Perinatal Peer Recovery Specialist at Institute for Health – Massachusetts

Program/Department: Women and Family Referral Center (WFRC)

Position Type: Full-Time 40 hours/ week – Hybrid Position (remote, on-site, varied locations statewide)

Location: Statewide, MA

Reports to: Director of Recovery

About IHR: The Institute for Health and Recovery (IHR) is a statewide service, research, policy, program development and capacity building agency. IHR designs its services based on an understanding of the impact of trauma. IHR’s CARF accredited treatment programs provide holistic interventions for hard-to-reach and high-risk individuals and families. IHR’s mission, since our founding in 1990, has been to develop and support a comprehensive continuum of care for families, individuals, youth, and pregnant and parenting people affected by alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, violence/trauma, mental health challenges and other health issues, while advancing principles of health equity and social justice. Our work is focused on addressing and eradicating inequities in our health care, economic, and justice systems, especially as they disproportionately affect women, fathers and people of color. We are committed to providing services and creating communities that mitigate the effects of substance use, mental illness, and trauma.

Summary Statement: The Perinatal Peer Recovery Specialist is a person with lived experience in using either prescribed or unprescribed substances during pregnancy and in recovery from a substance use disorder (SUD). Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, the Perinatal Peer Recovery Specialist supports pregnant and post-partum people impacted by substance use, trauma, and mental health needs. Using their own lived experience and professional training the Perinatal Peer Recovery Specialist assists people with accessing supports, identifying and building on their strengths, and navigating supports and services for themselves and their families that will help support them in the pregnant and post-partum stages. The Perinatal Peer Recovery Specialist will work closely with the Family Care Plan Coordinator on all family activities.

• Work collaboratively with the Family Care Plan Coordinator and community partners to identify and engage pregnant and post-partum people in services.
• Provide recovery-oriented, trauma-informed services both virtually and in homes and community settings. 
• Provide education to families and providers about Family Care Plans and their purpose and how they may be used across systems.
• Collaborate with families and the Family Care Plan Coordinator in developing and maintaining Family Care Plans that are family-led and promotes safety, stability and wellbeing.
• Build rapport with families focused on trust-building, hope sharing, and encouragement.
• Support families with identifying and coordinating supportive services for both them and their children, such as recovery services, early intervention services, medical care, and mental health supports.
• Assist participants in identifying trusted supports, caregivers, and resources to include in their Family Care Plans.
• Collaborate with the Family Care Plan Coordinator in identifying and coordinating collaborative meetings between community support and the family that centers a person-centered, non-judgmental and strengths-based approach.
• With participant consent, work with providers across systems to integrate Family Care Plans into broader care coordination efforts.
• Offer harm reduction education, safer use strategies and overdose prevention information, including naloxone education as needed.
• Engage in weekly supervision and maintain all required documentation.
• Participate in collecting evaluation data for further assessment and/or services as needed.
• Solicit feedback from participants about satisfaction and service delivery improvements and share as needed.
• Participate in all required training and become knowledgeable in relevant evidence-based practices.
• Maintain timely records of all services in EHR system in accordance with state and federal confidentiality laws.
• Use cloud-based systems for communication with IHR’s site office, including shared calendars, timesheets, and supervisor check-ins.
• Attend team and agency staff meetings as required.

• Lived experience of using either prescribed or unprescribed substances during pregnancy and in recovery from a substance use disorder (SUD), and willingness to share experiences, skills, strengths, and resources.
• Strong understanding of pregnancy, post-partum, child-development, and attachment. 
• Knowledge of recovery pathways, Peer Recovery Centers, agencies, and services
• Knowledge of community-based support designed for pregnant and post-partum people.
• Knowledge of medication for addiction treatment; training in peer recovery support roles preferred
• Skills in Motivational Interviewing, and in strengths-based, trauma-informed service delivery. 
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills. 
• Current certification as a Peer Recovery Coach, or eligibility and willingness to obtain certification within 6 months of hire. 
• Fluency in English and at least one other language preferred: (Spanish, Portuguese, or Haitian Creole preferred)

• Valid driver’s license, good driving record, and regular access to a reliable vehicle.

• Clear and effective communication
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to work effectively in teams
• Self-motivated and independent
• Problem-solving skills
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Commitment to ongoing development and learning
• Dedication to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice

Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position include talking, hearing, sitting, standing, walking, lifting, and using hands for activities such as grasping, handling, and reaching. These physical and mental demands are essential for the successful execution of job responsibilities. Reasonable accommodation will be made for qualified individuals with disabilities.

IHR seeks to create welcoming, inclusive and accessible environments for our staff and the people we serve. We welcome and celebrate the diverse social identities of our staff. We recognize the importance of having staff who reflect the identities of the diverse communities that we serve, and we make efforts to hire from within these communities. We are proud to offer an inclusive, recovery friendly, and supportive work environment, and we welcome, and value lived experience of recovery.