Transitional Youth Peer Recovery Coach

The Transitional Youth Certified Peer Recovery Coach is a fully integrated member of the Substance Use Disorder (SUD) team and provides peer-delivered services to transitional-age youth and young adults (ages 16–26) with substance use disorders, including those with co-occurring mental health conditions. The Transitional Youth CPSS/Recovery Coach uses their own lived experience with substance use and/or mental health recovery — including, where applicable, lived experience navigating similar developmental and systems transitions as a young person — to provide hope, mentorship, advocacy, and skill-building support. Services are delivered using evidence-based, recovery-oriented practices, informed by developmentally appropriate and youth-guided models such as the Transition to Independence Process (TIP) model, and focus on promoting recovery, harm reduction, community integration, education and employment attainment, independent living skills, wellness, resiliency, and self-determination.

The Peer Recovery Coach partners with youth and young adults in all stages of change and supports engagement in treatment, relapse prevention planning, recovery skill development, family and natural support engagement, and whole-person wellness as they transition into adulthood.

Compensation Range:

The starting pay for this position is $20.63 - $26.28 hourly rate for uncertified candidates, and $22.00 - 28.00 hourly rate for certified candidates, and is based on non-discriminatory factors such as skills and experience.

What’s in it for you:

As a member of our team, you will have an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our community and the lives of the individuals that we serve. CNS Healthcare provides a robust total rewards program to support our team members and their loved ones. We’ve shared some highlights below, but you can visit the benefits guide posted on our careers page to learn more!

• Comprehensive medical insurance options
• Employer-paid benefits including dental, vision, life, and short-term disability insurance
• Retirement program with generous company default contribution and match
• Generous PTO program starting at 18 days annually
• 16 paid holidays, including 3 floating holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Student loan forgiveness eligibility, including Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), HRSA, and more

Interested in learning more about this role?

Essential Functions:

SUD & Recovery-Focused Services

• Serves as a recovery mentor to transitional-age youth (ages 16–26) with substance use disorders, including those with co-occurring mental health conditions, using developmentally appropriate, strength-based engagement strategies.
• Assists individuals in identifying personal recovery goals related to mental health, substance use, education, employment, housing stability, health, and community integration.
• Provides stage-matched interventions consistent with the SUD team’s evidence-based recovery model (engagement, persuasion, active treatment, relapse prevention), tailored to the developmental stage and lived experiences of youth and young adults.
• Supports individuals in developing and implementing relapse prevention plans and recovery action plans (e.g., WRAP).
• Utilizes harm reduction principles and motivational approaches when supporting youth and young adults with substance use challenges.
• Models recovery principles, self-advocacy, and self-determination, serving as a positive role model during the transition to adulthood.
• Supports medication adherence discussions by sharing lived experience appropriately and encouraging informed decision-making
• Provides education and coaching related to coping skills, triggers, cravings, and wellness strategies, including strategies for managing the unique stressors of adolescence and young adulthood (e.g., identity development, peer influence, family relationships, social media).
• Supports the development of educational and employment goals, including school engagement, GED/high school completion, enrollment in postsecondary or vocational training, and job readiness.
• Assists youth and young adults transitioning out of child-serving systems (e.g., foster care, juvenile justice, special education) in building the recovery and life skills needed for independent adulthood.

B. Community Integration & Skill Development

• Supports individuals in acquiring and practicing activities of daily living and independent living skills (e.g., budgeting, cooking, housekeeping, using transportation).
• Assists individuals with accessing medically necessary and clinically indicated services including primary care, specialty care, substance use treatment supports, DHS, Social Security, food and clothing banks, housing resources, educational institutions, vocational rehabilitation, workforce development programs, and other community-based and youth-serving services.
• Transports or accompanies individuals in the community using agency or personally owned vehicle, as assigned, including to school, work, and appointments.
• Facilitates and/or co-facilitates recovery-based groups including WRAP, recovery skills groups, wellness groups, harm reduction groups, and other SUD team-consistent services, developmentally tailored for transitional-age youth.
• Encourages participation in age-appropriate mutual support groups (e.g., Young People in Recovery, AA, NA, SMART Recovery, Dual Recovery Anonymous, collegiate recovery programs) when aligned with individual goals.
• Promotes socialization and community inclusion through structured outings and activities appropriate for youth and young adult peer groups.
• Provides instruction-based assistance including teaching, prompting, modeling, monitoring, encouragement, and support.
• Supports youth and young adults in developing financial literacy, budgeting, and other independent living skills necessary for the transition to adulthood.
• Engages family members, caregivers, and natural supports in the recovery process, with the youth's consent, to strengthen the young person's support network.
• Utilizes technology and social media, where appropriate, as tools for engagement, psychoeducation, and connection to resources.

