Peer Support Jobs Where Passion & Purpose Come Together.
Find rewarding work in any of the peer support jobs we offer at Strength In Peers. Strengthen your own recovery, support the recovery efforts of our participants, and learn valuable skills with frequent training and educational opportunities. We are an equal opportunity employer proud to offer our employees:
- Competitive wages
- Healthcare coverage
- Retirement plan
- Holidays and other paid time off
- Flexible schedules
- Short-term disability
- Flexible medical and dependent spending accounts
Program Coordinator/Case Manager
Mom 2 Mom Program
Full Time; Non-Exempt; Pay rate: $19-$20/hour
Position Summary
The Program Coordinator/Case Manager supports the planning, coordination, and delivery of peer-led programs, outreach activities, and participant services within the Mom 2 Mom Program. This role blends direct participant support with program coordination, case management, community partnership building, and data tracking to help ensure services are effective, responsive, and aligned with organizational goals. The Program Coordinator/Case Manager will provide outreach, education, and one-on-one support to women who are pregnant, nursing, or of childbearing age and experiencing substance use challenge. This position plays an important role in connecting individuals to resources, supporting participant progress, and maintaining program quality and compliance.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities for Program Coordinator
- Coordinate and implement program activities, outreach events, and educational initiatives.
- Conduct outreach to engage individuals who may not otherwise access services, including at-risk and marginalized populations.
- Facilitate or co-facilitate peer support groups, workshops, and educational sessions.
- Track program activities, service delivery, participant progress, and outcomes to support reporting and evaluation.
- Build and maintain collaborative relationships with community partners, referral sources, and service providers.
- Support day-to-day program operations, including scheduling, supply management, and coordination with staff.
- Model recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive practices in all interactions.
- Maintain clear and professional boundaries to support a safe, ethical, and participant-centered environment.
- Coordinate with peers at least biweekly to support participant needs and continuity of care.
- Participate in supervision, staff meetings, case staffing, training, professional development, and quality improvement activities.
- Provide comprehensive harm reduction services, education and support to participants, based on individual needs and program guidelines.
- Provide HIV/HEPC and Syphilis Testing, education and support to Program Participants.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities for Case Manager
- Provide services to women who are pregnant, nursing, or of childbearing age experiencing substance use or related challenges based on the framework, ethics, and guidelines of the Peer Recovery Specialist profession
- Offer education, distribute pregnancy tests, and provide peer support during testing and follow-up.
- Link participants to prenatal care, family planning, and medical services for communicable disease testing.
- Assist women in accessing detox, substance use counseling, medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), and mental health treatment.
- Provide one-on-one peer support to participants, including referrals, follow-up, and advocacy in a variety of settings including but not limited to Homes, Jails, and other public meeting locations.
- Conduct intakes, screenings, and individualized service planning based on participant needs, strengths, and goals.
- Assess participant barriers and identify appropriate resources related to healthcare, housing, employment, childcare, benefits, and other essential services.
- Provide ongoing case management, care coordination, and follow-up to support participant engagement and progress.
- Assist participants with applications, referrals, appointment scheduling, and connections to community resources.
- Maintain accurate participant records, documentation, and data entry in required systems.
- Enter timely and accurate notes in the EMR in accordance with program, organizational, and Medicaid requirements.
- Provide transportation when needed to participants to approved locations that align with their Recovery Goals.
Core Competencies
- Strong organizational, time management, and coordination skills
- Ability to balance direct service responsibilities with administrative and documentation requirements
- Commitment to a recovery-oriented and participant-centered approach
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
- Openness to constructive feedback and ability to apply it to improve performance
- Ability to collaborate effectively across programs, teams, and community partnerships
- Proficiency with databases, spreadsheets, electronic records, and standard office technology
Required Qualifications
- High school diploma or GED required
- Relevant experience in peer support, community outreach, program coordination, case management, or a related field
- Valid driver’s license and ability to travel locally
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience coordinating programs, projects, or community-based services
- Knowledge of HIV, Hepatitis C, harm reduction, recovery support services, or related public health initiatives
- Certified Peer Recovery Specialist preferred
Work Environment and Physical Demands
This position includes a combination of office-based and community-based work and requires local travel for outreach, participant support, and partner engagement. The role may occasionally require evening or weekend hours based on program needs. Physical demands may include lifting up to 25 pounds and extended periods of standing, walking, or moving between community locations.
To Apply:
Send cover letter and resume to [email protected]. Applications will be accepted until positions are filled. Only applications that provide both cover letter and resume will be considered. Please, no phone calls.
Respite Care Specialist
Part-Time 16-30 hours/week; evening & weekend shifts; Pay rate $13-14/hour
Strength In Peers, a peer-run, nonprofit Recovery Community Organization, seeks a qualified individual to fill its Respite Care Specialist position based at the organization’s Respite Home, which is privately located on the Sentara RMH campus in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The Respite Home provides a safe, secure environment where individuals experiencing homelessness can recuperate following hospitalization.
