Behavioral Health Coordinator - Peer Recovery Support - Psychiatry

The Department of Psychiatry at The University of Iowa Health Care is seeking a Behavioral Health Coordinator to work with the UI Addiction and Recovery Collaborative (UI ARC) to provide peer recovery support services to patients seeking or currently receiving addiction treatment for a substance use disorder including opioid, alcohol, and stimulant use disorders. The Peer Recovery Support Coordinator will assist individuals as they navigate their recovery path, overcome barriers, and develop skills to maintain their recovery.

• This position will be based at The University of Iowa Health Care main campus. 
• This position is primarily during 1st shift, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday

Position Responsibilities: 
•    Function as a member of an interdisciplinary team that provides care, services, resources, and support to people who have a substance use disorder and are receiving care at the UI Addiction and Recovery Collaborative (UI ARC). 
•    Meet with patients during clinic appointments to provide peer support. 
•    Present and explain information to patients seen at UI ARC about peer support services. 
•    Provide recovery education to patients at all stages of the recovery journey, meeting people where they are. 
•    Enroll patients in UI ARC grant-funded projects.
•    Assist and coach patients to develop their own recovery goals and recovery plan. 
•    Demonstrate an ability to share personal recovery experiences and to develop authentic peer-to-peer relationships. 
•    Communicate with patients via phone, text, Electronic Medical Records (EMR) patient portal, and email to provide support, facilitate re-engagement, and celebrate successes. Assist patients in accessing the patient portal in the UI Health Care EMR. 
•    Develop and maintain proficiency in using UI Health Care EMR. 
•    Maintain documentation on interactions with patients in appropriate files, databases, and/or UI Health Care EMR. 
•    Maintain sustained recovery from opioid or stimulant use disorder and shares relevant personal experiences with patients and families to foster connection and support.
•    Navigate professional relationships and maintains appropriate boundaries with patients, including during times of crisis.
•    Promote recovery and self-advocacy by assisting people in recovery to have their voices heard, their perspectives valued, and their experience and expertise respected. 
•    Identify and problem solve with patients to overcome barriers encountered during recovery. 
•    Identify and facilitate linkages to community resources that support the goals and interests of individuals in recovery. 
•    Develop relationships with community groups and agencies and collaborate with other peer specialists across agencies. 
•    Participate in educational opportunities, to develop, implement and promote UI ARC treatment and recovery programming. 
•    Participate in training programs to maintain and augment peer recovery support specialist skillset.
•    Participate in UI ARC grant-funded project Stakeholder Board meetings. 
•    Administer electronic, web-based, and paper questionnaires to patients receiving UI ARC grant-funded recovery support services; meet target numbers for enrollment and follow-up as determined by grant goals and in conjunction with supervisor.
•    Assess recovery support service (RSS) needs and coordinate access to services for patients receiving UI ARC grant-funded recovery support services. 
•    Administer electronic, web-based, and paper questionnaires to participants. 
•    Comply with grant funding documentation guidelines and requirements. 
•    Ensure that questionnaire data and required documentation are entered into the electronic project database (REDCap) and participant files. Maintain documentation and progress notes within specified timelines. 
•    Assist in the maintenance of the REDCap database. Keep data, including symptom scores, other health outcome variables, and other demographic information updated.
•    Assist the project team to promote the project, which may include but is not limited to contributing to project presentations, speaking with stakeholders, and representing the team at community events. 
•    Works with other members of the team to contribute ideas and seek ways to improve programs, processes, and protocols by providing the perspective of lived experience with substance use disorder and recovery. 
•    May perform other duties as assigned.

Classification Title: Behavioral Health Coordinator – PJA1 – 2A 
Working Title: Peer Recovery Support Specialist 
Department: Psychiatry
Percent Time: 50%-100% 
Staff Type: Professional & Scientific 
Type of Position: Specified Term, minimum of 12 months with the possibility of extension 
 

Required Qualifications
•    Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 
•    Evidence of sustained recovery from an opioid use disorder or stimulant use disorder for 2 years and willing to discuss their experiences with patients and families.
•    Excellent interpersonal skills to include both verbal and written communications and ability to communicate effectively with the team and project partners through email. 
•    Demonstrated proficiency with computer software applications such as Microsoft Office Suite. 
•    Experience working with data collection and management processes. 
•    Previous experience discussing substance use and substance use disorders with clients or the public. 
•    Excellent organizational skills and ability to work in a self-directed manner. 
•    Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as part of a team.

Desirable Qualifications
•    Experience in a peer recovery support role providing direct care or support services for individuals with substance use disorders, especially those with opioid use disorders. 
•    Completion of courses offered by the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) is highly desirable. 
•    Completion of the Iowa Peer Support Training Program is highly desirable. 
•    Experience with public speaking in a team-oriented environment. 
•    Experience with Electronic Medical Records (e.g., EPIC) and Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap). 
•    Knowledge of University policies, procedures, and regulations. 
•    Knowledge of behavioral health resources in Eastern Iowa.

Application Process
To be considered, applicants must upload a Cover Letter and Resume (under submission relevant materials) that clearly address how they meet the listed required and desired qualifications of this position. 
Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days.  This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification.
Professional references will be required later in the recruitment process. 
For more information, contact lori-posey@uiowa.edu .