SOCIAL SERVICE SPECIALIST- PATHWAYS HOME PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST

La Crosse County; La Crosse (WI); On-site; USD 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

WRS pension

Insurance plans

Vacation banks

Sick days accrual

Job summary

La Crosse County seeks a Peer Support Specialist to deliver recovery services and mentor participants in housing navigation. You will work closely with social workers and clinicians to support individuals in recovery, using lived experience to inspire hope and improve outcomes.

Hours may include evenings; the role emphasizes dignity, empowerment, and collaborative care within the Pathways unit and community partners.

Qualifications

• Lived experience and empathy are essential to support peers on recovery journeys.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills are required for effective engagement with participants.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team to coordinate care.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct recovery support in individual and group settings.
• Use lived experience to mentor and inspire hope.
• Build empowering relationships and assist housing navigation for participants.
• Document client interactions and progress in required systems.
• Collaborate with social workers and clinicians to coordinate care.
• Support housing transitions and post-housing assistance.

Skills

Lived experience

Empathy

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Wisconsin Certified Peer Support Specialist or Certified Peer Recovery Coach (or eligible within timeframe)

Job description

Welcome to La Crosse County — Where Your Work Truly Matters

Every day, our unique teams contribute to our vision of a community that is vibrant, safe, and resilient. Whether you're supporting families, safeguarding natural resources, maintaining infrastructure, or delivering essential services, your work here creates real impact for the people who live, work, and visit our county.

What You’ll Gain By Joining Us

• A Future You Can Count On: Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), one of the most respected pension programs in the nation.
• Reliable, Affordable Coverage: Countywide insurance plans plus growing access to local, no-cost care options for everyday health needs.
• Time Off That Works For You: You’ll have two dedicated banks of vacation and sick time, giving you the freedom to plan real downtime when you need it—and the peace of mind to take care of yourself when you’re under the weather.
• Start earning vacation and sick time your very first day
• Bank up to 2× your annual vacation accrual
• Build up to 150 sick days as a full time employee

A Place Where Everyone Belongs

We believe our workforce should reflect the community we serve. We’re committed to fostering a culture of respect, inclusion, and belonging—because diverse perspectives lead to better outcomes for everyone.

Overview

FLSA Non-exempt. Integrated Care and Recovery Services provides a range of supports to assist the program participants with mental health and/or substance use issues in the recovery process. Peer support specialists within the Pathways Specialized Unit are persons with lived experience with homelessness, mental health and/or substance use that will have a targeted focus of assisting program participants navigate service programs, transition into stable housing, and sustain their housing while also supporting participants’ mental wellness. Peer support specialists will partner closely with a social worker and a mental health/substance use professional in service delivery. Peer support specialists promote wellness, self-direction, and recovery by enhancing the skills and abilities of program participants to meet their chosen goals. They may assist by teaching daily living skills, helping participants navigate community resources, engage in meaningful daily activities such as work or school. Peer support specialists also help participants navigate service systems with dignity and without trauma.

For this position, preference is for individuals that hold a Certified Peer Specialist or Certified Peer Recovery Coach credential. Work hours will primarily be Monday – Friday 2:00pm-10:00pm at a co‑ed transitional housing complex.

Essential Leadership Functions

Act with Integrity and Build Trust

• Demonstrate mutual respect, humility, and honesty in all interactions
• Speak up appropriately, even when expressing unpopular viewpoints
• Actively listen and remain open-minded to diverse perspectives

Drive for Results

• Set clear goals and objectives to motivate self and others to achieve outcomes
• Seek new opportunities to improve processes and drive sustainable results
• Hold self and others accountable through consistent evaluation and monitoring

Develop Talent and Effective Teams

• Foster a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge sharing and growth
• Provide mentorship and support to help self and others reach full potential
• Recognize and leverage diverse strengths within self and team

Lead with Vision and Strategy

• Understand and communicate a compelling vision that aligns with organizational goals
• Develop and execute comprehensive strategies to achieve long‑term objectives
• Connect daily work to the bigger picture, inspiring self and others to contribute meaningfully

Lead with Paradoxical, Critical, and Agile Thinking

• Navigate complex situations by considering multiple perspectives
• Adapt quickly to changes and uncertainties in the work environment
• Make critical decisions using analytical skills, experience, and input from others

Build and Maintain Effective Relationships

• Communicate and collaborate effectively with stakeholders across the organization
• Influence others through coaching, consulting, and team‑minded thinking
• Develop and sustain partnerships that create positive outcomes for all stakeholders

