JOB DESCRIPTION
Bilingual/Bicultural Peer Support Specialist
Job Summary: Recovery Café Longmont is a community of refuge and healing for people in recovery. The Bilingual/Bicultural Peer Support Specialist has a deep understanding of the Café’s vision to be an enlightened community where people in all walks of recovery are empowered to be their best selves and works in a culturally attuned manner to nurture and maintain our guiding principles: shows respect, practices forgiveness, cultivates compassion, encourages growth, and connects with the divine love in ourselves and others.
The Bilingual/Bicultural Peer Support Specialist reports to the executive director and provides outreach and support to members of the Latinx community experiencing mental health and substance use challenges.
The Bilingual/Bicultural Peer Support Specialist is a person in recovery from a mental illness and/or substance use, and has experience working with others on their individual road to recovery. The Specialist incorporates their own recovery experience as a means of inspiring hope in those they serve, as well as providing a positive role model to others. They know the journey to recovery is real and attainable, because they have traveled the path.
Days and Hours of Operation: This is a full-time salaried position; the work week is Tuesday -
Saturday.
Provide Culturally Responsive Member Support
● Embrace and promote the Café’s core values of radical hospitality and loving accountability
● Communicate and enforce Café guidelines and boundaries
● Provide individualized, ongoing guidance, coaching and support
○ Assist members in increasing social support networks of relatives, friends and/or
significant others
○ Conduct New Member Introduction meetings in Spanish
○ Assist members with accessing community resources
○ Facilitate bilingual or monolingual Recovery Circles (small peer support groups)
● Advocate for members
○ Empower member leaders and create accountability for member goals
○ Work in cooperation with other providers, family members or significant others involved in the member’s recovery plan
○ Observe all rules of confidentiality and boundaries with members
○ Write letters for members for completed service work, recommendations, etc.
○ Obtain member input for improving operations
Community Outreach
● Actively engage members of Longmont’s Latinx community sharing the vision of Recovery Cafe Longmont and welcoming new members
● Develop formal and informal relationships with community partners serving the Latinx community in order to provide bicultural community supports for members
● Advocate on behalf of persons with behavioral health issues for culturally responsive services, the protection of the member’s rights, and assist in reducing stigma associated with such challenges
Additional Responsibilities:
● Attend Recovery Café staff and relevant committee meetings
● Align with Latinx member’s needs and work in conjunction with the executive director to develop culturally attuned programing
● Contribute content to email and printed newsletters; social media
● Manage and update Spanish language sections on website
● Perform outreach presentations in English and Spanish and represent Recovery Café to the greater community
● Attend designated community and partner meetings
● Perform other related duties as assigned Required for this Position:
● Sustained recovery from a mental illness, substance use, or both for 2 years
● High proficiency speaking, reading and writing Spanish and English
● Possess deep knowledge of the Longmont Latinx culture
● Have cultural humility and willingness to learn of others’ experiences
● Be willing to self-disclose about personal recovery journey
● Strong desire to support people along their recovery journey and paths of choice
● Must have strong interpersonal communication skills
● Ability to serve as a motivator, conflict resolver, and de-escalator for members
● Ability to accurately represent Café services and programs to other agencies
● Ability to work amicably on a diverse staff and volunteer team with flexibility, creativity and enthusiasm
● Capacity to be loving and to establish and maintain appropriate boundaries with Café patrons who at times may be very challenging
● Proficiency in basic computer skills sufficient to communicate effectively with staff and other agencies using G Suite
● Strong organizational skills
● Ability to embody principles of recovery in daily interactions
● Reliable transportation
Minimum Education, Work, and Skill Requirements:
● Education: College degree with a focus on social services, counseling, psychology, mental health and/or recovery issues preferred. Relevant work experience may substitute.
● Work Experience: 2-5 years progressively responsible work experience in a position utilizing skills relevant to this position.
Additional Desirable Qualifications:
● Previous experience in a social service agency and with populations struggling with addiction and/or mental health concerns
● Addiction training or education in human services
● Supervisory experience
● Drug/alcohol counseling experience
● Experience outreaching Latinx communities
Compensation:
Starting Salary Range: $40,000 - $45,000 based on experience. Benefits are limited to paid time off and holidays.
To Apply:
Email resume and cover letter explaining how your work and life experiences qualify you for this position to: info@recoverycafelongmont.org
For more information, visit our website: recoverycafelongmont.org
Recovery Café Longmont is a drug-free workplace. Candidates and employees must be able to pass a criminal background check.
