Certified Peer Support Specialist – Recovery Coach WHARP Program

At WCS, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their past. We stand at the intersection of justice, compassion, and opportunity, walking alongside individuals who face barriers like mental health challenges, substance use, criminal justice involvement, and systemic inequities. We're not just offering jobswere building life-changing relationships that empower individuals to reclaim their futures. Why WCS? Youll be part of a mission-driven team changing lives across Milwaukee and beyond.Youll receive training, mentorship, and growth opportunities to help you thrive in your role and your career.Youll witness the power of transformationand know that you helped make it happen.Youll work in a culture that values a culture of belonging, collaboration, and compassion. Job Summary The Peer Recovery Coach is a certified peer support specialist that will be located at the DHS building and provides peer-based recovery support to women participating in the WHARP program who are experiencing or have experienced substance use challenges. Using their own lived experience with recovery, along with professional peer support training, the Peer Recovery Coach builds trusting relationships and helps participants become connected to the recovery community and develop the relationships, resources, skills, and natural supports needed to sustain their recovery. Services will be provided at the Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) outpatient behavioral health clinic and throughout the community, including treatment facilities, recovery housing, peer support meetings, participants homes, and other mutually agreed-upon locations. The Peer Recovery Coach may accompany participants to appointments, recovery meetings, peer support groups, and other community-based activities when appropriate to support their individualized recovery goals. The position will also serve periodically as a community liaison at health fairs, local events, and other outreach opportunities to increase awareness of the program and available recovery resources. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Providing individualized peer recovery support to women receiving services, utilizing lived experience appropriately to promote hope, engagement, self-direction, and recovery. Develop supportive, respectful, and recovery-focused relationships with each individual while maintaining appropriate professional and peer-support boundaries. Meet with individuals at the Waukesha County DHHS outpatient behavioral health clinic and in community settings, including treatment facilities, recovery housing, their homes, peer support groups, and other mutually agreed-upon locations. Support each individual in identifying their own recovery goals, strengths, needs, interests, barriers, and sources of support. Introduce individuals to the recovery community and support them in exploring recovery pathways, resources, and connections that are meaningful to them and align with their personal recovery goals. Assist individuals in identifying and accessing peer support groups and other recovery resources, including Alcoholics Anonymous and other community-based recovery supports based on individual choice and preference. When desired by the individual and appropriate to their recovery goals, attend appointments, recovery meetings, peer support groups, and other recovery-related activities with them to provide encouragement and support. Serve as a positive recovery role model and appropriately share lived experience to foster hope and demonstrate that recovery is possible. Support individuals in identifying and strengthening natural supports and developing healthy connections with peers, family members, community resources, and recovery supports of their choosing. Support individuals in developing practical recovery and coping skills, problem-solving strategies, self-advocacy skills, and individualized strategies for maintaining recovery. Assist individuals in navigating substance use treatment, behavioral health services, recovery housing, community resources, and other systems they identify as helpful to their recovery. Encourage and support individuals in becoming active leaders in their own recovery by promoting self-determination, informed choice, self-advocacy, and independence. Coordinate peer recovery services with WCS staff, Waukesha County DHHS staff, treatment providers, and other community partners as appropriate, with respect for individual choice and applicable confidentiality requirements. Maintain timely and accurate documentation of services, contacts, travel, outreach activities, and other required program information in accordance with WCS and Waukesha County requirements. Participate in staff meetings, supervision, treatment team meetings, trainings, and other meetings as required while representing the individual's goals, preferences, strengths, and recovery priorities. Participate periodically in community outreach activities, including health fairs, community events, recovery-focused events, and other opportunities to increase awareness of the program and available recovery supports. Develop and maintain knowledge of recovery resources available throughout Waukesha County and surrounding communities to provide individuals with meaningful choices and options. Maintain a flexible schedule based on the needs of individuals receiving services and program requirements, which may include occasional evening or community-based activities. Travel throughout Waukesha County and surrounding communities as necessary to provide peer recovery services and community outreach. Complete required WCS and DHHS training within established timelines. Perform other duties as assigned by the Program Manager.