Peer Support Specialist (Union) 26-59

Position: Peer Support Specialist (Union)

Position code: 26-59

Position Location: All Sites

Current Work hours: 40HRS/WK

Compensation Range : $17.64/HR-$20.89/HR; Annual: $36,699.31-$47,298.60

Position Dates: ASAP

Supervisor: Clinic Services Supports Supervisor

Date Position Posted: 9/22/2026

Internal Deadline: 9/28/2026

Requirements: High School Diploma. Peer Specialist, Peer Recovery Coach must actively pursue DCH certification as soon as possible and not later than one year after beginning employment. DCH Group Home Certification required within the first three months of employment. Will be required to take the Crisis Through a Peer Lens training. The Peer Support Specialist, must have reached and demonstrated a level of recovery to function as a consistent and stabilizing influence for the individuals we serve

All internal and external job applicants are required to use UltiPro to apply for this position. Please see the Sanilac County CMH website at and click on “Employment”.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Peer Support Specialist, Peer Recovery Coach

Department: ACT/ Outpatient

Location: ACT/Ehardt

Supervisor: Clinical Supervisor

Shift: Between 8:30am-5:00pm Flexible

Classification: Three (3)

Prepare Date: 08/15/2005

Reviewed By HR: 12/01/2014, 12/01/2015, 12/01/2016, 12/01/2017, 12/01/2018, 12/2/2019, 10/15/2020, 3/8/2022, 10/24/2022, 8/15/2023, 6/28/2024, 6/12/2025, 4/29/2026

Review By Supervisor: 12/5/2019, 3/22/2022, 8/15/2023, 2/12/2024, 6/17/2025

Revised By: Clinical Supervisor

Revised Date: 2/07/2007, 06/09/2008, 04/22/2009, 11/13/2009, 09/22/2010, 10/04/2011, 06/04/2012, 10/04/2012, 02/21/2013, 03/14/2014, 03/08/2016, 05/09/2019, 10/24/2022, 8/15/2023, 1/12/2024, 1/29/2025, 4/29/2026

Summary

Peers are individuals who have a unique background and skill level from their experience in using services and supports to achieve their personal goals of community membership, independence and productivity. Under immediate supervision of the Clinical Supervisor, the Peer Support Specialist and Peer Recovery Coach, provide peer support services; serves as an advocate to individuals we serve; provides information and peer support for individuals we serve. The Peer performs a wide range of tasks to assist individuals we serve in regaining control over their own lives and over their own recovery process. The Peer will role model competency in recovery and ongoing coping skills. A peer may also be asked to obtain Community Health Worker Certification per agency/clinical need. This certification may only be obtained once an employee has reached Certified Peer Support or Certified Recovery Coach status.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

• Teach and role model the value of every individual's recovery experience.
• Assist individuals we serve in articulating personal goals for recovery.
• Assist individuals we serve in determining the objectives they need to reach their recovery goals.
• Attend staff meetings to provide information and training on Recovery and Peer Support.
• Assist individuals we serve in setting up and sustaining self-help (mutual support) groups.
• Assist individuals we serve in creating a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) and/ or relapse prevention plan.
• Develop and implement groups to enhance Recovery for persons served.
• Utilize and teach problem solving techniques with individuals and groups.
• Support the vocational choices individuals receiving services make and assist them in overcomingjob-related anxiety.
• Assist individuals we serve in building social and functional skills in the community that will enhance job acquisition and tenure.
• Assistother staff in identifying program environments that are conducive to recovery; lend their unique insight into mental illness and what makes recovery possible.
• Attend treatment team meetings to promote use of self-directed recovery skills for the individuals we serve.
• Model effective coping techniques and self-help strategies. Attend relevant seminars, meetings, and in-service trainings whenever offered.
• Provide trainings to other professional staff as well as the community on recovery and peer supports.
• CCBHC Peer staff will be a liaison between the treatment team and individuals, along with community partners, health care professionals and other social service organizations.
• Attend professional advancement opportunities to maintain skills.
• Be freely chosen by beneficiaries utilizing peer support services.
• Adhere to the MDHHS Peer Support Specialist and Peer Recovery Coach Code of Ethics.
• ACT CPSS to participate in after hours on call with supervisory oversight.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES FOR PROFESSIONAL STAFF

Sanilac CMH staff are dedicated to providing services to the community to improve lives. When they see a task that needs to be completed, they step in to assist or are first in line to help the Agency in promoting recovery, discovery, and independence. Each staff member works within their strengths and collaborates with their coworkers so that collectively we are a stronger whole. Staff provide positive feedback and suggestions to improve the quality of care in the Agency. They hold their coworkers, the individuals they serve and the community in high esteem.

