Peer Support Specialist

POSITION TITLE: Peer Support Specialist LOCATION: Owensboro, KY STATUS: Part-Time Hourly Non-Exempt PROGRAM: Addiction Services REPORTS TO: Clinical Coordinator

INTRODUCTION Volunteers of America Mid-States (VOA) is a non-profit organization spanning four states that creates positive change in the lives of individuals and communities through a ministry of service. We provide housing for families, veterans, and low-income seniors. We provide care and support for individuals with developmental disabilities, healing accountability that brings people together with restorative justice, and free HIV testing and education.

When Volunteers of America was founded in 1896, "volunteer" referred to anyone who served others as a vocation through a commitment to a mission. Today, we are still staffed by paid, mission-driven professionals working to create positive change and build thriving communities. Flexibility, teamwork, and fun are some of the reasons our employees are proud to work at VOA. We offer a comprehensive benefits package to employees who meet eligibility requirements.

BENEFITS Volunteers of America Mid-States offers a rich and robust benefits package that supports a healthy work-life balance, which include the following:

• Health and Wellness
• Employee Assistance Plans (EAP)
• Health and Wellness Program
• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Flexible Spending Account
• Health Spending Account
• Short Term Disability
• MetLife Legal Plans
• Financial Wellbeing
• Competitive Compensation Packages
• Life Insurance
• Company-paid 403(b) retirement plan with company fund matching
• Employee discounts
• Loan forgiveness options through federal programs (National Health Corp & Public Service Loan Forgiveness)
• All company-paid benefits and paid time off effective day one

WORK CULTURE

• Commitment Committee
• Justice Committee
• Integrity Committee
• Compassion Committee
• Retention Committee

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

• VOA LEAD Program - Leadership Development Program
• VOA University - Staff Development
• VOA Academy - Clinical Training and Development

JOB SUMMARY AND QUALIFICATIONS The Community Outreach Coordinator/Peer Support is responsible for all outreach to referral sources in our communities that include, but are not limited to, the judicial system, corrections department, hospital, and healthcare providers, and other community partners.

Additionally, the Peer Support Specialist/Outreach Coordinator will:

• Assist with recruitment of FRC participants by attending home court dates and discussing program/treatment options with potential new participants.
• Assist with scheduling assessments as needed and securing treatment beds as applicable.
• Provide ongoing support to FRC clients throughout each phase of the program through individual and group peer support sessions.
• Attend interdisciplinary team meetings and provide updates on client progress to the treatment team.
• Attend community outreach, educational sessions, training, and in-services to provide relevant information regarding FRC and other programs as needed.

WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE FOR THIS ROLE

• High School Graduate or GED
• KY Certified peer support specialist (preferred)
• Valid KY Drivers License and current automobile insurance (required)
• Preferred applicants with 2 years of demonstrated successful, sustained recovery

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Follow through intake procedures.
2. Maintain regular/weekly contact with referral sources, including but not limited to regional and local DCBS, probation, parole, hospitals, and detox centers. This includes checking for possible new referrals and updating on bed census at Freedom House.
3. Actively identify and support linkages to community resources, communities of recovery, educational, vocational, social, cultural, spiritual resources, mutual self-help groups, professional services, etc.
4. Provide vision-driven hope and encouragement for opportunities at varying levels of involvement in community-based activities (e.g., work, school, relationships, physical activity, self-directed hobbies, etc.).
5. Develop relationships with community groups/agencies in partnership with others in the agency.
6. Maintain project logs, reports, and records in appropriate files and databases.
7. Provide recovery education to service recipients for every phase of the recovery journey (from pre-recovery engagement, recovery initiation, recovery stabilization, and sustained recovery maintenance).
8. Assist recovering persons to identify their personal interests, goals, strengths, and weaknesses regarding recovery.
9. Recovery Planning: Facilitate via personal coaching the transition from a professionally directed service plan to a self-directed Recovery Plan. The goal should be to transition from professionally assisted recovery initiation to personally directed, community-supported recovery maintenance.
10. Support connections to community-based mutual self-help groups. Link individuals to appropriate professional resources when needed. Provide vision-driven hope and encouragement for opportunities at varying levels of involvement in community-based activities (e.g., work, school, relationships, physical activity, self-directed hobbies, etc.).
11. Maintain contact by phone and/or e-mail with a recovery person after they leave the program to ensure their ongoing success and to provide re-engagement support in partnership with others in the agency if needed. Long-term engagement support and encouragement.
12. Other duties as directed by the Director and/or Management Staff.
13. Develop, implement, and promote ongoing community training opportunities.
14. Persistently develop leads for potential new referral partners.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.