Peer Support Specialist - Volunteers of America Mid-States

POSITION TITLE: Peer Support Specialist

LOCATION: Stanford, KY (Lincoln)

STATUS: Full Time, Hourly, Non-Exempt

PROGRAM: Addiction Recovery Services

REPORTS TO: Program Manager - RCC

INTRODUCTION:

Volunteers of America Mid-States (VOA) is a non-profit organization spanning four states that creates positive change in the lives of individuals and communities through a ministry of service. We provide housing for families, veterans, and low-income seniors.  We provide care and support for individuals with developmental disabilities, healing accountability that brings people together with restorative justice, and free HIV testing and education.  When Volunteers of America was founded in 1896, "volunteer" referred to anyone who served others as a vocation through a commitment to a mission. Today, we are still staffed by paid, mission-driven professionals working to create positive change and build thriving communities.  Flexibility, teamwork, and fun are some of the reasons our employees are proud to work at VOA!  We offer a comprehensive benefits package to employees who meet eligibility requirements.

BENEFITS:

Volunteers of America Mid-States, offers a rich and robust benefits package the supports a healthy work life balance, which include the following:

Health and Wellness
  Employee Assistance Plans (EAP)
  Health and Wellness Program
  Medical Coverage
  Dental Coverage
  Vision Coverage
  Flexible Spending Account
  Health Spending Account
  Short Term Disability
  MetLife Legal Plans

Financial Wellbeing
  Competitive Compensation Packages
  Life Insurance (company paid)
  403b retirement plan with company fund matching
  Employee discounts 
  *Loan forgiveness options through federal programs 
   (National Health Corp & Public Service Loan Forgiveness) 
  *All company paid benefits and paid time off effective day one

Work Culture
  Commitment Committee
  Justice Committee
  Integrity Committee
  Compassion Committee
  DE&I Committee
  Retention Committee
  

Training & Development
   VOA LEAD Program- Leadership Development Program
   VOA University - Staff Development
   VOA Academy - Clinical Training and Development

JOB SUMMARY AND QUALIFICATIONS:

Provide Peer Support for persons in Recovery.

WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE FOR THIS ROLE:

High School Graduate or GED; Ky Certified peer support specialist preferred; Valid KY. Driver’s License and current automobile insurance required. Preferred applicants with 2 years of demonstrated, successful, sustained recovery.  Familiar with MS office. Proficient with MS Outlook, Word, PowerPoint.  Individual must have an understanding of and respect for each individual’s unique path to recovery. Specialist must have a working knowledge of the drug and alcohol treatment system and a demonstrated commitment to the recovery community. The Recovery Specialist’s role is to support others in recovery from a substance use disorder. The Recovery Specialist will serve as a role model, mentor, advocate and motivator to recovering individuals in order to help prevent relapse and promote long-term recovery. The Recovery Specialist must demonstrate an ability to share personal recovery experiences and to develop authentic peer to-peer relationships.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Maintain project logs, reports and records in appropriate files and database(s).
 2. 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. 3. Provide a model for both people in recovery and staff by demonstrating that recovery is possible. 
4. Assist recovering persons to identify their personal interests, goals, strengths and weaknesses regarding recovery. 
5. Assist/coach recovering persons develop their own plan for advancing their recovery; for “getting the life they want.” 
6. 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. 
7. 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 service. 
8. 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.
 9. 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.). 
10. Develop relationships with community groups/agencies in partnership with others in the agency. 11. As recovery specialist position evolves and knowledge increases, visit community resources with recovering persons to assist them in becoming familiar with potential opportunities. 
12. Identify barriers (internal and external) to full participation in community resources and developing strategies to overcome those barriers. 
13. Maintain contact by phone and/or e-mail with recovering person after they leave the program to insure their ongoing success and to provide re-engagement support in partnership with others in the agency if needed. Long-term engagement, support, and encouragement. 
14. Other duties as directed by Executive Director and/or Management Staff. 
15. Develop, implement, and promote ongoing community training opportunities.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.