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Initiative/Organization/Reasoning:

• Takes initiative and steps in to take on difficult challenges.
• Is a self-starter in attaining job objectives.
• Willing to identify problems and work to resolve them in the early stages.
• Plans and organizes work activities and uses time efficiently.
• Properly organizes and carries out job tasks in a timely manner.
• Know and understands job expectations and is willing to expand job knowledge and skills to be more effective to the Agency and the individuals served.
• Is enthusiastic about the Agency’s Mission and is a positive influence for co-workers and individuals served.
• Demonstrates an understanding of and adherence to Agency policies and procedures and is willing to provide suggestions to make policies and procedures more efficient.
• Is willing to think outside of the box while able to make sound decisions and taking actions based on sound reasoning and weighing possible outcomes.

Ethics/Teamwork:

• Consistently treats all people with dignity and respect.
• Demonstrates expected morals and principles.
• Accepts responsibility for actions and follows through on commitments.
• Demonstrates ability and willingness to work cooperatively and effectively as part of a team.
• Willingly acknowledges team members and co-workers’ value to your work.

Emotional Intelligence:

• Verbal and written communication is constructive, effective, respectful, and clear.
• Willing to take the time to learn about co-workers’ personality so that working together is more effective.
• Willingness to ask questions, listen to others’ ideas, and understand how the impact of your work, impacts your co-workers/team.
• Willing/Ability to be cost conscious.
• Staff are expected to learn and understand job functions and carryout tasks in a proficient manner.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Peer Support Specialist:

The Peer Support Specialist, must have reached and demonstrated a level of recovery to function as a consistent and stabilizing influence for the individuals we serve. They must also meet all eligibility requirements for certifications as Peer Support Specialists by the Michigan Department of Community Health which includes:

1. Has a primary diagnosis of a mental health condition;
2. Has a strong personal experience knowledge of what it is like to have first-hand lived experience with a mental health condition that has caused a substantial life disruption;
3. Has been a recipient of mental health treatment and/or services for at least one year, with a substantial life disruption due to their mental health condition;
4. Have personal experience in navigating complex mental health treatment services;
5. Self-identifies as having a mental health condition with a substantial life disruption and shares their recovery story in supporting others;
6. Must provide a minimum of 10 hours per week serving individuals with mental illness in their recovery journey with supported documentation written in the IPOS
7. Must meet the MDCH application approval process for specialized training and certification requirements.

Peer Recovery Coach:

The Peer Recovery Coach, must have reached and demonstrated a level of recovery to function as a consistent and stabilizing influence for the individuals we serve. They must also meet all eligibility requirements for certifications as Peer Recovery Coach by the Michigan Department of Community Health which includes:

1. Have a SUD, co-occurring disorder(s), and/or non-substance addictive disorder(s) and have received treatment from a public or private provider;
2. Have two continuous years in recovery at some point in time after the age of 18;
3. Share their recovery story as a tool in helping others;
4. Have personal experience in navigating complex SUD, co-occurring disorder(s), and/or non-substance addictive disorder(s) treatment services (self-help groups are not included);
5. Self-identifies as having a substance use disorder, co-occurring disorder(s), and/or non-substance addictive disorder(s) with a substantial life disruption and shares their recovery story in supporting others;
6. Meet the MDHHS application approval process for specialized training and certification.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

High School Diploma. Peer Specialist, Peer Recovery Coach must actively pursue DCH certification as soon as possible and not later than one year after beginning employment. DCH Group Home Certification required within the first three months of employment. Will be required to take the Crisis Through a Peer Lens training.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Basic Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Has the ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY

Intermediate Skills: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

COMPUTER SKILLS

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Word Processing software. Typing speed of 45 wpm is recommended.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Valid Chauffeurs' Licensed.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee must be able to lift no less than 50 pounds as needed. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works near machinery or in vehicles, is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The employee frequently works in areas where universal precautions and confrontation avoidance techniques are required, and is occasionally exposed to risk from body fluids or client actions. The noise level in the work environment is quiet to moderate.

The work environment will include the program site, agency activities and vehicles, and the community at large. Year round driving with or without consumers in the vehicle may be required.

Sanilac County CMH embraces an employment environment that promotes recovery and discovery, a person-centered approach to treatment/services, and cultural competence. An employee in this or any position is expected to support the employment environment. This includes having lived experience with behavioral health issues.

