Peer Support Specialist for SUD

Job Description

Job Description

The  Peer Support Specialist  is responsible for visiting the Department of Children and Families (DCF) referred client families in their place of residence within the state of Massachusetts to provide assistance in meeting their basic needs and help parents build self-reliance and family stability and support parent-child nurturing interactions.  Parents served will have histories of substance use addictions. Specialists will help caregivers assess their recovery needs, provide information about substance use and recovery, and offer emotional support. Provide education in parenting skills, home management skills, psychoeducation in mental health and domestic violence to caregivers and assist families in identifying and accessing community resources. The Family Support Specialist may also supervise visitation between parents and children removed from home by DCF and provide transportation to children and parents to visits while ensuring children’s safety and adequate supervision. Promote and support parental resilience.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform as a member of Community Based Providers, working with the Department of Children and Families.
• Peer Support Specialists will aim to improve family functioning, caregiver resiliency and recovery, and to support healthy child development.
• Visit with each family at client homes or other required location for the number of hours contracted. Maintain ongoing phone contact with client, social worker and other providers as deemed necessary in helping families reach their goals and lower the level of risk in their homes.
• Develop and maintain a supportive, professional relationship with caregivers or parents, empowering them to accept the help and services necessary to adequately provide for the basic needs of all household members.
• Meet with clients during times of their availability, which may vary according to their work or school schedules. This may include some evenings, early mornings, and weekends.
• Provide goals outlined in the treatment plan, designed to stabilize high-risk families and prevent out of home placements of children.  Services may include parent education and skills development, budgeting and household management skills and helping family’s access supports and services within their community.
• Link client and families with community resources as needed, including recovery resources.
• Provide transportation or assist client in arranging for transportation as needed to fulfill their responsibilities as parents to reach identified goals.
• May assist with housing search and liaise with local housing authority.
• May provide supervised parenting visits coordinated with the Department of Children and Families.
• Submit documentation as required by Catholic Charities and our contracting agency to help access client's success in reaching goals established.
• Complete visitation reports after seeing clients for record keeping. Maintain up to date records.
• Attend team meetings and work with supervisors in assessing client needs and advocating for clients in ways appropriate to our role.
• Participate in required training and actively work on developing skills, as necessary, to successfully serve client population.
• Participate in collaborative meetings as a representative of our agency, as well as the Parent-Support Program and preservice training program.
• Perform work in an office environment, client homes or community.
• Maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality
• Attendance at meetings and trainings as required.
• Other responsibilities as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

Our benefits are competitive and include a 403(b) savings plan and generous time off.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Visit us at : www.ccab.org .

5 / 14 / 2025