Overview

The Peer Support Specialist (PSS) position is responsible for working with youth and transition aged youth (ages 14-24) using their own personal experience of recovery from substance use disorder(s) to support others in recovery. A PSS will mentor, educate, and spread the message of recovery to individuals who are new in their recovery journeys. A PSS will provide emotional and social support to VOA clients, and model healthy supportive relationships that encourage sobriety and living a life in recovery.

VOA Alaska is a youth-serving organization providing prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery supports to youth and families struggling with mental illness and addiction. We are honored to walk with families during these times and provide support and hope through recovery. Our core values are connection, responsibility, courage, innovation, hope, and joy. We are looking for individuals who espouse these core values and align with this mission of services to the community.

Essential Functions, Duties & Responsibilities

• Work with VOA clients to connect them to social supports and replacement culture activities that promote positive lifestyle changes utilizing evidence based practices and standards as a foundation of service delivery, yet enhancing the quality of the service by sharing from a perspective of lived experience.
• Provide outreach support services to community members/families that are struggling with a loved one’s addiction. PSS will make home visits to support families in talking with their youth about the benefits of living a lifestyle of recovery.
• Support individuals with connections to community resources such as, employment, housing, education, and outside community activities that promote recovery. They will coach their peers around how to independently identify needs and access resources. In addition, peer specialists advocate for their peers in treatment setting and within the community.
• Participate in Transition to Independence (TIP) trainings and become competent in model that will be utilized as the foundational structure of services.
• Participate in SBIRT trainings and become competent in the model to utilize with community members and local hospital institutions that will promote early screening/intervention and connection to services.
• Develop and maintain relationships with clients while maintaining healthy and professional boundaries, interacting with the client’s in a manner conducive to their safety, dignity, privacy, and security.
• Work to motivate their peers through positive means, highlighting strengths and resources. PSS can facilitate change through goal setting, education, and skills building
• PSS will facilitate therapeutic behavioral health and case management services that assist and enhance one's recovery and integration into the community
• Complete timely documentation for each recovery service provided. All documentation is to comply with overseeing state or federal guidelines. Additional reports and request may be made from leadership team.
• Model and teach clients vital life skills that will aid in their success.
• Peer Support Specialist will be required to drive personal vehicle for client support and will be reimbursed accordingly.
• Ability to build rapport with clients and staff while maintaining professional boundaries
• Understanding of being trauma informed and cultural considerations such as race, ethnicity, language and other cultural considerations that could impact peer support work.
• Maintains client confidentiality and safeguards client information per 42 C.F.R. Part 2 and HIPAA privacy and security regulations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Lived experience in addiction and recovery, and/or experience overcoming mental health and symptoms with a minimum of two years of sobriety/recovery of either and must be active in their own recovery by participating in practices that support self-care, health, and over-all well-being.
  • If VOA Alumni, discharged from active client status for 1 year.
• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Has qualifications to be a Qualified Addiction Professional or Peer Support Specialist as defined by the State of Alaska. If not current, can be achieved within 3 years of hire.
  • Qualified Addiction Professional (QAP): Chemical Dependency Certification level II (CDC II) and/or National Certificated Addiction Counselor I (NCAC I)
  • Peer Support Specialist (PSS): The ability to self-identify as someone who has lived experience of recovery from mental illness and/or addiction.
• A current and valid driver’s license
• Can qualify for VOA’s automobile insurance and/or proof of vehicle insurance coverage
• Reliable transportation
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Ability to work flexible hours (including days, evenings, weekend hours and Holidays.) Ability to safely transport clients in agency’s vehicle if required.
• Ability to participate in recreational activities; such as hikes, and/or indoor/outdoor events with clients.
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred.

Working Conditions

The work environment characteristics and physical demands described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Works in office areas. Interacts with staff, consultants, and outside vendors. May be subjected to interruptions throughout the workday.
• While performing the duties of this job the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 25 pounds. The vision requirement includes close vision; consistent sighting of clients.