Job Title: School-Based Peer Recovery Specialist
Department: Clinical Services
Reports To: Clinical Supervisor / Program Manager
Location: Assigned Partner School(s), Howard County, MD
Schedule: Monday – Friday, 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM (Part-Time, Aligned with School Calendar)
Compensation: up to $50,000
About Backpack Healthcare
Backpack Healthcare is a mission-driven mental health provider dedicated to improving access to care for youth and families, particularly within underserved and minority communities. We offer therapy and psychiatry services through both in-person and telehealth platforms. In our school-based programs, we partner directly with educators, families, and students to create safe, supportive spaces that promote emotional wellness and academic success.
How You Make a Difference
As a School-Based Peer Recovery Specialist, you’ll use your lived experience with recovery from mental health and/or substance use challenges to support students in developing resilience, emotional regulation, and a sense of hope. You will serve as a mentor, advocate, and liaison between students, school staff, and the clinical care team. Through individual check-ins, group sessions, and school-based initiatives, you’ll help create a culture of empathy and recovery within the school environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide 1:1 peer mentoring and emotional support to students navigating mental health or substance use recovery challenges.
- Facilitate small peer support groups that promote connection, self-esteem, and wellness strategies.
- Act as a relatable, recovery-focused role model for students, sharing your journey appropriately to reduce stigma and foster trust.
- Collaborate with school counselors, Backpack clinicians, and other school staff to identify students who may benefit from peer support.
- Participate in care team meetings to contribute insights that support youth-centered treatment planning.
- Help students navigate school-related stress, social pressures, and access to support services.
- Support classroom and school-wide mental health initiatives, workshops, and awareness campaigns.
- Maintain documentation of peer interactions and group activities in accordance with Backpack Healthcare and school policies.
- Fulfill other duties as assigned that support the social-emotional needs of students.
- Create curriculum and resources for youth and parents.
Qualifications & Requirements
Education
- High school diploma or equivalent required.
Experience
- Personal lived experience with recovery from substance use and/or mental health challenges.
- At least 2- years of sustained recovery preferred.
- Prior experience working with youth or in school settings is a plus.
Licenses/Certifications
- Must be certified as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) by the Maryland Addictions and Behavioral Health Professionals Certification Board (MABPCB), or actively working toward certification under appropriate supervision.
- Completion of approved peer recovery training required if not yet certified.
Additional Requirements
- Ability to connect with adolescents in a respectful, youth-affirming, and trauma-informed way.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Strong boundaries, self-awareness, and the ability to work independently.
- Must pass a background check and meet school district onboarding requirements.
What We Offer
- A supportive, mission-aligned clinical team that values lived experience.
- Opportunities for supervision, training, and professional growth.
- Impact-driven work that makes a difference in the lives of young people.
- Integration into school communities with strong partnerships and staff collaboration.
Backpack Healthcare is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We actively seek to build a team that reflects the diverse communities we serve. Individuals in recovery are strongly encouraged to apply.
