School-Based Peer Recovery Specialist

Job Title: School-Based Peer Recovery SpecialistDepartment: Clinical ServicesReports To: Clinical Supervisor / Program ManagerLocation: Assigned Partner School(s), Howard County, MDSchedule: Monday – Friday, 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM  (Aligned with School Calendar)

Compensation: up to $50,000

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.

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.

• 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.

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.

• 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.

Backpack Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that the strength of our care depends on the diversity and well-being of our team. We celebrate differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, national origin, physical and mental ability, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, and other traits that make each person unique. We welcome and encourage diverse candidates to apply for any position for which they are qualified and to bring their unique perspectives, experiences, and talents to our team.

Backpack Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that the strength of our care depends on the diversity and well-being of our team. We celebrate differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, national origin, physical and mental ability, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, and other traits that make each person unique. We welcome and encourage diverse candidates to apply for any position for which they are qualified and to bring their unique perspectives, experiences, and talents to our team.