Careers

Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS)

Supporting the East African Community (One Part-Time Position Available) 

Organization Summary: GMCC, founded as Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, is a nonprofit social services agency with a 120-year history collaborating with communities to make a positive impact throughout Minnesota. Our initiatives and programs have included advocacy and education around equity and poverty; mentoring and youth development; support services for older adults; services for people experiencing homelessness; and food security. Today, GMCC is an entrepreneurial organization that partners with the communities most impacted by a challenge or opportunity to co-design and lead a response. We work in the areas of youth, food, and well-being.

Project Summary: GMCC’s recovery program supports prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery associated with substance use disorder (SUD). Our project launched to specifically address SUD in Minnesota’s East African community through community-based, culturally specific, and trauma-informed recovery services and has since expanded to include individuals from other communities.

• Type: non-exempt, hourly, part-time (W2), approx. 15-20 hours per week

• Hours: varies

• Reports to: GMCC Senior Program Manager

• Direct Reports: None

• Start Date: ASAP

• Application deadline: 10/15/2024

• Pay: $30/hour – PRS must track & log their hours

• Time Period: 10/15/2024–12/31/2025 with an opportunity for an extension

Role Overview: The Peer Recovery Specialist (PRS) fills emotional, social, and practical needs that aren’t addressed by physicians, psychologists, addiction counselors, and other professionals. The Minnesota Certification Board describes a PRS as “someone who helps a person who becomes ready and willing to seek treatment (if needed) and enter recovery by helping the person explore their options for recovery or treatment. Peer Recovery Specialists ask questions, offer insight, and help service recipients as they become whole, resourceful, and capable of choosing what is best for them.”

The PRS draws upon their personal growth experience to carry the message of hope and recovery to individuals who have been impacted by SUD. The PRS uses their personal experience to offer encouragement and support, and will lean on knowledge from other Peer Recovery Specialists to learn how to secure connections with individuals and serve as a mentor and role model through a culturally and religiously specific lens. This particular role will work with East Africans struggling with addiction.

Responsibilities – Training

• Complete a certified Peer Recovery Coach training and any fees that will be paid for by GMCC.
• Complete Seeking Safety training, a one-day evidence-based, present-focused counseling model to help people attain safety from trauma and/or substance abuse, is the fees which will be paid for by GMCC.
• Complete other training as identified, the fees will be paid by GMCC
• Obtain Peer Recovery Certification from Minnesota Certification Board (GMCC will cover any related fees)

Guide Design and Delivery of program activities

• Document best practices and provide advice and counsel to GMCC staff and leadership on program design, approach and delivery
• Meet (estimated weekly) with GMCC staff to provide and receive program update
• Participate in regular planning meetings with Peer Recovery Specialists.
• Participate in a co-design session led by a Human Centered Design expert to identify challenges and develop solutions, including tapping into your networks for information.
• Support with evaluation, including
• Collecting surveys from participants
• Completing interviews with participants, staff, and partners
• Completing observation rubrics for evaluation purposes

Recruitment and outreach

• Identify individuals in the East African Muslim community who could benefit most from community-based long-term recovery support and recruit them to participate in the program.
• Support outreach and marketing efforts to combat cultural and public stigma associated with addiction and recovery.

Supporting Clients in Recovery 

• Support GMCC ‘s other peer recovery specialists and staff with any tasks they need support with. 
• Logistically support Setting up and closing down  GMCC Friday Recovery Meetings including ordering food and snacks for Friday Recovery Meetings 
• Contact recovery meeting participants to remind them of the meeting and provide transportation resources
• Conduct outreach by going to similar meetings and strengthening relationships with other recovery organizations.
• Research and maintain current resource inventory relevant to recovery to provide to clients in-need such as available slots in various treatment centers and detox centers
• Support other GMCC wellbeing related programs, such as GMCC Friday Services
• Attend sober activities with clients

Qualifications

• Must have a year or more of continuous recovery.
• Must be able to speak credibly to clients from current and/or past personal experience with sober living
• Must have personal lived experience with substance use disorder (Having a friend or family member with lived experience does not meet this qualification).
• Must have familiarity with and connection in Somali and Muslim communities
• Must be committed to working through the completion of the project for the identified number of hours
• Must have or be willing to successfully complete a DHS-approved Certified Peer Specialist training and certification exam (GMCC will cover training/certification cost associated with obtaining PRS certification)

Outreach Targets and Measurements of Success

• Completion of training and certification
• Number of Somali and other youth struggling with addiction and their family members who are engaged through outreach
• Number of Somali and other youth struggling with addiction who are supported as regular clients
• Attendance rate at meetings
• Ongoing (continued) participation in the project

GMCC defines Recovery as “maintenance of abstinence from alcohol and/or other drug use by any means.” GMCC expects all peer recovery specialists  to maintain their recovery as they support others at various stages of recovery. You might be subject to periodic drug testing.

How to Apply

Fill out the following form: https://forms.gle/s283CC8ZbKAs74Z59