At VOA Oregon, each staff member is part of a compassionate, mission-driven team working collaboratively to create lasting, meaningful, positive change. Every role contributes to the clients we serve and the mission we advance together. This work matters.
Are you ready to join an organization committed to service, inclusion, and employee support?
Read on to learn more and apply today!
Benefits of Joining VOA Oregon
Benefits vary based on employment classification. Employees hired into a full-time position are eligible for the benefits outlined below, subject to plan terms and eligibility requirements.
Health & Insurance Coverage: Medical insurance options with employer-paid premiums covering 71%-89% of employee-only coverage, with employee costs starting at $66.23 per paycheck; Optional dental and vision coverage at employee cost.
Life & Disability Protection: Employer-provided life insurance, along with short- and long-term disability coverage.
Retirement & Financial Security: 403(b) retirement plan with an automatic 5.5% employer contribution after 18 months of employment, regardless of employee contribution.
Paid Time Off & Work-Life Balance: A generous paid time off (PTO) plan, with accruals of 15 days in the first year, 23 days in the second year, and 26 days in the third year.
Sick Leave: 80 hours of frontloaded sick time (prorated in the first year), resetting annually on January 1.
Holidays and Personal Days: 10 paid holidays each year, plus 3 personal holidays (prorated in the first year) to allow employees time off for important holidays, events, or milestones.
Student Loan Forgiveness: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, VOA Oregon is a qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which may help reduce or eliminate federal student loan debt for employees who meet eligibility requirements.
Additional Employee Benefits: Flexible spending accounts, employee assistance program (EAP), and access to other voluntary benefits and employee discounts.
Position close date: 09/09/2026
The Peer Wellness Specialist provides peer-delivered services to individuals receiving behavioral health and substance use disorder services. Using lived experience with recovery and wellness, the Peer Wellness Specialist provides support, education, skill development, advocacy, resource navigation, and connection to community-based support.
The position facilitates individual and group services designed to promote recovery, health, wellness, independent living, coping skills, and community integration. Services may address topics such as physical wellness, healthy routines, nutrition and wellness education, tobacco recovery, mindfulness, recovery pathways, and community supports.
Education & Experience.
* Current Oregon Peer Wellness Specialist certification/credential meeting applicable Oregon Health Authority requirements, or ability to obtain required certification within the timeframe established by the organization.
* Meets applicable requirements for providing peer-delivered services within Oregon behavioral health programs.
* Experience relevant to behavioral health, substance use recovery, or another area qualifying the individual to provide peer-delivered services.
* Experience providing peer support or peer-delivered behavioral health services.
* Experience facilitating recovery, wellness, educational, or skills-development groups.
* Training in tobacco cessation, wellness education, mindfulness, recovery support models, or other areas relevant to assigned programming.
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, physical health, 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, wellness, educational, and skills-based groups and structured activities to support community building, skill development, healthy routines, and shared accountability.
* Introduces clients to a range of recovery supports, including 12-step, mutual aid, cultural, spiritual, mindfulness, and wellness-based resources, to increase connection and sustained recovery.
* Provides peer-based education and support related to general health and wellness topics such as nutrition, physical wellness, tobacco cessation, stress management, healthy routines, and other wellness goals, consistent with approved programming and the employee's training and qualifications.
* Supports client participation in physical health and wellness activities, including walking, running, yoga, or other structured wellness activities facilitated by appropriately trained staff, contractors, or community partners. May facilitate activities when consistent with the employee's documented training and qualifications.
* Assists clients in navigating behavioral health, healthcare, 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 identification, applying for benefits, securing housing, accessing healthcare and wellness resources, and attending critical appointments.
* Transports clients safely to appointments, court, recovery activities, or other approved community-based services using agency vehicles to ensure reliable access to essential services.
* Observes clients for signs of relapse, intoxication, withdrawal, behavioral escalation, or other changes in well-being 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, such as Narcan administration or CPR, when trained.
* Reinforces health, wellness, recovery, and treatment recommendations provided by appropriately qualified professionals and supports clients in identifying and working toward related goals. Does not independently provide clinical, medical, nutrition, rehabilitation, or other professional services outside the employee's training, credentials, and scope.
* Maintains accurate and timely documentation in the electronic health record to ensure continuity of care and compliance with regulatory standards.
* Obtains and tracks 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, and 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 to improve peer services and client-centered care.
* Promotes recovery culture and models recovery values through ethical behavior, emotional regulation, appropriate boundaries, and respect for client choice and self-determination.
* Participates in supervision, team meetings, required training, 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.
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.
* 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.
* 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.
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 does not have any supervisory responsibilities.
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 an Outpatient Clinical setting with frequent use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and printers and interaction with staff, clients, and other individuals. Must be able to respond to occasional crisis situations and maintain safety in an environment where clients may present unpredictable, disruptive, or escalated behavior. The noise level is generally 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.
Volunteers of America Oregon
$29.91
medical insurance, life insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, sick time, 403(b), retirement plan
Sep 10, 2026