Recovery Mentor, Relief $22.44+ DOE

Position Close Date: 8.15.2026
This position is responsible for providing peer support services to clients in recovery by building supportive relationships, facilitating individualized goal setting, and connecting individuals to essential resources and treatment services. The role combines direct client engagement, crisis intervention, care coordination, and administrative responsibilities to promote recovery, stability, and self-determination using trauma-informed and person-centered approaches by performing the following duties.

Supplemental Job Summary

Mentors assigned to Supportive Housing programs provide peer support and resource navigation within supportive housing settings. They model recovery, support participation in treatment and program activities, and connect clients to substance use, mental health, medical, and other services. Supportive Housing Mentors help clients build stability and make progress toward individualized goals while living in structured, recovery-oriented housing environments.

Education & Experience

• A high school diploma or GED is preferred for this role.
• In addition to the education requirement, this position requires candidates who self-identified formerly receiving addictions or mental health services, along with the demonstrated ability to use that experience to support others in a professional peer role.
• Experience working with individuals who have co-occurring substance use, and mental health concerns is preferred. Experience working with individuals involved in the criminal justice system or experiencing housing instability is preferred.
• Experience using electronic health records (EHRs) or similar documentation systems is preferred.
• Experience working in Medicaid-billable peer services or behavioral health settings is preferred.
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be used to satisfy these requirements.

Certificates, Licenses, and/or Registrations

This position requires either a current Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM) credential through MHACBO or a current Peer Support Specialist (PSS) certification through the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), or the ability to obtain the required credential within three months of hire. Applicants pursuing the CRM credential must self-identify as a person in recovery from a substance use disorder and meet all MHACBO eligibility requirements for certification. Applicants pursuing the PSS certification must self-identify as having lived experience related to mental health, substance use, or other qualifying life experiences as defined by OHA and meet all state certification requirements. All candidates must also meet eligibility criteria for enrollment as a Medicaid provider in Oregon.

Essential Job Duties

• Builds and maintains supportive peer relationships grounded in mutual respect, shared lived experience, and recovery principles to promote client engagement and hope.
• Supports clients in identifying and working toward individualized recovery goals across areas such as treatment engagement, housing, employment, education, and wellness to foster stability and self-determination.
• Provides mentorship and guidance using trauma-informed, person-centered, and harm reduction approaches to reduce barriers to care and increase trust.
• Facilitates peer-led recovery groups and structured activities to support community building, skill development, and shared accountability.
• Introduces clients to a range of recovery supports including 12-step, mutual aid, cultural, spiritual, or wellness-based resources to increase connection and sustained recovery.
• Assists clients in navigating behavioral health, social service, and criminal justice systems, including court, probation/parole, child welfare, and medication-assisted treatment (MAT), to increase service access and continuity.
• Conducts outreach and maintains regular client contact through scheduled sessions, field visits, or phone/text outreach to enhance engagement and service consistency.
• Supports clients in meeting practical needs such as obtaining ID, applying for benefits, securing housing, and attending critical appointments.
• Transport clients safely to appointments, court, or recovery activities using agency vehicles to ensure reliable access to essential services.
• Observes clients for signs of relapse, intoxication, withdrawal, or behavioral escalation and follows agency protocols to support client safety and program integrity.
• Responds to client crises using de-escalation strategies and peer-appropriate interventions, and assists with emergency response (e.g., Narcan or CPR) if trained.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation in the electronic health record to ensure continuity of care and compliance with regulatory standards.
• Obtain and track Release of Information (ROI) forms to coordinate care and support information sharing with external partners as needed.
• Collaborates with internal interdisciplinary staff, including medical providers, counselors, case managers, as well as community partners such as court staff, parole officers, and legal representatives, to align treatment efforts and ensure consistent implementation of care plans, problem-solving, and quality of care.
• Incorporates client feedback and outcome monitoring tools, e.g., feedback Informed Treatment (FIT), to improve peer services and client-centered care.
• Promotes recovery culture and model recovery values through ethical behavior, emotional regulation, and boundary-setting.
• Participates in supervision, team meetings, and professional development to strengthen skills, maintain certification, and contribute to a collaborative work environment.
• Performs administrative responsibilities such as checking email, responding to phone calls, managing appointment schedules, and maintaining timely documentation.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supplemental Essential Job Duties

