Peer Specialist-First Responder or Veteran

The peer specialist serves as an advocate for first responders, military service members and veterans who are navigating various aspects of life during and after service. They offer peer support, using their own experiences, training and insights to help group members overcome obstacles, facilitate recovery and build the resilience of persons in recovery to achieve their goals. The Fire Watch peer specialists help first responders, 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. The peer specialist will also be responsible for outreach activities, growing the program by making connections with the community. The peer specialist may support with organizing events that will lead to further visibility of the program. Schedule: PRN (as needed/as available) Job Duties & Responsibilities: Provide peer support virtually.

• Provide one-on-one and group peer support services to patients who are first responders, military service members and veterans in the virtual environment. Intentionally share personal recovery stories 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 first responder, 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:

• First Responder or 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: Have personal experience with overcoming challenges related to military or first responder service and navigating through those challenges. Preferred experience with meaningful family/friend relationships, social involvement in community groups, religious or civic organizations or veteran groups.
• Peer Support Training: Completion of a peer support training program or certification required, preferably with a focus on veteran