Peer Specialist (Watkins, CO)

This position will be posted for a minimum of 5 days. Overview The mission of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is to work collaboratively toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for homeless and at‑risk families, children, and individuals throughout Colorado. The Coalition advocates for and provides a continuum of housing and a variety of services to improve the health, well‑being, and stability of those it serves. Our Philosophy of Service We believe all people have the right to adequate housing and health care. We work to remove the barriers that restrict access to these rights. Society benefits when adequate housing and health care are available to everyone. We create lasting solutions to homelessness by: Honoring the inherent dignity of those we serve, affirming their capabilities and fostering their hope that a better life is possible. Building strong, caring and trauma‑informed communities through the integration of housing, health care and supportive services. Advocating for social and racial equity, inclusion and diversity, and challenging the status quo in partnership with our workforce members and those we serve. Achieving excellence through continuous quality assurance, innovation and professional development. Using resources judiciously and effectively. Credentialing and Privileging In order to ensure that our consumers receive the best possible care, the candidate chosen to fill this position will be required to complete our internal credentialing and privileging process prior to a start date. The credentialing and privileging timeline is dependent on the selected candidate's submission of documents necessary for clearance. A start date will be scheduled once credentialing and privileging is complete. Additional Requirements Valid driver's license required. This requirement may be waived, if necessary, based on overall candidate experience and current needs of the business and/or role. Benefits Choice of HMO or PPO health insurance coverage options: full‑time employees contribute only 1% of their earnings for their own HMO health coverage and no more than 4% of their earnings for coverage of eligible dependents. We’re proud to offer same‑and opposite‑sex domestic partner coverage. Choice of dental insurance or discount plan. Vision insurance. Flexible spending accounts for health care / dependent care / parking expenses. Free basic life and AD&D insurance coverage. Employee Assistance Program, a problem‑solving resource available to you and your household members. Dollar‑for‑dollar retirement plan matching contributions up to 5% of earnings with 3‑year vesting. Extensive paid time‑off, including 9 holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and three weeks of vacation for new full‑time employees in their first year. The effective date for your benefits will be the first of the month following your date of hire. Essential Job Functions Provides mentorship and support to clients through personal lived experience to build skills in goal setting & problem solving with an emphasis on individual strengths, resilience, and empowerment. Facilitates counseling and activities for clients in recovery from substance use disorders in individual or group settings to promote connection and agency. Helps clients coordinate & navigate critical integrated services including healthcare, housing assistance, and behavioral health in partnership with internal teams & outside community partners. Transports and/or escorts clients to scheduled appointments at Coalition properties and elsewhere as needed using a CCH vehicle or an approved personal vehicle. CCH employees must have access to reliable vehicles outside of CCH fleet. Collaborates alongside Coalition staff to foster trusting relationships with clients and ensure services provided are timely while aligned to individual goals. Responsible for ongoing client outreach within the community to monitor needs that are recovery‑oriented. Ensure timely & accurate recording of all clinical/non‑clinical services, communications, and tasks in the EHR and other systems as required while maintaining complete up‑to‑date charts and any future upgrades as directed. Qualifications Completion of accredited Peer Specialist training program highly preferred. CPR/First Aid Certification required within 30 days of employment. Bi‑lingual English‑Spanish and/or ASL preferred. Must have and maintain in good standing, a Colorado driver’s license within 30 days of hire. Prior peer mentoring experience serving individuals experiencing behavioral health challenges and/or homelessness highly preferred. Must be a person with lived experience including substance use disorders, homelessness support services, and/or mental health challenges with prior and/or ongoing recovery activity. Using lived experience, ability to role‑model recovery. Demonstrates a clear understanding of confidentiality protocols & adheres to privacy laws/organizational policies regarding sensitive information. Engages in meaningful & authentic interactions through active listening, trauma‑informed care, and empathy that promote trust. Recognizes professional boundaries and identifies potential conflicts of interests to maintain ethical standards in interactions with clients, coworkers, and stakeholders. Establishes trust and rapport with individuals, even in challenging or sensitive situations, to foster openness and respect. Actively advocates for the needs & rights of individuals/families to ensure access to necessary services, resources, and support systems identified by the clients they are serving. Demonstrates awareness and continuously seeks to learn & apply inclusive language that respects diverse identities, backgrounds, and experiences. Collaborates cross‑departmentally with other Coalition Peer Specialists to grow & contribute to the success of program objectives, culture, & a positive working environment. Compensation $25 – $25 an hour. Placement in the compensation range depends on total relevant years of experience. Other Requirements Employee must be able to perform essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat to safety or health of self or others. Employee will perform job according to applied laws. The requirements listed above 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. Equal Opportunity Employer The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is committed to delivering services, making employment‑related decisions, selecting volunteers, and selecting vendors without regard to age over 40, race, sex, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, military status, or any other applicable status protected by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr