The individual in this role works directly with clients participating in the Troup County (LaGrange, GA) Adult Accountability Felony Drug Court Program.  The individual in this role may also work directly with other clients diagnosed with substance abuse disorder (SUD) as well as clients diagnosed with co-occurring substance abuse disorder and mental health diagnosis.

The individual in this is a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) trained and certified to provide ongoing support to individuals and their families receiving substance use recovery supports and services. The CPS works from the perspective of own lived experience to help build environments conducive to recovery.  Job responsibilities for the Certified Peer Specialist - Addictive Disease (CPS-AD) position include but are not limited to the following:

·        Facilitates peer support group sessions in a clinic setting and/or out-of-clinic setting

·        Assists clients in gaining skills to promote the recovery process (self-advocacy, developing natural supports, etc.)

·        Provide ongoing emotional support, modeling and mentoring during various phases of the service/support planning process

·        Assist clients with the acquisition of the skills and knowledge necessary to sustain an awareness of their needs as well as strengths

·        Support, model, and coach clients to help with their level of engagement in all health-related processes

·        Cultivate the client’s ability to make informed, independent choices which will include others who have been through similar experiences

·        Assist the clients in understanding what their journey to recovery may look like

·        Identify the importance of self-care, addressing the need to maintain whole health and wellness in order to ultimately support recovery

·        Assist with skills training to self-recognize emotional triggers and to self-manage behaviors related to substance abuse disorder

·        Document client progress and interventions in the electronic health record system within established time frame for quality of care, compliance, and billing purposes

Certified Peer Specialists work from the perspective of their lived experience to help build environments conducive to recovery. They promote hope, personal responsibility, empowerment, education, and self-determination in the communities where they serve.  CPSs are trained to assist others in skill-building, problem-solving, setting up and maintaining self-help mutual support groups, and building self-directed recovery tools. A critical role of the CPS is supporting others in developing their recovery goals, and specific steps to reach those goals.