Peer Recovery Coach Intern

1. Certification Tracking & Supervision (Core Requirement)

• Attend Supervision: Actively participate in mandatory individual and group supervision sessions to complete the required 500 experiential hours.
• Log Hours: Maintain meticulous, accurate documentation of all direct and indirect service hours for certification board submission.
• Skill Development: Apply feedback from supervisors regarding ethics, boundaries, and evidence-based peer support strategies.

1. Low-Threshold Substance Use Outreach Unit

• Street Outreach: Conduct mobile and foot-based outreach in encampments, public spaces, and known community hot-spots.
• Harm Reduction: Distribute life-saving supplies, including naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and safer-use kits.
• Engagement: Build trust and rapport with highly vulnerable individuals who are actively using substances, utilizing a non-judgmental approach.

1. Targeted Outreach & Care Coordination

• Community Partnerships: Collaborate with local emergency rooms, syringe service programs, and social services to locate and engage disconnected individuals.
• Care Coordination: Guide participants through complex healthcare and social service systems.
• Warm Handoffs: Facilitate direct connections to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), detox, inpatient care, primary medicine, and housing resources.
• Resource Advocacy: Help participants obtain identification, insurance, and food assistance to stabilize their lives.

1. Code Red & Code Blue Shelter Protocols

• Emergency Response: Provide critical staff support at emergency shelters during extreme weather activations (Code Red for extreme heat, Code Blue for extreme cold).
• Crisis Engagement: De-escalate tense situations, provide emotional support, and monitor the safety of unhoused individuals seeking refuge.
• Resource Connection: Use shelter stays as an opportunity to introduce participants to long-term outreach services and care coordination.

Requirements

• Lived Experience: Personal, self-identified lived experience with substance use and a sustained period of stable recovery (typically 1–2 years preferred).
• Education: High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
• Certification Pathway: Completion of the foundational Peer Recovery Coach training hours (or willingness to complete them immediately upon hire) to begin tracking the 500-hour supervision requirement.
• Skills: Strong communication, conflict de-escalation, and boundary-setting skills. Knowledge of harm reduction philosophy is essential.
• Physical Demands: Ability to walk for extended periods during outdoor street outreach and work in varying weather conditions.