Peer Support Specialist

Rimrock-Trail; Prineville (OR); On-site; USD 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development assistance

401k and Match

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Flexible spending account

Life insurance

10 annual paid holidays including your

Birthday

Vacation - PTO accrual

Paid wellness time

Job summary

Rimrock Trails seeks an ARC Peer Support Specialist to coordinate services for youth and families initiating treatment at the Crook County ARC. This role supports the ARC Lead and Care Coordinator, guiding clients through services, referrals, and warm handoffs to community resources.

You will conduct screenings, provide brief interventions, and assist with care planning and follow-up, while promoting recovery and empowerment within a harm-reduction framework.

Qualifications

• Associates degree or higher.
• Must complete peer support training within 60 days (employer paid).
• Self-identified person currently or formerly receiving mental health services; or in recovery from a substance use disorder.
• Knowledge of local behavioral health, substance use, and social services delivery systems.
• Ability to promote resiliency and self-advocacy; maintain boundaries and professional relationships.
• Valid Oregon driver’s license or ability to obtain one.

Responsibilities

• Welcome youth and families; complete initial screenings and coordinate additional assessments.
• Provide brief interventions for youth who misuse substances with family involvement when appropriate.
• Coordinate care; follow up for at least 120 days and connect with support services to address barriers.
• Coordinate peer/family support services and ensure continuity of care.
• Document all encounters and maintain client confidentiality.

Education

Associates degree or higher

Job description

Description

Department: Outpatient

Reports to: ARC Program Lead

FLSA Status: Full-time Non-Exempt

Our mission is to improve the lives of those struggling with mental health and substance use by providing timely access to compassionate and effective behavioral healthcare.

As an organization, we value Authenticity, Integrity, Compassion and Connection. Therefore, in all our interactions we will walk a courageous path where our values, ideals, and actions align to create and maintain authentic connections with others.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The ARC Peer Support Specialist is a core member of the ARC Treatment Team, responsible for supporting the coordination, engagement, and follow-up of clinically indicated services for individuals and families who initiate services at the Crook County ARC. This role acts in a supportive capacity to the ARC Lead and Care Coordinator and collaborates on services and follow-up with clients and families, helping them navigate necessary services and support. The ARC Peer Support Specialist regularly consults with individuals and their families to determine their needs, educate them about their conditions and options, coordinate services, provide referrals, and conduct warm handoffs.

Functions and Services:

· Screening and Assessment: Welcome youth and families, complete initial screenings, and assist in coordinating additional assessments as needed.

· Brief Intervention: Provide short-term and extended brief interventions for youth who misuse substances, including family involvement when appropriate.

· Referral to Treatment/Care Coordination: Provide care coordination, follow-up for at least 120 days, and coordination with support services to address barriers like transportation and communication.

· Peer/Family Support Services: Ensure continuity of care through coordinating ongoing support from peer support specialists.

· Community Education/Outreach: Create a stigma-free environment for learning about behavioral health and community services, and host regular informational groups as assigned.

I. ESSENTIAL POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

A. General

1. Peer support services are provided in a variety of settings and may include but are not limited to self-help groups, drop-in centers, outreach services, system navigation, coordination, screenings, cultivating and linking to supports, resource acquisition, coaching, problem solving, skill development, education and advocacy.

2. The ARC Peer Support Specialist assists in navigating barriers, providing linkage to services, and engaging in community outreach/ harm reduction activities.

3. The ARC Peer Support Specialist will work with the ARC team to promote a culture in which each client’s point of view and preferences are recognized, understood, respected, and integrated into treatment, rehabilitation, and community self-help activities.

4. Provide social and emotional support, coupled with informal and formal community resources, to help clients engage in and direct their own recovery process.

5. Assist in navigating barriers, providing linkage to services, and engaging in community outreach/harm reduction activities.

6. Promote self-determination, personal responsibility, and empowerment inherent in recovery.

7. Facilitate independence and community interdependence opportunities for those served, modeling behavior to inspire hope and share life experiences and lessons learned as a person in recovery.

8. Support clients in identifying their needs for professional support and services and develop a collaborative plan to integrate these needs into a comprehensive treatment plan.

9. Work with clients in groups and one-on-one to provide hope, encouragement, support, self-determination, and connection to the community.

10. Provide practical help, mentoring, advocacy, coordination, side-by-side individualized support, coaching, problem-solving, and direct assistance.

11. Support connections to community-based, mutual self-help groups.

12. Consult with community agencies and organizations, including consumer-run programs such as self-help groups and consumer drop-in centers.

13. Assist clients in developing and using natural support.

14. Maintain client confidentiality according to agency policies.

15. Document all encounters with clients to maintain a permanent record of client activity according to agency-established methods and procedures.

16. Participate in staff organizational meetings and perform other duties as required.

B. Productivity

1. Increase access for clients to treatment services (i.e., improve engagement with a provider).

2. Sustain engagement with clients through a continuum of treatment services.

3. Provide community-based skills training to assist clients in generalizing their skills acquired in formal treatment services.

4. Increase the recovery of capital of clients, such as employment, stable housing, and access to medical care.

5. Community-based – at least 50% of contacts occur outside of the office (the phone can be classified as community-based as well)

6. Person-centered and strength-based service delivery model – services are tailored to the goals and needs of each client

7. Harm reduction model that allows individuals to learn how to live without alcohol and other drugs in the community

8. Focus on skills training using evidence-based behavioral and cognitive behavior training techniques – every contact is based on a skills-training objective

9. Emphasis on expanding each person’s resources to promote sustainable recovery, such as acquiring a job, attending mutual support groups, attending school, or accessing transportation or medical care.

10. Meet with ARC staff to coordinate care with the treatment team on complex client cases.

What we offer

Pay: $24.62/hr (40 hours)

• Professional development assistance
• 401k and Match
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Life insurance
• 10 annual paid holidays including your birthday
• Vacation - PTO accrual
• Paid wellness time

Requirements

Minimum/Required:

1. Associates degree or higher

2. Ability to complete an Addictions and Behavioral Health Division certified peer support specialist training program within 60 days of hire (employer paid), SEE REQUIREMENTS TO COMPLETE: Must be a self-identified person currently or formerly receiving mental health services; or a self-identified person in recovery from a substance use disorder, who meets the abstinence requirements for recovering staff in alcohol and other drug treatment programs; or a family member of an individual who is a current or former recipient of addictions or mental health services.

3. General knowledge of local behavioral health, substance abuse, and social services delivery systems.

4. Knowledge of approaches and skills used to promote general resiliency, client empowerment, and effective peer support strategies and practices to facilitate a self-directed recovery process.

5. Ability to assist clients in developing the perspectives that promote resiliency and facilitate recovery; model personal responsibility and self-advocacy/care; advocate for clients; teach coping/life skills; share own experiences in appropriate ways; keep boundaries and form appropriate paraprofessional relationships with clients; perform a wide variety of tasks to assist client’s wellness; and use a personal computer and keyboard.

6. Valid Oregon driver’s license (or the ability to obtain) and eligible to drive in accordance with agency driving policy.

EEO/AAP Statement: Rimrock Trails 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. ADA Statement: Employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential function of their job, absent undue hardship. Disclaimer: Rimrock Trials retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.