
• High school diploma or equivalent required for Missouri Peer Specialist eligibility
• Minimum of two (2) years of responsible employment history required
• Experience providing peer support, mentoring, advocacy, recovery coaching, or community-based support services is preferred
• Knowledge of recovery principles, mental health services, substance use treatment, case management practices, and community resources preferred
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to build trust and rapport with diverse individuals and families
• General computer proficiency required

Additional Qualifications

• Must be at least 21 years of age or older
• Must possess a valid driver's license, acceptable driving record, current auto insurance, and reliable transportation
• Must be able to transport clients as part of assigned job responsibilities
• Minimum of one (1) year in recovery required
• Ability to serve as a positive role model by demonstrating recovery-focused behaviors and coping skills
• Ability to connect individuals to recovery resources and support systems within the community
• Must attain Missouri Peer Specialist certification requirements as applicable, including successful completion of required training and certification examination within required timelines
• Must successfully complete required background screenings, including criminal, driving, abuse/neglect, and fingerprint checks
• Must attain training related to behavioral health conditions, family engagement, client rights and responsibilities, treatment planning, assessment principles, suicide awareness, crisis intervention, quality assurance, infection control, and CPRC philosophy within designated timeframes

Physical Requirements

• Perform light work requiring exertion of up to 20 pounds occasionally, up to 10 pounds frequently, and negligible force constantly to move objects
• Walk and stand for extended periods throughout the workday as required by community-based service delivery
• Sit for periods of time while completing documentation, transportation duties, meetings, and client support activities
• Push and pull materials, equipment, or objects as required during daily job functions
• Travel frequently within the community to provide services, transport clients, and attend appointments and meetings
• Maintain the physical ability to safely assist clients and perform duties in a variety of community settings

Position Perks & Benefits

• Paid time off: full-time employees receive an attractive time off package to balance your work and personal life
• Employee benefits package: full-time employees receive health, dental, vision, retirement, life, & more
• Top-notch training: initial, ongoing, comprehensive, and supportive
• Career mobility: advancement opportunities/promoting from within
• Welcoming, warm, supportive: a work culture & environment that promotes your well-being, values you as human being, and encourages your health and happiness
• Brightli is on a Mission: A mission to improve client care, reduce the financial burden of community mental health centers by sharing resources, a mission to have a larger voice in advocacy to increase access to mental health and substance user care in our communities, and a mission to evolve the behavioral health industry to better meet the needs of our clients.

If you are passionate about empowering local communities and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported, we invite you to join our mission-driven organization dedicated to cultivating an authentic workplace.

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

Preferred Family Health Care is a Smoke and Tobacco Free Workplace.

About Brightli

Brightli is on a mission: A mission to improve client care, reduce the financial burden of community mental health centers by sharing resources, a mission to have a larger voice in advocacy to increase access to mental health and substance user care in our communities, and a mission to evolve the behavioral health industry to better meet the needs of our clients. We are doing this by forming a new behavioral health organization under new model. Under one parent company, multiple organizations are able to collaborate, share resources and system supports, increase recruiting and retention efforts, increase access to specialized care, and meet the growing demand for behavioral and addiction recovery care. Brightli’s top-line subsidiaries include Burrell Behavioral Health (Burrell), Preferred Family Healthcare (PFH), Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health (SEMO), Firefly, Adult and Child Health, and Places for People. While these organizations operate independently and are governed by separate board of directors, their operations and services benefit from this model. Alone, organizations may be able to navigate the current tumultuous healthcare environment, but we believe that together we can do so much more than survive. Our communities need us now more than ever, and by working together we are ready to answer their call for years to come.

Brightli Snapshot

• 200 locations
• 4 states
• 19 subsidiaries and/or affiliates
• 5k+ employees