Provide hope and support to individuals with substance use and mental health disorders by sharing lived experience and modeling coping techniques. Coordinate with internal and external providers to link clients to community resources and assist them in achieving recovery goals.
Our Peer Support Specialists provide hope and support necessary to assist others to make lifestyle changes that lead to better whole-health outcomes. Sharing their experience of stigma, discrimination and self-determination, and the impact of behavioral health challenges on all life domains situates them to offer empathy, inspire hope and guide improvement around how these issues affect behavioral healthcare access and engagement.
As our Peer Support Specialist you will assists clients in articulating their goals for recovery, helps them monitor their progress, models effective coping techniques and self-help strategies based on the specialist's own recovery experience, and advocates for the client in obtaining effective services.
The RC/PSS works with individuals in groups and one on one to help people live their lives to the fullest.
Intended clients of the Peer Support Specialist services are any person seeking a treatment referral for Mental Health and or Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services, but also the organizations and communities that have regular contact with people struggling SUD disorders.
Works as a recovery coach and role model providing peer based services to assist individuals in finding their own recovery path from substance use and/or mental health disorders.
Is a member of the inter-disciplinary team and assists with outreach and supportive services to engage individuals in services and helps individuals build connections to the entire treatment team.
Provides services that promote hope, responsibility, empowerment, and self-sufficiency and helps individuals connect to the community of their choice.
You will also coordinate with internal and external providers to link to referral services to community resources and encourages clients to utilize these available resources and to be involved in their community.
Build professional relationships with clients without the constraints of the traditional expert/patient or expert/family member role and one built on mutual learning founded on the key principles of hope, equality, respect, personal responsibility and self-determination
Offer hope through their own life example and use personal stories in a conscious, deliberate and professional way in the service of helping another
Promote recovery, wellness, and healthy lifestyle behaviors
Encourage active participation in managing illness and assist people with behavioral health issues to identify and pursue a change they would like to make in an area of wellness
Deliver peer-led evidence-based services that help individuals, set and achieve goals, increase healthy lifestyle habits, maximize/prioritize their time with treatment professionals, reduce self-stigma and find or recover lost roles and goals in life
Help clients cope with social or emotional barriers to stay motivated to reach their goals
Outreach to priority groups that can benefit from MH and SUD specific services
Convey a deep respect and empathy for the impact of the effects of a serious mental health and substance use challenge on all aspects of life and provide empathic understanding of another's situation through the shared experience of emotional and psychological distress and improvement
Help bridge the gap between clients and health professionals and help individuals seek out clinical and community resources when it is appropriate
In special circumstances provide transportation with highly need appointments where situational barriers interfere with attending (such as unresolved lack of transportation or fear of attending)
Regular maintenance calls for a defined period of time following end of treatment to help prevent relapse
Provide support to achieve goals individually and in groups
Documents provision of services consistent with clinical and administrative policies and procedures
Meets defined individual and department goals, activity metrics and Key Performance Indicators
Promotes, supports and demonstrates MHP's mission, vision and values through both behavior and job performance and adheres to policies, procedures, Compliance Plan and Standards of Conduct on a day to day basis
Effectively interacts and communicates with other MHP staff/clients/customers/partners/etc.
Regular and consistent attendance is required to perform other essential functions of the job
Other duties as assigned
Requires a high school diploma or GED and lived experience with mental illness or substance use issues. Must possess a valid CO Driver's License and obtain a Peer Support Certificate within 9 months of hire.
Market context
In Colorado, behavioral-health practicum and internship roles often draw steady interest from students preparing for licensure, especially in mental health and substance use treatment settings. These positions are competitive because employers look for candidates who are already enrolled in a qualifying master’s program, eligible for placement, and ready to learn under licensed supervision. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits on this platform to save research time, then confirm your program’s placement rules and tailor your application to your licensure goals.