• Provides peer support within supportive housing environments to foster stable, recovery-oriented community living.
• Collaborates with treatment and housing staff to support client participation in program schedules, routines, and structured activities.
• Assists clients in navigating on site services and accessing community-based supports that address individualized recovery and housing stability goals.
• Monitors and documents resident participation, behavior, and progress to support coordinated treatment and housing services.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Knowledge of the recovery process, including multiple recovery pathways and stages of change, to support flexible and relevant peer engagement.
• Knowledge of the MHACBO Code of Conduct, peer boundaries, mandated reporting, and legal standards such as CFR 42 Part 2 to ensure ethical, confidential, and compliant clinical practice.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care principles and the impact of trauma on substance use and recovery to promote safe, supportive client interactions.
• Knowledge of recovery supports, harm reduction, and housing & employment resources to effectively connect clients with these services.
• Knowledge of system navigation including behavioral health, justice, and social services to assist clients in meeting legal, treatment, or housing-related requirements.
• Knowledge of documentation practices, respectful language use, and the purpose of Feedback Informed Treatment (FIT) to support accountability, client voice, and collaborative care.
• Skilled in facilitating peer-led support groups and activities that enhance engagement, structure, and shared learning.
• Skilled in using personal recovery experience to model recovery principles and self-determination in alignment with peer ethics and scope.

Supplemental Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Knowledge of supportive housing environments, including routines, expectations, and structure.
• Skilled in supporting clients to participate in scheduled program activities and maintain community standards in shared living spaces.
• Ability to model recovery-oriented behavior within supportive housing settings and support the development of stable daily routines.
• Ability to work collaboratively with treatment and housing staff to support client progress and housing stability.
• Skilled in identifying and responding to client needs using de-escalation, peer-based interventions, and safety planning when appropriate to support client well-being.
• Skilled in maintaining clear and timely documentation and communicating effectively with interdisciplinary team members to support shared goals.
• Ability to provide compassionate, nonjudgmental support to clients across all stages of recovery, including those who are pre-contemplative.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining regular follow-up and communication to ensure consistent service delivery.
• Ability to safely transport clients and maintain driving eligibility in accordance with agency policies.
• Ability to model emotional regulation, healthy boundaries, and recovery-oriented behavior to promote peer leadership and trust.
• Ability to recognize signs of relapse, emotional distress, or safety concerns and respond appropriately to protect clients and others.
• Ability to engage in supervision and ongoing professional development to improve service quality and maintain certification.
• Ability to use client feedback and self-reflection to adapt services and strengthen mentoring relationships.

Other Eligibility Requirements

• Must complete a criminal history background check and receive authorization from the State of Oregon's Background Check Unit.
• Must not be excluded from participation in federal healthcare programs, including but not limited to listings on the Office of Inspector General (OIG) List of Excluded Individuals/Entities and the System for Award Management (SAM) exclusion list.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
• Must have an active driver's license, current insurance, reliable transportation, and ability to meet VOA Oregon's and VOA Oregon's insurer's driver standards.

Travel Requirement

* Up to 30% of work time requires local travel within the Portland metro area. Occasional overnight travel may be necessary for training, meetings, or other business needs.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no supervisory responsibilities but may provide guidance to interns.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here must be met by an employee while performing the essential duties of this job. The employee is regularly required to sit for extended periods, use hands and fingers to operate a computer and other office equipment, and communicate effectively in person and by phone. The employee may occasionally be required to stand, walk, bend, and lift up to 25 pounds.

The work environment characteristics described here may be encountered by an employee while performing the essential duties of this job. The work is primarily performed in a professional office setting with frequent use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and printers. Occasional travel between program sites, partner sites, and to community meetings is required. The noise level is generally low to moderate.

Individuals in this role must be able to perform essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat to the safety or health of employees or others. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the incumbent(s) of this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and activities required for this position.