PEER SPECIALIST

Peer Specialist

Grounded in the Athabascan Recovery Model, the Peer Specialist provides mentorship, peer counseling, and recovery navigation services for project participants and their families under the New Beginnings Recovery Home grant. As an integral member of a collaborative treatment team, this position supports individuals from intake through sustained recovery by integrating traditional values—including love for children, family stability, self-sufficiency, and respect for elders—to ensure culturally resonant behavioral health care. By leveraging lived experience and a relational approach that honors Alaska Native and Native American healing practices, the Peer Specialist serves as a vital liaison between participants, families, and clinical staff to develop coping skills, promote wellness, and connect the community with essential services.

Job Duties

• Provides recovery support to consumers in Behavioral Health Services treatment centers while consumers are in treatment, including facilitating Talking Circles using evidence-based family training in traditional ways aligning with the treatment schedule.
• Provides recovery support to consumers following treatment completion or exit from Recovery Home for six (6) months via referral and follow-up to Behavioral Health Community Coalition (BHCC) system of care.
• Works in collaboration with treatment counselors to develop Transition Plan one week prior to treatment completion.
• Works in collaboration with the Clinical Supervisor to develop Recovery Support services on transition from Recovery Home.
• Works as a collaborative team member to ensure all apartment cleanouts, random drug testing, and other collaborative efforts as assigned.
• Shares lived experience with consumers and families.
• Shares experience with navigating mental health system.
• Shares experience with homelessness.
• Facilitates Life Skills groups and/or independently with consumers on a recurring basis, provides trauma-informed care and care navigation to culturally specific services.
• Supports consumers during their treatment experience providing positive feedback and hope.
• Maintains caseload of consumers who reside in our apartments as well as those who need services outside of short-term housing
• Ensures adherence to data collection requirements and enters accurate and timely data into the Electronic Health Record (EHR).
• Develops billing records.
• Oversees safety and security of consumers in Recovery Center.
• Attends mandatory position training that provides training in risk factors as designated by Project Manager and/or Clinical Supervisor.
• Maintains consumer confidentiality in accordance with 42 CFR Part 2 and HIPPA.
• Attends all required staff meetings.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Ability

• Knowledge of substance abuse and mental health; and appropriate skills in working with consumers with Mental Health/Substance Use Disorders.
• Skill in working successfully with the Alaska Native/American Indian population and experience providing culturally specific programing; understanding of and sensitivity to diverse cultures and lifestyles.
• Skill in operating computer using Windows, Word, and Excel with the ability to accurately input information into reporting systems and formats.
• Above average communication and people skills with the ability to accurately follow written and verbal instructions.
• Knowledge on how to best assist possible escalated individuals.
• Ability to protect confidentiality is essential and to maintain HIPAA and 42 CFR compliance.
• Ability to interpret/understand billing procedures.
• Skill in managing multiple priorities and tasks concurrently and meeting their deadlines.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with other employees.
• Ability to work independently as well as with teams.
• Ability to report to work in a timely manner.
• This position requires a non-traditional work schedule to ensure consistent service coverage. The standard hours for this role are Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

Minimum Qualifications (Education & Experience)

• High School diploma or GED.
• One (1) year of experience working with the Alaska Native/American Indian population and experience providing culturally specific services.
• One (1) year of lived experience with homelessness, substance abuse, and/or co-occurring disorder.
• Ability to complete Traditional Peer Support Training within one year and then seek State of Alaska Peer Support Specialist Certification.
• A combination of experience, education, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may substitute for degree requirements.

Preferred Qualifications (Education & Experience)

• Peer Support certification.
• Associate degree in behavioral health or related field.
• One (1) years' experience involving program/project management.