Peer Support SUD Specialist

About the Job

Join our team as a Peer Support SUD Specialist and make a real impact in the lives of adults affected by the justice system who face challenges with mental health and substance use. Use your personal experience to provide mentorship, advocacy, and connection to vital resources. You'll facilitate groups, help set goals, build skills, and even have the opportunity to develop services and train others. If you're passionate about supporting others and fostering positive change in the community, we invite you to apply!

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Draw on personal lived experience with substance use and/or mental health recovery to build authentic, trusting relationships with participants and model a strengths-based path forward.
• Provide one-on-one mentorship and encouragement to support participants in setting and working toward personal recovery, wellness, and life goals.
• Conduct community outreach activities to connect eligible individuals with program services and raise awareness of ACE services.
• Support participant intake and eligibility screening processes, make referrals, and help participants understand and navigate available services.
• Assist participants in identifying recovery goals and developing individualized wellness and recovery action plans.
• Assist participants in accessing public benefits, healthcare coverage, employment, education, and housing resources through direct support and community linkage.
• Support participants in successful community reintegration following incarceration through individualized planning, resource linkage, and ongoing advocacy.
• Maintain regular participant contact through field-based, home-based, telephonic, and community-based engagement to ensure continuity of support.
• Plan, prepare, and facilitate skills-based and pro-social group workshops using peer-centered, participatory facilitation approaches.
• Provide professional advocacy on behalf of participants in court, probation, or parole settings, including attending hearings, communicating with justice system personnel, and preparing or delivering written or verbal statements of support as appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with case managers, counselors, and program staff to ensure coordinated, whole-person support for each participant; participate in team meetings and contribute peer perspective to service planning.
• Maintain accurate, timely records of all participant interactions and services; enter data into program databases and ensure documentation meets funder, organizational, and HIPAA requirements.
• Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Strong understanding of peer support principles, recovery-oriented practices, lived experience, and multiple pathways to recovery.
• Knowledge of barriers faced by justice-involved individuals and individuals affected by substance use disorders, including housing, employment, transportation, and access to services.
• Ability to de-escalate conflict and respond appropriately during crisis situations.
• Ability to build trusting relationships and engage participants using strength-based and recovery-oriented approaches.
• Maintains appropriate professional boundaries with participants and families.
• Demonstrates cultural competence and humility in service delivery and community relations.
• Sensitive to the community, culture, and personal dignity of participants.
• Strong interpersonal skills; communicates effectively both orally and in writing; fosters a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment.
• Operates as a reliable, flexible team player with initiative, accountability, adaptability, and openness to learning and feedback.
• General proficiency in navigating and using technology.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Prolonged periods of standing and walking throughout facilities.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
• Must be able to bend, lift, stretch, climb, and crawl to provide services.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be certified as a Peer Support Specialist through the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA).
• Applicants who have been directly impacted by incarceration (formerly incarcerated) and have experience with managing a mental illness and /or substance issue, in sustained recovery preferred.
• Spanish language skills, verbal and written preferred
• Possess a valid California Driver's License, clean DMV record & adequate auto insurance on a reliable vehicle available to use for work purposes.
• Must submit to a Department of Justice Criminal background check.
• Must obtain and maintain TB clearance as required for employment.
• Due to the nature of this role and its support of participants impacted by substance use disorders (SUD), this position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing in accordance with organizational policies.
• Evening and weekend work is required as needed to support the program.

The anticipated pay range for candidates who will work in California is $28.85 to $30.45 hourly. The offered pay to a successful candidate will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to years of experience within the job, years of experience within the required industry, education, etc.

Alliance for Community Empowerment 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.