Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (Community Service Aide III), Grade 18

Please note: The salary range above represents the earning potential for this position. The anticipated hiring range for this position will be $64,104 to $90,874, based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

WHO WE ARE

Montgomery County is located adjacent to Washington, D.C., and, with over one million residents, is the most populous County in the State of Maryland. The County is also the most diverse County in the State and ranks among the top ten most diverse Counties in the nation. Montgomery County is home to many major U.S. government offices, scientific research and learning centers, and business campuses.

The Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for delivering the County’s public health and human services to meet the needs of our community’s most vulnerable children, adults, and seniors. The Department provides services through more than 120 programs at more than 20 locations. With over 2,000 employees, the Department of Health and Human Services is the largest County Department.

As a department, we believe the county's health and wellness can only be achieved by ensuring that every resident has fair opportunities to reach their fullest potential. This means access to quality housing, transportation, education, employment, health care, human services, safe neighborhoods, and healthy food. HHS provides critical services to residents facing a variety of obstacles to achieving their full potential. HHS plays an essential role in building a healthy and strong community.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Our Adult Drug Court Program seeks a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist who is passionate, motivated, dependable, and compassionate about helping individuals build meaningful, successful lives in recovery. The ideal candidate understands the power of hope, compassion, and lived experience to support change. In this role, you will provide encouragement, support, care coordination, and advocacy for individuals in the Drug Court Program who are navigating recovery from substance use disorders.

We are seeking a personable, organized, and recovery-committed individual. Candidates should have knowledge of substance use disorders and the recovery process, communicate effectively with diverse populations, and thrive in a collaborative team environment. Bilingual applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS) are encouraged to apply.

If you are dedicated to empowering others and making a lasting impact in your community, we would be excited to hear from you.

The Community Service Aide (Certified Peer Recovery Specialist) is a vital member of the Adult Drug Court team and plays a key role in helping participants achieve lasting recovery and successfully complete the program. As someone who can connect with participants through empathy, encouragement, and lived experience, the Peer Specialist helps build trust, increase treatment engagement, reduce barriers to care, and promote accountability throughout the recovery journey.

This position serves as a bridge between participants, treatment providers, the Drug Court team, and community resources. Through ongoing care coordination, compliance monitoring, documentation, and communication, the Community Service Aide helps ensure participants remain connected to the services and supports they need to improve their health, reduce recidivism, and build stable, productive lives. The success of this role directly contributes to the Drug Court Program's mission to improve public safety, support recovery, and create healthier individuals, families, and communities.

The duties and core responsibilities of this position include:

• Manage documentation required for program operations
• Conduct individual check-ins for both group and individual sessions
• Provide motivational interviewing to support engagement
• Deliver crisis intervention and stabilization as needed
• Assist clients with housing, employment, benefits, and referrals
• Establish linkages to appropriate services and maintain ongoing communication with the multidisciplinary team and participate in staffing meetings.
• Perform related duties as required.

Additional Information:

CPRS Certification: Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS) are encouraged to apply. This position requires the possession and maintenance of the CPRS certification.  

• For more information on becoming a CPRS, please visit the Maryland Addiction and Behavioral Health Professionals Certification Board (MABPCB) website at Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) | Maryland Addiction and Behavioral Health Professionals Certification Board.

Multilingual: Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply.

Work Schedule: The selected candidate will be required to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Offsite Work: This position requires the ability to attend meetings or perform work at off-site locations.

Medical and Background: Selected candidates for this position will be subject to a pre-employment medical exam, drug screening, and criminal records check through the Maryland State Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

Experience: Three (3) years of experience providing delivery of social, health, and/or public assistance services. 

Education: Completion of high school or a High School Certificate of completion recognized in the State of Maryland 

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

License: Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid Class "C" (or equivalent) driver’s license from the applicant's state of residence when required for job-related duties.  

• Note: There will be no substitutions for this section.

Medical Exam Protocol: This position requires successful completion of a pre-employment medical evaluation, which includes a limited physical examination and drug screening.The applications of those individuals meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed to determine the extent of the relevance of training and experience in the following areas:

• Do you have knowledge of substance use disorders and the recovery process? Please describe your experience supporting individuals with substance use disorders or those involved in the criminal justice system. 

• Can you communicate effectively with diverse populations, and thrive in a collaborative team environment?
• Are you bilingual? Multilingual Spanish at the Advanced Level is Preferred.
• Do you have experience with linking individuals to community resources? Please describe your experience.
• Do you have experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team?  Please describe your experience.
• How would you encourage and motivate participants who are struggling to stay engaged in treatment?