Felton Institute·Oakland, California
The Peer Support Specialist uses lived experience to build trust and provide outreach, coaching, and accompaniment for clients navigating the justice and mental health systems. They are also responsible for providing wellness response interventions and stabilizing clients during acute mental health incidents.
Peer Support Specialist Triage, Consultation, and Wellness Response Team (TCWRT) Mental Health and Wellness (MHW) Program — AB 109 Reentry Services Agency Overview Felton Institute responds to the needs of our community by providing innovative, evidence-informed social services that transform lives.
Our organization offers 60+ programs that address mental health, the unhoused, early care and education, those impacted by the justice system, transitional age youth, as well as aging adults.
Our programs combine the latest scientific research with cultural sensitivity and a deep commitment to supporting and reflecting the communities we serve.
Felton offers a dynamic, challenging, and supportive work environment where we encourage the use of professional development, that staff can utilize throughout their career.
Program Description The TCWRT is operated by Felton Institute and funded by the Alameda County Probation Department (ACPD) and Alameda County Behavioral Health Department (ACBHD) under the AB 109 Mental Health and Wellness initiative.
The team serves as the primary referral point for ACPD staff seeking mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorder services for AB 109 Clients.
Services are delivered at CORE Oakland, CORE Hayward, Santa Rita Jail, AB 109 Housing Programs, ACPD offices, client homes, and other community settings throughout Alameda County.
The Peer Support Specialist is a frontline TCWRT member who draws on personal lived experience navigating the justice system, mental health system, and/or recovery to build trust-based relationships with AB 109 Clients. Under the supervision of the Clinical Program Director and in partnership with Clinical Case Managers, the Peer Support Specialist provides peer engagement, outreach, coaching, barrier removal, accompaniment, resource sharing, and wellness response support. This role bridges AB 109 Clients with the broader mental health system using motivational interviewing, strength-based engagement, and lived-experience credibility. Key Responsibilities Peer Engagement
Build trust-based, non-judgmental relationships with AB 109 Clients by sharing relevant lived experience, modeling hope, recovery, and successful community reintegration.
Provide regular check-ins, coaching, and accompaniment until the client is securely connected to a mental health provider.
Accompany clients to appointments, intake meetings, court dates, housing visits, and benefits offices to reduce barriers to follow-through.
Support clients in making incremental changes, building coping strategies, and applying contingency management approaches—including incentives for meeting treatment milestones.
Address stigma around mental health treatment, build motivation, and reinforce client strengths. Outreach and Community Engagement
Conduct intensive outreach to hard-to-reach AB 109 Clients, including those who are transient, court-ordered to services, or potentially eligible for conservatorship.
Support program targets: contact 70% of hard-to-reach clients and connect 50% to appropriate services within 6 months of referral.
Contact 70% of pre-release AB 109 Clients within 72 hours of release, in coordination with Clinical Case Managers.
Establish relationships with pre-release programs; provide warm hand-offs at release, including in-person greetings and accompaniment to first appointments.
Rotate across ACPD Oakland/Hayward offices, CORE, and AB 109 Housing sites; participate in at least 10 resource sharing activities annually, including workshops and community forums. Barrier Removal and Family Engagement
Assist clients with transportation, emergency housing navigation, insurance applications, childcare logistics, scheduling, paperwork, and provider calls.
Deliver treatment milestone incentives per program protocols; advocate following service or treatment denials.
Support medication adherence and access to psychiatric services in coordination with the Prescribing Practitioner.
Coach loved ones of AB 109 Clients on crisis response options in Alameda County and connect them to family and therapeutic community resources. Wellness Response
Participate in the TCWRT Wellness Response system to provide intervention, de-escalation, and stabilization for clients experiencing acute mental health incidents.
Support on-site Wellness Response arrival within 40 minutes of request, working alongside Clinical Case Managers and local crisis teams.
Use peer-based de-escalation and lived-experience credibility to help clients stabilize; support coordination of Crisis Residential Treatment, peer respite, or sobering center placements as needed.
Collaborate with the SPOT team and other AB 109 providers following critical incidents. Documentation and Communication
Document all service delivery in the ACPD Provider Portal and other data systems within 72 business hours.
Maintain consistent communication with the client’s DPO and Clinical Case Manager regarding attendance, milestones, and challenges.
Support release-of-information processes; report refusals and adverse client events immediately to the Clinical Program Director per ACPD’s 24-hour reporting requirement.
Participate in team meetings, case conferences, clinical supervision, and ongoing training as required.
Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality per HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and Felton Institute policy. Minimum Qualifications and Requirements Lived experience in the justice system (incarceration, probation, parole, or pre-trial supervision) and/or navigating the mental health system, substance use recovery, or co-occurring disorders. Willingness to share appropriate aspects of lived experience in service of client engagement, hope, and recovery. Demonstrated personal stability, sustained recovery, and/or successful community reintegration with the capacity to work in emotionally demanding settings. High school diploma, GED, or equivalent. California Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification, or willingness to obtain within 12 months of hire (Felton Institute will support the certification process). Minimum one (1) year of experience in peer support, community outreach, case management, recovery coaching, mentoring, or comparable client-facing work (paid or volunteer). Experience working with justice-involved adults, individuals with mental health challenges, or individuals in recovery strongly preferred. Ability to pass a Live Scan background check and required clearances for Santa Rita Jail and ACPD facilities. Felton Institute applies Fair Chance hiring practices; a record will not automatically disqualify a candidate. Valid California driver’s license, reliable transportation, and proof of insurance preferred; demonstrated ability to travel throughout Alameda County via public transit and rideshare acceptable. Ability to work occasional evenings and Saturday rotations (CORE sites: Saturdays 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.). Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Working knowledge of Alameda County mental health, substance use, crisis, housing, and wellness resources, or ability to develop this knowledge quickly. Demonstrated ability to apply Motivational Interviewing, peer support models, harm reduction, strength-based engagement, and contingency management (training provided). Understanding of HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and release-of-information standards. Ability to recognize acute crisis, support de-escalation, and escalate appropriately to licensed clinical staff. Strong interpersonal skills; empathy, professionalism, cultural humility; ability to manage time and balance field- and office-based responsibilities. Basic computer proficiency with electronic health records and provider portals, or willingness to develop these skills with training.
Additional Information: Reports to: Division Director Job Type: Full Time Work Schedule: Onsite
$32 - $35 per hour (DOE) Benefits (subject to election and eligibility): Fully-Paid Medical and Dental Plans; Health Reimbursement Card, Paid Time Off (personal, vacation, and sick time), 403B with company match. This position is union-represented by SEIU Local 1021 and is subject to the applicable collective bargaining agreement. Applying Instruction: Candidates should apply for the position at our career page “careers.felton.org” OR directly email resumes to “jobs@felton.org”. IMP NOTE: Job responsibilities are subject to change according to program requirements.
Candidates must have lived experience with the justice or mental health systems and a high school diploma or GED. A minimum of one year of relevant peer support or outreach experience is required, and candidates must be willing to obtain Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification.
Market context
In California, Peer Support Specialist roles are typically tied to behavioral health, recovery, and community-based service programs, where employers look for candidates with lived experience plus formal certification. This role is competitive because it requires a DHCS-approved Certified Peer Support Specialist credential, at least one year of full-time community-based experience, and a valid California driver’s license with a clean record. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm your certification, driving eligibility, and background-check readiness before applying.
