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

Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) & Youth Mentor

Full-Time (40 hours/week); Pay rate $16-17/hour

Strength In Peers is seeking a qualified individual to fill its Peer Recovery Specialist & Youth Mentor position working out of its New Market, VA (Shenandoah County) office. Occasional evenings or weekends for special events and peer support groups may be required. Training and coaching in peer recovery support and youth mentoring skills will be provided.

Position Summary:

This position is designed for an individual who is a Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) or Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS) with personal experience overcoming substance use, mental health, and trauma-related challenges. They will provide mentoring to children and peer support to adults. In both situations, they will draw on their experiences to form connections with participants. As trust grows, they will respectfully challenge their participants to recognize opportunities, try out new behaviors, and develop self-confidence. The ideal candidate will be passionate about working with diverse participants and serving our community’s most vulnerable, including youth at risk of out-of-home placement, individuals returning from incarceration, and individuals currently experiencing homelessness.

General Job Duties:
  1. Provide one-on-one support to youth and adults with substance use, mental health and/or trauma-related challenges. Services are primarily provided in participants’ homes and occasionally over tele-conference.
  2. Help participants identify their strengths and needs and establish and achieve personal goals.
  3. Provide participants referrals and connections to community services for health care, behavioral health, housing, employment, and other needs.
  4. Educate participants about various pathways to recovery and provide referrals and connections to available behavioral health treatment and recovery support services.
  5. Support youth and adults to adhere to the requirements of other agencies, such as school, probation, child protective services, etc.
  6. Collaborate with school personnel, case managers, counselors, and other providers to plan and coordinate services to mutual participants.
  7. Transport and accompany participants to appointments and community resources.
  8. Collect and report data on activities and participant outcomes into a secure data management system.
  9. A complete list of tasks and duties will be provided in the position’s full job description.

Minimum Qualifications:
  1. Identify as a person in active recovery from substance use, mental health, and/or trauma-related challenges.
  2. Believe that anyone can recover and thrive; support all recovery pathways.
  3. Able to connect with others and inspire confidence and hope.
  4. Resourceful, proactive, and comfortable working with diverse populations.
  5. Able to communicate effectively in writing and interpersonally in one-on-one and small group settings.
  6. Able to work with limited supervision and considerable self-direction.
  7. Strong computer skills, including data entry, word processing, email, and internet navigation.
  8. Able to pass criminal background check and child protective services background check: https://www.dss.virginia.gov/files/division/licensing/lcpa/intro_page/background_investigations/foster_adoptive_homes/guidance_procedures/Barrier_Crimes.pdf
  9. High school diploma or equivalent.
  10. Driver’s license and acceptable driving record required.
  11. Completion of the Virginia 72-hour Certified Peer Recovery Specialist curriculum, preferred.

To Apply:

Send cover letter and resume to Director@StrengthInPeers.org. Applications will be accepted until positions are filled. Only applications that provide both cover letter and resume will be considered. Please no phone calls.

Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) – PAID INTERNSHIP

Earn the 500 hours of peer support experience needed to qualify for the Virginia PRS Certification!

Paid Internship: $12.00/hour

20, 30, or 40 hours/week depending on your schedule for up to 500 total hours.

Applications for in-person placement at either our New Market or Harrisonburg office locations are accepted on a rolling basis. 

 * Candidates must successfully complete their 72-hour DBHDS PRS Training before applying for an internship position. Information on the PRS training and certification process can be found at www.vaprs.org.

** Basic computer proficiency and a valid driver’s license are required.

General Job Duties:
  • Learn from peers in recovery and share experiences in order to help others.
  • Get and give support that is based on respect and mutual agreement of what is helpful.
  • Motivate others to move past fear and towards goals and aspirations.
  • Help with the development of wellness plans and action plans.
  • Assist with our Harm Reduction and Street Outreach programs to provide overdose reversal training, prevention education, and resource connection.
  • Support evidence-based peer recovery groups.
  • Provide resource connections and linkages to health and social services.
  • Collect data and learn why data collection is important to the peer recovery field.
  • Collaborate in a supportive environment that encourages multiple recovery pathways.
Minimum qualifications:
  1. Minimum of 1 year in active recovery from substance use, mental health, and/or trauma-related challenges.
  2. Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent.
  3. Must have completed the Virginia DBHDS 72-hour PRS training.
  4. Background check required.
  5. Driver’s license required.

Apply for our Internship Position here: https://forms.gle/pRedKpmFAtSXgLVQ9