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School-Based Peer Recovery Specialist

Clinical Practice - Maryland

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, 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM (Part-Time, Aligned with School Calendar)

Compensation: $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 one year 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.

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