Peer Support Specialist

Garfield Counseling Center Inc; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 25,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Garfield Counseling Center, Inc. is hiring a Peer Support Specialist in Chicago, IL (West Side). Use your lived experience to mentor clients in our Opioid Treatment Program and behavioral health services. The role includes documenting services, coordinating with clinical staff, and helping clients set recovery goals.

No CPRS credential required to start; GCC will support CPRS training within the first two years of employment. This is a full-time position based in a clinical office environment.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Personal lived experience with substance use or mental health recovery required.
• Experience in peer support, recovery support, or human services preferred but not required.
• Willingness to enroll in CPRS training within two years of hire.
• Strong interpersonal skills and recovery stability.
• Basic computer skills and ability to learn GCC's EHR system.

Responsibilities

• Provide motivational mentoring and peer support to clients in recovery.
• Share personal lived experience to build trust and hope with clients.
• Help clients identify recovery goals and build their own recovery plan with the clinical team.
• Facilitate or co-facilitate peer support groups and recovery activities.
• Support client engagement and outreach to prevent disengagement from services.
• Connect clients with community resources including housing, employment, benefits, and social services.
• Document peer support services in GCC's EHR system timely and accurately.
• Participate in case staffing and team meetings.

Skills

Lived experience

Interpersonal skills

Motivational skills

Basic computer skills

Education

High School Diploma/GED

Tools

EHR system

Job description

WE'RE HIRING

Peer Support Specialist

Turn your own recovery journey into hope for someone else's.

PAY: $18.00 – $21.00 per hour | TYPE: Full-Time

LOCATION: Chicago, IL (West Side) — 4132 W. Madison Street

Garfield Counseling Center, Inc. (GCC) is hiring a Peer Support Specialist to use their own lived experience with substance use and/or mental health recovery to support, mentor, and advocate for clients in our Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) and behavioral health programs. Current certification isn't required to start — we'll support you in earning your Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) credential within your first two years.

ABOUT GARFIELD COUNSELING CENTER

Garfield Counseling Center, Inc. (GCC) is a Chicago-based substance use disorder and behavioral health treatment provider serving the West Side community. For years, we've delivered compassionate, evidence-based care to our clients — and we're growing our team to support new programs, expanded licensure, and the people who count on us every day.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Provide individually based motivational mentoring and peer support to clients in recovery
• Share your personal lived experience, where appropriate, to build trust, rapport, and hope with clients
• Help clients identify recovery goals and build their own recovery plan alongside the clinical team
• Facilitate or co-facilitate peer support groups and recovery-oriented activities
• Support client engagement and retention, including outreach to clients at risk of disengaging from services
• Connect clients with community resources, including housing, employment, benefits, and social services
• Document peer support services in GCC's EHR system in a timely and accurate manner
• Participate in case staffing, clinical supervision, and team meetings

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• High School Diploma/GED required
• Personal lived experience with substance use and/or mental health recovery required
• Prior experience in a peer support, recovery support, or human services role preferred, but not required
• Willingness to enroll in an Illinois Certification Board (ICB)-approved training program and sit for the CPRS exam within two years of hire
• Strong interpersonal and motivational skills, with personal recovery stability sufficient to support others
• Basic computer skills, with the ability to learn GCC's EHR system

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This role is based in a clinical office and group setting, with regular direct client interaction.

Garfield Counseling Center, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.