Recovery Support Peer Specialist

AAMA's Prevention & Counseling Services is seeking a culturally sensitive, committed, and passionate Recovery Support Peer Specialist (RSPS) who will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of a recovery-oriented approach when helping individuals struggling with substance abuse and mental health disorders to sustain their recovery and meet the individual needs.

The RSPS will assist in providing recovery support services. We seek someone who is organized and detailed orientated as the RSPS will be responsible for appropriate record-keeping of client service delivery, updating service schedules, submitting required documentation for reports, and ensuring the program meet desired outcomes.

The RSPS may travel to clients' homes as well as support clients to referral service appointments as needed and assists clients and family members with referrals to other needed services.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma/G.E.D.
• Must have worked for at least 2 years total paid or voluntary work experience as a Recovery Coach or RSPS or have lived experience
• Must have state certification as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist or be able to obtain certification within 3 months
• Bi-lingual preferred

Principal Accountabilities:

• Maintain project logs, reports, and records in appropriate files and database(s).
• Provide recovery education to service recipients for every phase of the recovery journey from pre-recovery engagement, recovery initiation, recovery stabilization, and sustained recovery maintenance.
• Provide a model for both people in recovery and staff by demonstrating that recovery is possible.
• Assist recovering persons to identify their personal interests, goals, strengths, and weaknesses regarding recovery.
• Assist/coach recovering persons to develop their own plan for advancing their recovery; for "getting the life they want."
• Recovery Planning __ facilitate (via personal coaching) the transition from a professionally directed service plan to a self-directed Recovery Plan. The goal should be to transition from professionally assisted recovery initiation to personally directed, community-supported recovery maintenance.
• Promote self-advocacy by assisting recovering persons to have their voices fully heard; their needs, goals and objectives established as the focal point of rehabilitation and clinical services.
• 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 recovering person's goals and interests. This will involve a collaborative effort including the recovering person, agency staff, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Support connections to community-based, mutual self-help groups. Link individuals to appropriate professional resources when needed. Provide vision-driven hope and encouragement for opportunities at varying levels of involvement in community-based activities (e.g., work, school, relationships, physical activity, self-directed hobbies, etc.).
• Develop relationships with community groups/agencies in partnership with others in the agency.

As the recovery specialist position evolves and knowledge increases, visit community resources with recovering persons to assist them in becoming familiar with potential opportunities.

Identify barriers (internal and external) to full participation in community resources and develop strategies to overcome those barriers.

• Maintain contact by phone and/or e-mail with recovering persons after they leave the program to ensure their ongoing success and to provide re-engagement support in partnership with others in the agency if needed. Long-term engagement, support, and encouragement.
• Other duties as directed by Director and/or Management Staff.

Develop, implement, and promote ongoing community training opportunities, including some Saturdays at The AAMA Counseling Center.

• Work with staff and other community professionals to implement and promote recovery-oriented training programs and opportunities.
• Assist the Program Director/Manager and RSPS Coordinator in scheduling and providing services.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing. Ability to maintain and protect client confidentiality. Ability to remain calm and make informed, well-thought-out decisions at all times. Ability to effectively deal with and help resolve client crisis situations. Ability to collaborate well with the treatment team to ensure the best quality care of clients. Ability to read, write, speak clearly, and use a computer, telephone, and other office equipment. Ability to safely drive a vehicle. Ability to adhere to deadlines and work under stress with a professional demeanor.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Office and work in the community as appropriate.

WORK SCHEDULE: This position is non-exempt and is eligible for overtime. Typical hours include both days 8:00 am to 5:00 pm . On occasion may be asked to participate in special events that may occur on the weekend