The peer specialist serves as an advocate for military service members and veterans who are navigating various aspects of life during and after military service. They offer peer support, using their own experiences, training and insights to help fellow service members and veterans overcome obstacles facilitate recovery and build the resilience of persons in recovery to achieve their goals. Veteran peer specialists help service members and veterans to address their physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual needs to facilitate and maintain wellness throughout the behavioral health recovery process.

Provide peer support virtually.

• Provide one-on-one and group peer support services to patients who are military service members and veterans in the virtual environment. Intentionally share personal recovery story as appropriate to model coping techniques and recovery tools, provide hope, and support patients in changing patterns and behaviors.
• Assist patients in navigating the virtual environment to ensure engagement with programming.
• Advocate for the needs and rights of patients within the healthcare system, social services, and other relevant agencies.
• Assist patients in accessing and navigating resources and services such as healthcare, housing assistance, employment support, education benefits, and legal aid.
• In collaboration with the treatment team, provide support to patients experiencing crises, including mental health emergencies or housing instability.
• Conduct outreach activities to raise awareness about military and veteran issues and available support services in the community.
• Collaborate with other professionals, including mental health counselors, social workers, and medical providers, to ensure comprehensive care for patients.
• Create an environment of respect for peers which honors individuals for taking charge of their own lives.
• Demonstrate understanding of how trauma affects mental health and substance use disorder recovery, develop trauma-informed relationships, and support peers in obtaining appropriate resources for help.
• Observe behavior that might indicate difficulty adapting or responding to treatment (e.g. missed sessions, trouble reducing risky/harmful coping strategies, harm to self or others, disruptive behavior) and report concerns to treatment team in a timely manner.
• Encourage peers to focus on their strengths, exercise use of natural supports, develop their own recovery goals, and strengthen their valued roles within the community

Provide support for addiction and mental health recovery to assigned patients consistent with the scope of employee's training and credentialing.

• Interact with patients, conducting coordinated one-on-one sessions that facilitate individual goals to address psychosocial, intellectual, physical, or spiritual needs, as indicated by the treatment team.
• Implement components of the patient’s individualized, interdisciplinary treatment plan. Report and record patient’s behaviors, interactions, responses to clinical interventions, and progress toward meeting the
• treatment plan objectives
• Understand and implement daily patient activities and collaborate with Fire Watch staff.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of interactions with patients and the services provided, in compliance with organizational policies and regulations

Serve as a case manager for patients as assigned by treatment team.

• Initiate and maintain collateral contacts as assigned by the treatment team to fulfill after-business-hour needs on behalf of individual patients.
• Coordinate therapy planning and discharge planning as assigned by the treatment team. Support patient accountability for building components of their ongoing care plan to follow residential addiction treatment.

Performs work consistent with Rogers Principles, policies and procedures and department expectations.

Other duties as assigned.

Additional Job Description:

Qualifications:

• Veteran Status: Must have served in the military with an honorable discharge from military service.
• Associates degree required, preferably in psychology or a related field.
• Lived Experience: Personal experience with overcoming challenges related to military service, such as mental health issues, substance abuse, or homelessness with a minimum of one (1) year of recovery from a mental health condition (mental illness and/or substance use disorder). Successfully recovery is exemplified by one who manages symptoms of illness and pursues a healthy lifestyle, lives independently, is employed or volunteers significant time approximating at least a part-time employment schedule, has meaningful relationships with family members and friends, and is socially involved in the community through clubs, hobby groups, church, civic organizations, or Veteran organizations in which the individual provides a service to others.
• Peer Support Training: Completion of a peer support training program or certification required, preferably with a focus on veterans.
• Demonstrated communication Skills: Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to establish rapport and build trust with fellow service members and Veterans.
• Demonstrated Empathy and Compassion: Demonstrates empathy, compassion, and nonjudgmental attitude towards individuals facing difficulties.
• Demonstrated Knowledge of Resources preferred: Familiarity with resources and services available to Veterans, including government benefits, healthcare options, and community-based support programs.
• American Heart Association CPR certification or American Red Cross Professional Rescue needs to be obtained within thirty (30) days of employment start date.
• Formal training in crisis prevention and crisis intervention is required within sixty (60) days of date of hire. Annual re-certification is required.