Peer Bridger

Peer Bridger – Southeast Recovery Learning Community

Location: Brockton RCC | Greater Brockton & Taunton Areas
Schedule: 10 hours per week
Pay: $20.00/hour

Who We Are:

BAMSI’s Southeast Recovery Learning Community (SERLC) is committed to creating opportunities for connection, recovery, and personal growth through peer support and lived experience. We believe recovery is possible and that individuals are the experts in their own journeys.

Our Peer Bridger program helps individuals successfully transition from inpatient facilities, crisis stabilization units, respite programs, transitional homeless shelters, and other levels of care back into the communities and natural supports of their choosing.

Why This Role is Different:

Use Your Lived Experience to Make an Impact:
Your own experience with recovery is an important part of this role. You'll use what you've learned along your journey to provide hope, encouragement, and practical support to others navigating their own transitions.

Build Relationships That Continue Beyond Discharge:
Connect with individuals before they leave a higher level of care and maintain that relationship for up to six months following discharge, helping provide consistency during an important period of change.

Connect People to Their Communities:
Help individuals discover resources, services, social opportunities, and natural supports that align with their personal goals and interests.

Promote Independence & Self-Advocacy:
Rather than simply connecting individuals to services, you'll help them build the skills and confidence to advocate for themselves and navigate their communities independently.

What You’ll Do:

Serve as a peer mentor, advocate, teacher, and ally to individuals transitioning from various levels of care back into the community.

• Build trusting relationships with individuals before discharge and provide ongoing peer support following their transition.
• Meet one-on-one with individuals and facilitate peer support and Community Transition groups in treatment and community-based settings.
• Help individuals identify their goals, interests, natural supports, and the services or resources they would like to access.
• Connect individuals with community resources including housing, transportation, employment resources, grocery stores, banking, and other everyday supports.
• Identify recreational and social opportunities based on individual interests, such as fitness programs, book clubs, support groups, and community activities.
• Educate individuals about available services, including DMH-contracted programs and other recovery-focused resources.
• Accompany individuals into the community when appropriate to provide peer support, gather information, and build social connections.
• Support individuals in developing self-advocacy skills and recovery strategies by teaching and modeling those skills.
• Collaborate with inpatient, community-based, and other provider staff to support successful transitions.
• Connect individuals with self-help and peer recovery programs when appropriate.
• Attend Community Bridger support meetings, trainings, and networking opportunities scheduled by DMH.
• Participate in required performance data collection and maintain agency standards for safety, quality, individual rights, and documentation.
• Promote teamwork through collaboration, flexibility, active listening, and positive conflict resolution.

What We Offer:

Meaningful Peer Work:
Use your lived experience to provide hope and practical support to others during a significant point in their recovery journey.

Connection to the Recovery Community:
Build relationships with individuals, community organizations, providers, and other peer professionals throughout the region.

Professional Development:
Participate in ongoing training, networking, and peer support opportunities, with the opportunity to pursue Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) certification.

Community-Based Impact:
Help people establish meaningful connections and supports that can continue long after formal services end.

What You Bring (Requirements):

Education:

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Human Services preferred.

Lived Experience:

• Personal lived experience with recovery and a strong understanding of and commitment to the consumer-led recovery movement is required.

Peer Certification:

• Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) certification preferred, or willingness to obtain CPS certification within one year.

Skills:

• Strong interpersonal, communication, advocacy, and leadership skills.
• Ability to develop trusting and supportive relationships while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
• Ability to effectively navigate and manage conflict.
• Cultural sensitivity and the ability to work effectively with individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds and communities.
• Basic computer skills, including the ability to enter and access information.

Logistics:

• Valid driver’s license and access to a personal vehicle required.

Why This Role Matters:

As a Peer Bridger, you’ll have the opportunity to turn your own lived experience into meaningful support for someone else. You’ll be there during a critical point in an individual’s recovery, helping them move from a structured setting back into their community with greater confidence, stronger connections, and the tools to advocate for themselves.

Your role isn’t to define someone else’s recovery. It’s to walk alongside them as they define it for themselves.