Peer Support Specialist

Peer Support Specialist

Center Point DAAC's mission is to provide comprehensive social, educational, vocational, medical, psychological, housing and rehabilitation services to combat social problems such as substance abuse, poverty, unemployment and homelessness. Center Point DAAC offers rehabilitation and treatment services that interrupt the abusive cycles of psychological, social and economic dislocation by providing critical training and support so that individuals and families can claim self-worth and dignity. For over 50 years, we have been committed to supporting individuals and families in Sonoma County on their journey towards recovery and helping them build healthier, fulfilling lives.

Job Summary

All documentation must meet Medi-Cal requirements for medical necessity, timeliness, accuracy, and alignment with approved Peer Support Service components. Peer Support Services do not include psychotherapy, diagnosis, clinical assessment, or clinical counseling. The Peer Support Specialist does not carry a clinical caseload and does not perform clinical case management. Within the Peer Support scope, the PSS may provide care coordination, patient education, SUD crisis intervention support, and recovery services components, consistent with DHCS guidance. When in doubt about whether an activity falls inside the Peer Support scope, the PSS consults their supervisor before proceeding.

Essential Functions

• Provide individual and group Peer Support Services consistent with each client's individualized treatment plan.
• Build supportive, recovery-oriented relationships that promote hope, empowerment, and sustained engagement in treatment.
• Share lived recovery experience appropriately while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Reinforce coping skills, emotional regulation, communication, recovery planning, healthy boundaries, relapse prevention strategies, and other recovery concepts introduced by the treatment team.
• Assist clients in identifying personal recovery goals, recognizing strengths, and celebrating recovery progress.
• Support clients during admissions, discharges, transfers, and transitions between levels of care to promote continuity of care.
• Encourage participation in treatment services, recovery support meetings, and community-based recovery resources.
• Collaborate with counselors, therapists, care coordinators, and other members of the multidisciplinary treatment team.
• Complete accurate and timely documentation in the electronic health record on the date of service, including start time, end time, duration, interventions provided, the applicable Medi-Cal Peer Support Service component, and the staff signature, credential, and date.
• Maintain compliance with DHCS, Medi-Cal, CalMHSA, HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, organizational policies, and ethical standards.
• Follow the Medi-Cal Code of Ethics for Peer Support Specialists in California at all times.
• Participate in required supervision, staff meetings, trainings, and continuing education.
• Travel between program sites and community locations to deliver field-based services.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Current Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification through CalMHSA, the state-approved certifying entity.
• Note: A registered or certified AOD/SUD counselor credential (CCAPP, CADTP, or CAADE) does not meet this requirement. Applicants must hold current CalMHSA certification or be certified within 90 days of hire.
• Self-identified lived experience with recovery from a substance use disorder, a mental health condition, or both — either as a person who received services, or as a parent, caregiver, or family member of someone who did.
• Willingness to share your own recovery experience appropriately in the course of the work.
• Signed agreement to abide by the Medi-Cal Code of Ethics for Peer Support Specialists in California.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Valid California Driver License with an acceptable driving record and proof of current auto insurance if driving a personal vehicle for work.
• Maintain CalMHSA certification throughout employment, including 20 hours of continuing education every two years, of which 6 hours must cover law and ethics.
• Ability to serve as a mandated reporter under California law.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience providing Peer Support Services in residential or outpatient behavioral health settings.
• Familiarity with Medi-Cal Peer Support Service documentation requirements and DHCS regulations.
• Experience working with individuals experiencing co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.
• Familiarity with trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, harm reduction, and recovery-oriented systems of care.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and another language commonly spoken by the client population.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of recovery-oriented principles and person-centered care.
• Ability to build supportive relationships with clients while keeping clear professional boundaries.
• Ability to communicate clearly with clients, families, staff, and community partners.
• Ability to stay within the Peer Support scope of practice and recognize when to refer a client to clinical staff.
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team.
• Ability to complete timely, accurate, Medi-Cal compliant documentation using an electronic health record.
• Ability to use good judgment, protect client confidentiality, and act professionally.
• Ability to work independently while following clinical direction and organizational policies.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds occasionally.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and climb stairs throughout the workday.
• Ability to respond appropriately in an emergency, including evacuating the building, summoning help, and directing clients to safety. This position does not involve physical restraint of clients.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment, including computers, telephones, and electronic health record systems.
• Ability to travel between program sites and community locations as needed.

Center Point DAAC will provide reasonable accommodations to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Pre-Employment Requirements

The following are required after a conditional offer of employment is made:

• Fit-for-Duty Health Screening.
• Negative or noncommunicable tuberculosis (TB) test result.
• Background check as required by our funders and licensing bodies.
• Background Check and Fair Chance.

Center Point DAAC complies with the California Fair Chance Act. We do not ask about conviction history until after a conditional offer of employment. If a background check shows a conviction, we conduct an individualized assessment that considers the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and how it relates to the duties of this job. Applicants receive written notice and an opportunity to respond before any final decision. We actively encourage people with justice involvement in their history to apply.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Center Point DAAC 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.