Cultivate Community Engagement and Provide Excellent Service

• Understand and address the needs and concerns of the community
• Incorporate community perspectives into decision‑making processes
• Drive initiatives that create positive impacts beyond the organization

Demonstrate Emotional Intelligence

• Show self‑awareness and manage emotions effectively in challenging situations
• Seek and respond constructively to feedback, even in the face of setbacks
• Balance empathy with accountability when leading self and working with others

Essential Job Functions

• Provide Direct Recovery Support: Mental health and substance use recovery services in both individual and group settings
• Self‑Disclosure as a Tool: Use your own lived experience to provide relatable insights and mentorship that inspire hope and recovery.
• Cultivate Empowering Relationships: Build supportive, empowering relationships with peers, drawing from your lived experience to create trust and engagement.
• Inspire Hope: Inspire hope for recovery, stability, and wellness by modeling resilience and showing that change is possible.
• Facilitate Self‑Determination: Promote self‑determination as a guiding principle in your work, encouraging peers/program participants to make informed decisions that align with their goals.
• Respect and Inclusivity: Create an environment that respects peers and honors the value of lived experience, recognizing the significance of culture, community, and identity in their lives.
• Resource Sharing & Navigation: Provide information about community resources and recovery‑oriented supports to guide peers/program participants toward services that meet their needs.
• Goal Setting: Facilitate person‑centered goal setting to help peers/program participants identify and pursue their housing, recovery, and wellness aspirations.
• Trauma‑Informed Practice: Apply trauma‑informed approaches in peer relationships, creating safe spaces that acknowledge past trauma while promoting healing and recovery.
• Crisis Support: Assist peers/program participants in moments of crisis, offering emotional support and connecting them with appropriate resources.Effective Communication: Communicate clearly and empathetically with peers/program participants, team members, and clinicians, ensuring coordinated care and support.
• Collaboration and System Improvement: Actively participate in the homelessness response partner network, including Pathways Conferencing, to collaborate with community partners and improve service delivery and outcomes for individuals.
• Collaboration with Case Managers: Work closely with social workers and other service providers to ensure comprehensive and coordinated care.
• Documentation and Reporting: Accurately document client interactions and progress using required systems to ensure compliance with Medicaid billing and other funding sources.
• Adherence to Ethics & Competencies: Demonstrate a strong understanding of and adherence to the Code of Ethics, Scope of Practice, and Core Competencies as outlined by the WI Certified Peer Specialist Program in conjunction with ethics guidelines for La Crosse County employees and Core Competencies for staff in psychosocial rehabilitative programs.
• Housing Transition and Sustaining Support: Assist clients in preparing for housing transitions, finding suitable housing, and educating them on tenant/landlord responsibilities. This includes but not limited to hands‑on assistance with housing searches and applications, identifying transportation and other housing‑related resources, helping to address legal, credit issues and other barriers to housing.
• Post‑Housing Support: Offer ongoing support to help clients sustain their housing, including skills coaching, problem‑solving, conflict resolution. This includes but not limited to supporting recovery plans, budgeting skills, transportation skills, medical self‑management, re‑building social connections, and connecting to resources.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Empathy and ability to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Problem‑solving skills, particularly in housing and resource navigation.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail for documentation purposes.
• Knowledge of the concept of functional zero homelessness.
• Knowledge of the Pathways Home plan, a City‑County initiative aimed at reaching functional zero homelessness, and how to actively support and contribute to its goals.
• Familiarity with local community resources to assist with housing navigation
• Familiarity with local community resources to assist with mental health and substance use recovery supports
• Requires good computer and keyboarding skills for inputting data, and for using various computer programs, including internet, intranet and e‑mail.
• This position may require schedule patterns to include evenings and / or weekends. Work hours will generally be Monday – Friday 8:00-4:30 or Monday-Friday 2:00pm-10:00pm

Training, Experience And Other Requirements

• Lived Experience: Must have personal experience with homelessness and/or self‑disclosed mental health and/or substance use.
• Preference for at least one year of experience working with persons with needs relating to homelessness, housing instability, mental health, and/or substance use recovery
• Certification: Wisconsin Certified Peer Support Specialist, Certified Peer Recovery Coach, or be eligible for and willing to obtain certification within a specified timeframe.
• Valid driver's license and access to personal transportation, or other reliable means for city and rural travel

Equal Opportunity Employer

We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a workforce that reflects the community we serve.

Need an Accommodation?

If you require a disability‑related accommodation at any stage of the hiring process, reach out to Human Resources at [e-mail] — we’re here to help.