Peer Recovery Coach Intern

The Peer Recovery Coach/Peer Intern uses their lived experience with substance use recovery to engage, support, and advocate for individuals in active use or early recovery. This role operates within a low-threshold framework, meeting participants where they are without demanding abstinence. A core component of this internship position is completing the required 500 hours of supervised work experience and attending mandatory clinical and administrative supervision to qualify for official state peer certification.

Position Title: Peer Recovery Coach/Peer Intern

Position Type: Per Diem

Benefits Eligible: No

Location: Ocean County, NJ

Department: Young Adult Services

1. Certification Tracking & Supervision (Core Requirement)

• Attend Supervision: Actively participate in mandatory individual and group supervision sessions to complete the required 500 experiential hours.
• Log Hours: Maintain meticulous, accurate documentation of all direct and indirect service hours for certification board submission.
• Skill Development: Apply feedback from supervisors regarding ethics, boundaries, and evidence-based peer support strategies.

2. Low-Threshold Substance Use Outreach Unit

• Street Outreach: Conduct mobile and foot-based outreach in encampments, public spaces, and known community hot-spots.
• Harm Reduction: Distribute life-saving supplies, including naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and safer-use kits.
• Engagement: Build trust and rapport with highly vulnerable individuals who are actively using substances, utilizing a non-judgmental approach.

3. Targeted Outreach & Care Coordination

• Community Partnerships: Collaborate with local emergency rooms, syringe service programs, and social services to locate and engage disconnected individuals.
• Care Coordination: Guide participants through complex healthcare and social service systems.
• Warm Handoffs: Facilitate direct connections to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), detox, inpatient care, primary medicine, and housing resources.
• Resource Advocacy: Help participants obtain identification, insurance, and food assistance to stabilize their lives.

4. Code Red & Code Blue Shelter Protocols

• Emergency Response: Provide critical staff support at emergency shelters during extreme weather activations (Code Red for extreme heat, Code Blue for extreme cold).
• Crisis Engagement: De-escalate tense situations, provide emotional support, and monitor the safety of unhoused individuals seeking refuge.
• Resource Connection: Use shelter stays as an opportunity to introduce participants to long-term outreach services and care coordination.

Requirements

• Lived Experience: Personal, self-identified lived experience with substance use and a sustained period of stable recovery (typically 1-2 years preferred).
• Education: High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
• Certification Pathway: Completion of the foundational Peer Recovery Coach training hours (or willingness to complete them immediately upon hire) to begin tracking the 500-hour supervision requirement.
• Skills: Strong communication, conflict de-escalation, and boundary-setting skills. Knowledge of harm reduction philosophy is essential.
• Physical Demands: Ability to walk for extended periods during outdoor street outreach and work in varying weather conditions.