Youth Peer Specialist

JOB SUMMARY:
The TTOR Peer Specialist provides direct peer recovery support to individuals with a history of opioid and/or stimulant use, including justice-involved persons and those transitioning from incarceration or treatment to community-based recovery. The Peer Specialist promotes a recovery-oriented approach to care by fostering hope, empowerment, and connection within the recovery community. This position builds linkages between system partners such as Local Mental Health Authorities, recovery housing providers, community-based organizations, and medication-assisted treatment (MOUD) providers, ensuring that individuals have access to the full continuum of recovery supports

This position will be based primarily in Hill County, with responsibilities extending to Ellis and Johnson Counties to ensure program coordination and service delivery across the full service region.

Salary Range 42,000-45,000 annually depending on experience.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Provide direct non-clinical peer recovery support including emotional, informational, instrumental, and affiliation-based supports to help individuals initiate and sustain recovery.
Implement “Reach-In” services to justice-involved and/or treatment-involved participants pre-release and provide immediate post-release support within 48 hours, in accordance with best practice guidelines.
Provide individualized one-on-one peer recovery coaching using a strengths-based, person-centered approach.
Facilitate weekly, age-specific peer-led recovery groups designed to build life skills, coping strategies, and relapse prevention tools.
Use motivational interviewing (MI) to enhance self-efficacy and commitment to change.
Conduct individual and group recovery support sessions focusing on goal-setting, relapse prevention, and wellness maintenance.
Develop individualized Recovery Support Service Plans and document all service encounters, goals, and outcomes in CMBHS.
Build strong linkages with community partners such as OSAR, LMHA/LBHA, MOUD treatment programs, Texas Workforce Solutions, and local reentry programs to ensure holistic support.
Facilitate or coordinate overdose prevention education and distribute naloxone kits to participants and families.
Collaborate with certified Peer Specialist Supervisors and other credentialed staff to ensure all activities comply with service and documentation standards.
Collaborate with the Family Liaison to deliver family-centered recovery support and facilitate family education groups.
Participate in continuous quality improvement processes, performance reporting, and data verification as outlined in the statement of work (SOW).
Maintain participant files with signed documentation, releases, and recovery plans for review.
Plan and facilitate community-based recovery events, projects, and service activities that promote pro-social engagement and community reintegration.
Develop and maintain MOUs with jails, treatment providers, and community agencies to improve referral pathways and participant outcomes.
Implement culturally and linguistically appropriate recovery supports in alignment with CLAS Standards and Texas Cultural Competence Guidelines.
Support a Peer Advisory Council (PAC) by facilitating regular meetings that allow participants to provide feedback on program design and effectiveness.
Participate in all required trainings and certifications
Perform other duties consistent with the role and responsibilities of in accordance with program directives.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POSITION:
Strong understanding of recovery principles, peer ethics, and boundaries.
Knowledge of substance use disorder recovery processes, community resources, and justice reentry systems.
Demonstrated ability to build trust, motivate change, and foster self-directed recovery.
Proficiency in CMBHS data entry and Google Workspace preferred.
Effective oral and written communication skills, with comfort speaking before groups.
Capacity to handle sensitive information with professionalism and confidentiality.
Commitment to strengths-based, trauma-informed, and culturally competent service delivery.
Ability to establish empathy with an individual.
Ability to work with diverse populations and cultural backgrounds.
Comfortable working independently in community settings.
Ability to focus on and reinforce positive strengths and behaviors.
A high level of energy and commitment.
Acceptance of extremely flexible working hours.
Open attitude towards pathways to recovery.
Stable personal program of recovery.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
High school diploma or equivalent required.
Two (2) years of experience providing recovery support or working with justice-involved or substance-affected populations.
Certified Peer Specialist (RSPS) in the State of Texas, or eligibility for certification within six months of hire.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Valid driver’s license and proof of current liability insurance.
Dependable transportation and phone required.
Must be able to lift and carry 50lbs.
Flexibility to work some evenings, weekends, and participate in a rotating on-call schedule.
Lived experience in recovery with a minimum of five (5) consecutive years of sustained recovery from substance use or co-occurring challenges.
Age range of approximately 25-40 years old preferred to align with program demographics and mentorship goals.
Prior experience working within or in collaboration with correctional systems and/or treatment systems strongly preferred.
Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

SCHEDULE:
Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Flexibility required for evening or weekend events and on-call rotations.