SMI Peer & Recovery Support Specialist

Peer & Recovery Support Specialist

Make an Impact Where it Matters Most

Join Valle del Sol in our commitment to providing quality, culturally sensitive integrated primary care and behavioral health services to adults, children, and adolescents in need. Valle del Sol offers a diverse work environment, competitive pay and benefits, and the opportunity for training and advancement.

The Peer & Recovery Support Specialist utilizes lived experience in behavioral health recovery, substance use recovery, or family support to provide person-centered, recovery-oriented services to individuals receiving behavioral health treatment. Through shared experience, mutual support, advocacy, and skill development, this role empowers individuals to define and pursue personal wellness goals, build resilience, strengthen self-advocacy, and engage in meaningful recovery.

Working collaboratively with clinical, medical, and case management teams, the Peer & Recovery Support Specialist promotes engagement, improves retention in services, and supports whole-person wellness through culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented care.

Program assignments may include General Mental Health (GMH), Serious Mental Illness (SMI), Opioid Treatment Program (OTP), Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), Recovery Services, Family Support Partner, Outreach & Engagement, and other specialty service lines based on organizational needs.

Peer Support & Recovery Coaching

• Utilize lived experience to provide hope, encouragement, and recovery-oriented support.
• Build supportive relationships grounded in mutual respect, shared experience, and empowerment.
• Support individuals in identifying and pursuing personal recovery, wellness, and life goals.
• Promote self-advocacy, self-determination, and active participation in treatment and recovery planning.
• Assist individuals in developing coping skills, wellness strategies, and recovery supports.
• Model recovery-oriented behaviors, including healthy communication, emotional regulation, coping strategies, and self-advocacy.

Patient Engagement & Support

• Conduct outreach and engagement activities to support participation in treatment and recovery services.
• Support retention and re-engagement efforts for individuals experiencing barriers to care.
• Assist individuals in navigating behavioral health, medical, social service, and community support systems.
• Encourage participation in community-based activities, recovery supports, and social connection opportunities.
• Assist individuals in accessing resources that address social determinants of health.

Group Facilitation & Education

• Facilitate or co-facilitate peer-led groups, educational sessions, and recovery-oriented activities.
• Provide education related to recovery, wellness, coping skills, relapse prevention, harm reduction, and self-management.
• Support development of life skills, communication skills, and community integration.
• Promote understanding of recovery pathways and available treatment and support services.

Care Coordination & Team Collaboration

• Collaborate with therapists, case managers, medical providers, psychiatric providers, and other treatment team members.
• Communicate relevant observations, concerns, and engagement barriers to appropriate team members.
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings and treatment team activities as assigned.
• Support continuity of care and successful transitions between services and levels of care.
• Promote engagement and active participation in treatment planning and service delivery.

Documentation & Compliance

• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete documentation in accordance with agency standards.
• Document peer support services, group participation, outreach activities, and recovery support interventions as required.
• Maintain compliance with payer, regulatory, accreditation, and agency requirements.
• Protect patient confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA and organizational policies.

Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain ethical boundaries consistent with peer support principles and certification standards.
• Demonstrate trauma-informed, culturally responsive, strengths-based, and recovery-oriented practices.
• Participate in supervision, training, quality improvement activities, and professional development.
• Promote a culture of safety, engagement, accountability, and respect.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Career Levels

Peer & Recovery Support Specialist I

• Performs core peer support and recovery support functions under routine supervision.
• Develops proficiency in recovery coaching, engagement strategies, documentation, and group facilitation.
• Supports routine and moderately complex individuals and families.
• Participates in foundational training, credentialing, and professional development activities.

Peer & Recovery Support Specialist II

• Independently manages assigned responsibilities with minimal supervision.
• Supports individuals with moderate-to-high complexity behavioral health, recovery, and social service needs.
• Facilitates groups and recovery-oriented activities independently.
• Assists with onboarding, mentoring, and supporting newer staff.
• Participates in specialty program initiatives and quality improvement activities.

Peer & Recovery Support Specialist III

• Serves as a senior peer support and recovery support resource.
• Supports highly complex populations and specialty service lines.
• Provides mentorship, coaching, and observational training to Peer & Recovery Support Specialist I and II staff.
• Assists with program development, outreach initiatives, workflow improvements, and quality improvement efforts.
• Serves as a subject matter resource regarding recovery-oriented practices, engagement strategies, and peer support principles.
• May provide onboarding support, observational training, and mentorship to Peer and Recovery Support Specialist I and II staff.

Program-Specific Responsibilities

General Mental Health (GMH)

• Support individuals experiencing emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges.
• Promote emotional wellness, coping strategies, self-management, and social connection.
• Encourage engagement in behavioral health treatment and wellness services.

Serious Mental Illness (SMI)

• Support individuals designated as Seriously Mentally Ill.
• Promote community integration, recovery planning, independent living skills, and resiliency.
• Assist individuals in accessing resources that address housing, transportation, benefits, food insecurity, and other social determinants of health.
• Support participation in treatment planning and Adult Recovery Team (ART) activities when appropriate.

Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) / Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)

• Support individuals receiving medication-assisted treatment services.
• Provide recovery coaching, relapse prevention support, and harm reduction education.
• Promote understanding of MAT as a recovery support tool and reduce stigma associated with medication treatment.
• Support retention, engagement, overdose prevention education, and naloxone distribution activities.
• Assist individuals in connecting with community-based recovery supports and resources.

Family Support Partner

• Utilize lived caregiver experience to support families navigating behavioral health systems.
• Assist caregivers in understanding available services, treatment processes, and community resources.
• Promote family engagement, advocacy, and resiliency.

Outreach & Engagement

• Conduct outreach and engagement activities for individuals experiencing barriers to care.
• Support re-engagement efforts and connection to treatment services.
• Build collaborative relationships with community organizations and referral partners.

Qualifications

Education

Required:

• High school diploma or equivalent

Preferred:

• Coursework or training in Behavioral Health, Psychology, Human Services, Social Work, Public Health, Addiction Studies, or a related field.

Experience

Required:

• Must have lived experience with behavioral health and/or substance use recovery and have successfully navigated services.
• Must be in stable recovery and/or wellness for a minimum of one (1) year.
• Must be willing and able