Welcome to Sanilac County Community Mental Health

AFSCME Employees

In your orientation, you will find several benefits. You may want to take a moment to review the benefits listed below and costs associated with each of them. You must work over 30 hours per week to be eligible for medical and café benefits. Paid time off accruals are based on hours worked.

Benefit	Plan	Eligibility	Contributions per Month
Medical Insurance POS $1,000/$2,000- 20%	BCN POS Annual Deductibles- In Network- Individual-$1,000/Family- $2,000	First of month following hire date.	$152.13 - Single $317.08- Two Person $417.11 - Family
Medical Insurance BCN HMO $2,000/$4,000	BCN HMO HDHP H.S.A. Eligible Plan Annual Deductibles- Single-$2,000/Family- $4,000	First of month following hire date.	$64.87- Single $134.73 - Two Person $178.91 -Family
Medical/Rx Alternate HMO HSA $3400/$6800 *Exchange State Bank-H.S.A Host	BCN HMO HDHP H.S.A. Eligible Plan Annual Deductibles- In Network- Single-$3,300/Family-$6,600	First of month following hire date.	$0.00 - Single $0.00 - Two Person $0.00 - Family
Annuity/Decline Medical Plans	Nationwide 457b	Eligible if waived all medical plans	$233/Month (less Social Security & Medicare taxes)
Dental Insurance	BCBSM Annual Max-$1,500 per member Orthodontics-$1,500-lifetime	First of month following hire date.	$51.22- Single $102.45 - Two Person $179.28 – Family
Vision Insurance	Nation Vision Administrators -NVA	First of month following hire date.	$10.54-Single $18.94-Employee+ Spouse $16.84-Employee+ Child(ren) $27.38-Family
Assurity Voluntary Benefit Options	Multiple plans available for review for employee only and for family members	First of month following hire date.	Costs vary depending on plans purchased.
Deferred Compensation	Nationwide-457B *same account as your retirement contributions.	Prior to the first of each month.	Set up your own account or $233 (pretax) from medical opt out option
Life Insurance	RELIANCE- $40,000 Policy Automatically if Union member. *Can purchase additional Personal and Dependent/Spouse coverage.	First of month following 1st full month of employment.	Employee Only - $0.00 *Additional Personal and Dependents/ Spouse coverage charges will vary.
Retirement	Nationwide 401(a)- If hired on or after 9/1/2019 the Authority shall contribute an amount equal to three percent (3%) of the employee’s base wage. Pension- For Employees hired prior to 09/01/2019, the pension formula will be a two percent (2%) multiplier and the Employer will continue to provide contributions as actuarially determined to insure the financial soundness of the fund.	Vested in the Authority’s contributions once thirty-six (36) months of service are completed with the Authority. Vested in the Authority’s contributions once eight years of service are completed.	The Authority shall contribute fifty cents ($0.50) to the 401(a) Plan for each dollar ($1.00) an Employee contributes to his or her 457B Plan up to the first four percent (4%) of the employee’s base wage. The Authority shall not contribute more than five percent (5%) of the employee’s base wage for its total contributions under this section.
Long Term Disability	RELIANCE – 90-day disability waiting period & receive 66 2/3% of your income	First of month following 1st full month of employment.	No cost to employee
PTO	Upon commencement of Employment - 25 days After completion of Three Years of Employment – 30 days After completion of Nine Years of Employment – 35 days After completion of Twelve Years of Employment – 40 days	Accrued bi-weekly at the close of the pay period based on hours worked. 40 hours worked receives full accruals.	If time is used before 3 months and employee leaves, they must repay used portion. See Union Contract.
Holiday Days	14 days per year	Paid upon 1st day with Agency.	If part time, then you receive pay for regularly scheduled days/hours only.
Union	Local 1518	Must be employed for three months to reach Just Cause Status.	Monthly Union Dues - $51.05(F/T- above20 hrs./wk.) - $38.20 (P/T –12 hrs./wk. or more not to exceed 20 hrs.) - $28.85 (Lower P/T- 12hrs. or less/wk.)
Tuition Reimbursement	May be reimbursed up to $5,250 annually. *Requires approval and funding availability limited spaces approved each year / contingent upon funding & Agency need.	-

*Note if you do not need medical insurance, $233.00 per month (less Social Security & Medicare Taxes) will be deposited into an annuity account. You will need to set up the annuity account through Nationwide Retirement.

For time off, it is calculated upon the number of hours worked – to reach the maximum benefit, you must work 40 hours per week.