Position Summary:
The Respite Care Specialist (RCS, or “Specialist”) provides essential support to guests staying at Strength In Peers’ 8-bedroom respite house temporarily, post-hospitalization. Key responsibilities include enforcing program policies, monitoring participants for safety, providing direct peer support and connecting guests to relevant community resources. The RCS supports each guest’s unique needs by helping them follow their medical instructions including medication management and dietary specifications, helping them use the computer to navigate housing applications and employment opportunities, and supporting the person’s wellness goals and recovery objectives. Additionally, the Specialist supports the general health and safety of the home by ensuring cleanliness, assigning chores as applicable, tracking supply needs and coordinating with other staff and volunteers. The RCS is responsible for following HIPAA guidelines, entering data, and supporting the administrative tasks of the organization. Strength In Peers will provide training that supports this role.
General Job Duties:
- Provide support to guests through empathetic, active listening and the incorporation of Peer Recovery Specialists skills.
- Assist guests in their development of recovery and housing goals.
- Enter data and use data systems to document work, assess participant’s need, and to collaborate with team members.
- Monitor guests’ self-administration of medication and adherence to dietary conditions
- Enforce program policies and procedures
- Support guests in carrying out their Activities for Daily Living (ADLs) within the Peer Recovery Specialist scope of practice.
- Provide referrals to appropriate community providers.
- Advocate for the guest’s stipulated goals and objectives and connect them to appropriate resources.
- Maintain a working relationship with community providers, and other agency programs.
- Coordinate and assist with guest transportation needs for health and social services appointments.
- Attend staff meetings and relevant training as requested.
- Debrief with staff and provide updates and relevant reports to in-coming shift worker(s).
- Maintain and monitor house cleanliness including laundering bedding and towels and ensuring surfaces throughout the home are sanitized and disinfected.
- Maintains ethical and professional standards by maintaining boundaries, ensuring confidentiality, and adhering to the privacy rights of each guest.
- Monitor the safety of guests.
- Assist with administrative tasks of the organization as needed.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Believe that anyone can recover and thrive; support all recovery pathways.
- Able to connect with others and inspire confidence and hope.
- Resourceful, proactive, and comfortable working with diverse populations.
- Able to communicate effectively in writing and interpersonally in one-on-one and small group settings.
- Able to work with limited supervision and considerable self-direction.
- Strong computer skills, including data entry, word processing, email, and internet navigation.
- Able to pass criminal background check.
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Driver’s license and acceptable driving record required.
To Apply:
Send cover letter and resume to [email protected]. Applications will be accepted until positions are filled. Only applications that provide both cover letter and resume will be considered. Please no phone calls.
Lion’s PRIDE Intern
Strength In Peers’ Lion’s PRIDE (Peer Recovery Internship for Development & Empowerment) program is a structured, hands-on learning experience for individuals who want to become a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in Virginia. Interns complete 500 hours of supervised professional experience required to qualify for the certification exam. Through mentorship, real-world practice, and professional development, interns learn to engage peers with empathy, connect them to community resources, and model hope and resilience through lived experience.
Interns will rotate through Strength In Peers’ peer-led recovery services, community resource centers, homeless medical respite house, jail-based support groups, and mobile harm reduction program to experience a variety of professional settings. Interns will also develop an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) where they will select trainings and experiences that align with their professional interests and goals, such as working in crisis services, supporting youth and families, or working with justice-involved populations.
At Strength In Peers, recovery grows in community—our “pride.” This program builds confidence, competence, and compassion on the path to becoming a CPRS and working in the helping professions.
Program Benefits:
- $6,000 stipend over the 6-month program period, disbursed biweekly.
- Mileage reimbursement for travel to field sites from Strength In Peers’ office locations.
- Free program supplies (yours to keep upon program completion).
- Fully funded trainings aligned with your Individualized Learning Plan (no out-of-pocket costs).
- 500 hours of hands-on field experience with individual and group supervision led by Certified PRS Supervisors.
- CPRS exam preparation and application support (including paid application fee).
- Career coaching, resume guidance, job search help, goal-setting, and networking opportunities during program duration.
- Alumni support with quarterly check-ins for 12 months after graduation.
Program Requirements:
- Lived/living experience in recovery from substance use, mental health, and/or trauma-related challenges, with at least one year sustained recovery.
- Interest in pursuing a career that applies peer recovery principles.
- Available to begin June 22, 2026, and commit to a 6-month program term (June-December 2026), for a minimum of 20 hours/week (Monday-Thursday, 9am-2pm).
- Ability to travel to Strength In Peers sites and partner locations and participate in assigned activities.
- Basic computer skills (email, word processing, data entry).
- You will need to complete a phone and/or in-person interview before being accepted into the Lion’s PRIDE program. Participation in an interview does not guarantee acceptance into the program.
Minimum Qualifications:
- High school diploma or GED received prior to program start date of 6/22/2026. GED program registration support is available from program staff upon request.
- Completion of 72-hour DBHDS Peer Recovery Specialist training prior to program start date of 6/22/2026. Scholarships and registration support are available for those who have not yet enrolled in 72-hour PRS training.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Personal vehicle for transportation to and from Strength In Peers offices and partner field sites.
- Personal, educational, and/or volunteer experience with peer support and/or behavioral health.
IF YOU DO NOT MEET THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, YOU CAN STILL APPLY. GED application support and 72-hour PRS training referral are available upon request. Scholarships are available for 72-hour PRS training if you have not yet registered for a class. Please reach out to Holly Hanks Wanta, Program Coordinator, at [email protected] or 540-282-7404 with any questions or to begin the process.
To Apply:
