Substance Abuse Worker - Peer Support Specialist

Position Overview

* This position has been reposted. Previous applicants are still being considered and do not need to reapply.*

**Hiring rate will be determined based on qualifications and internal equity*

The Cumberland County Health Department has received funding to support coordinated recovery support services in a central location. The primary purpose of this worksite is to connect individuals to recovery support services. This initiative includes multi-disciplinary roles to help clients access recovery services. The initiative works closely with community partners to be responsive in preventing and reducing overdose deaths and emergency department visits, addressing social determinants of health essential to recovery, providing mutual support through SMART Recovery groups, preventing, and reducing recidivism with individuals in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD), and providing peer support services.

The Substance Abuse Worker is responsible for providing outreach, intake and wrap around services to clients receiving assistance from the Cumberland County Recovery Center partners. This position is also responsible for documenting client outreach, client progress, and referring participants to the appropriate resource.

Examples of Duties

Duties for this position include, but are not limited to:

• Assist clients by finding resources, advising the consumer of processes, and encouraging follow through with proposed resolutions, locating social activities, or provide other assistance as needed.
• Model effective coping and self-help techniques to individuals or groups of patients.
• Provide recommendations to clients on empowerment skills and successful community living.
• Accompany clients to initial Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) visits to in advocate for consumer needs, leading recovery dialogues/self-help sessions with clients.
• Collaborate with community agencies to divert individuals into treatment rather than incarceration or reincarceration and to decrease utilization of the emergency department.
• Assist clients with identification and required documents for employment, healthcare, and housing.
• Connect and refer clients to appropriate treatment and recovery support services (employment, housing, jobs, health insurance, healthcare services, etc.).
• Arrange after-care services and monitor continued recovery.
• Attend appropriate external stakeholder meetings, including Cumberland-Fayetteville Opioid Response Team (C-FORT), Crisis Collaborative Meetings and Jail Health Committee meetings.
• Participate in community engagement and outreach activities.
• Facilitate treatment groups.
• Complete SMART Recovery training and implement groups for community.
• Collaborate with Public Health Education staff to provide substance use education classes to program participants.
• Gather statistical information and follow-up for client reporting.

Employee is subject to be called upon anytime to help the agency respond to a public health emergency which may include, but is not limited to, outbreak investigations, staffing mass dispensing or immunization clinics, providing disaster relief, or other incidents (man-made or natural and intentional or non-intentional) as they arise, or any public health response requested by the Health Director.

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from high school and one year of experience in substance abuse in a supportive informational role; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Management Preferences:

• Self identifies as someone with lived experience
• Demonstrates knowledge of Cumberland County resources related to recovery
• Experience with the populations served or substance abuse professional
• Certified Peer Support Specialist

Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited universities.

Applicants who have obtained their education outside of the U.S. and its territories must have their academic degrees validated as equivalent to the degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) is a referral resource for applicants who need to have their credentials certified as equivalent. For a list of organizations that perform this specialized service, please visit the NACES membership website at

High School/College transcripts, relevant certifications/licensures and verification of equivalent degree, if applicable, may be submitted on-line via the attachment feature or mailed to Cumberland County Department of Public Health Human Resources, 1235 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville, NC 28301. If selected for the position, a formal transcript will be required within 30 days of hire.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the addiction process and group intervention dynamics.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed and gender-specific services.
• Familiar with Narcotics Anonymous (N/A) and Alcoholics Anonymous (A/A), SMART Recovery, and other community self-help groups.
• Familiar with community resources to coordinate, link, arrange and refer consumers.
• Knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion and social determinants of health.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and written.
• Ability to communicate and identity effectively with substance abusers and community groups in distributing general information and education related to substance abuse.
• Ability to maintain a caseload and quality records.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with professionals involved in treating substance abuse.
• Knowledge of and ability to use a computer and multiple technical interfaces.
• Must have ability to make presentations to groups.
• Must display sound, stable, and responsible judgment, and exceptional integrity and dependability.
• Must have ability to work successfully with diverse populations.
• Knowledge of harm reduction principles and syringe exchange laws preferred.

Must have or obtain and maintain a valid North Carolina driver's license with an acceptable driving record. Background check and negative drug test are required.

Inquiries about this job posting should be directed to Department of Public Health Human Resources.

The Cumberland County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CCDPH complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. CCDPH does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. For more information, please click here.