C. Person-Centered Planning and Advocacy

• a. Actively participates in the Person-Centered Planning (PCP) process.
• b. Assists individuals with implementing goals and objectives identified in their treatment and transition plan.
• c. Promotes client decision-making that supports autonomy and self-determination.
• d. Assists individuals in:

i. Developing psychiatric advance directives, as applicable upon reaching the age of majority

ii. Exploring alternatives to guardianship and understanding the young person’s rights as they approach or reach the age of majority

iii. Building advocacy and peer-led support networks

iv. Navigating individualized education plans (IEPs), 504 plans, and other school-based supports

• Advocates for individuals within the treatment team and broader systems of care, including educational, child welfare, and juvenile justice systems, as applicable.
• Supports youth and young adults in developing a transition plan that addresses education, employment, housing, healthcare, and community connections as they move toward independence.

D. Team Participation & Model Fidelity

• Attends and actively participates in SUD team meetings and supervision.
• Collaborates with QMHPs, Case Managers, Nurses, Therapists, school personnel, child welfare and juvenile justice staff, vocational rehabilitation counselors, and other team members to ensure integrated treatment planning.
• Supports fidelity to the SUD team’s evidence-based practice model and participates in ongoing SUD-specific training and quality improvement efforts.
• Utilizes a Trauma-Informed and culturally responsive approach in all service delivery, with particular attention to adolescent development and the unique experiences of transitional-age youth.
• Participates in training specific to adolescent and young adult development, youth engagement strategies, and youth-serving systems of care.

E. Documentation & Administrative Responsibilities

• Completes all required documentation (progress notes, contact notes, NOMS, etc.) accurately and in accordance with CNS policy, SUD team standards, and applicable requirements for services provided to minors and young adults.
• Accounts for scheduled working hours through billing, productivity, or other approved documentation methods.
• Meets established productivity standards of the organization.
• Fulfills all mandatory education and SUD-specific training requirements.
• Maintain compliance with quality care initiatives including Meaningful Use (MU), Medicare Merit Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) requirements.
• Ensure that the CNS Healthcare standards of service are applied to interactions with individuals served, guests, and staff.
• Assume responsibility for professional growth by current reading and attendance at educational programs and conferences.
• Maintain knowledge and compliance with established policies and procedures, corporate compliance program, code of ethics, applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, HIPAA standards, and other regulatory programs.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Lived experience as a recipient of mental health and/or substance use disorder services, with demonstrated recovery.
• Certified Peer Recovery Coach (CPRC) certification with a minimum of two years certified or ability to obtain within a designated timeframe per MDHHS guidelines.
• Knowledge of recovery principles, harm reduction, stages of change, and adolescent/young adult development.
• Ability to work closely with transitional-age youth and young adults (ages 16–26) with mental health and substance use disorders.
• Ability to communicate effectively, professionally, and courteously.
• Ability to use discretion and judgment when handling sensitive or confidential matters.
• Intermediate time management, problem-solving, interpersonal, and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to be forward-thinking and take initiative to accomplish goals and objectives of the SUD team.
• Intermediate computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office products and electronic health records.
• Valid and unrestricted Driver’s License.
• Reliable transportation with current auto insurance.
• Working knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and Local laws and regulations, the CNS Corporate Compliance Program, and Code of Ethics.
• Ability to engage transitional-age youth using developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approaches.
• Ability to meet all applicable state and agency requirements for working with minors, including background check and clearance requirements.

Preferred

• Experience collaborating with youth and young adults with substance use disorders, including those with co-occurring mental health conditions.
• Experience facilitating recovery or substance use support groups for youth or young adults.
• Knowledge of evidence-based substance use disorder treatment and recovery models.
• Lived experience as a young person or young adult (ages 16–26) with mental health and/or substance use recovery.
• Experience or training in adolescent development, child welfare, juvenile justice, special education, or workforce development systems.
• Familiarity with the Transition to Independence Process (TIP) model or other transition-age youth service frameworks.

About CNS Healthcare:

CNS Healthcare (CNS) is a non-profit, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) with seven clinics and two clubhouses in Southeastern Michigan. CNS employs approximately 400 employees, paraprofessionals, and support staff, delivering services to more than 7,000 people annually.

• CNS provides comprehensive integrated health services in partnership with several community organizations, and uses a patient-centered approach to identify, support, and promote the overall health of children, adolescents, adults, and older adults.
• Visit our website to learn more about our mission, vision, and values!