Employment Opportunities

 Peer Support Specialist

Reports to: Executive Director & Director of Participant Engagement 

Status: Part-time

Schedule: Monday – Friday. Preferred hours: 10am-2pm (with flexibility for program needs) 

Pay: $20 an hour.

Location: Gainesville, FL. In-office and community position.

About Released: Released is a nonprofit organization focused on providing reentry support pre and post-incarceration founded in 2023. We work inside Alachua County jail and the community, providing navigation and humanity to those returning from carceral systems.

Job Purpose

Released seeks a Peer Support Specialist to join our team. The Peer Specialist is responsible for building rapport with participants who benefit from more comprehensive support from someone with lived-experience. This includes, but is not limited to; meeting with newly released participants completing brief intakes/assessments, assisting with on-site peer groups (potential for groups inside the jail), and assisting with the computer lab and club house for participants. This staff member assists program staff and program participants to meet the goal of reducing recidivism in Alachua County using trauma-informed approaches.

The ideal candidate

• Is organized, optimistic, diplomatic, values empathy, has strong interpersonal skills, and is a thoughtful communicator.
• Multi-culturally curious and humble; Ability to work successfully in a multicultural workplace and values diversity.
• Understands carceral systems and are committed to changing the narrative at the local and state levels. 
• Cares about community and is invested in building relationships.
• Will model trauma-informed principles in their work.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Engages with participants and makes them feel welcome and heard in the office and in the community.
• Completes brief intakes and assessment with participants.
• Serves as a point of contact as an advocate and navigator for participants with substance use and mental health concerns and those in need of support. 
• Collect and input participant data into our HIPPA compliant database.
• Assist with peer groups and maintain the computer lab/community space.
• Other assigned and related duties by the Executive Director.

Life of the Organization

• Serve as a team member with a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
• Fully participate in organizational activities, including staff meetings and training.
• Commitment to advancing Released mission and vision for our served communities.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities.

• Lived experience with substance use and carceral systems.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including an ability to navigate and resolve conflict in a manner that values and respects relationships and diversity.
• Comfort/open mindedness working with those who have substance use and mental health aspects of their identity.
• Ability to work with a trauma-informed framework that values the systematic and personal influences that can challenge our participants' livelihood.
• Able to exercise sound judgment in maintaining confidentiality of all agency information.
• Experience with using a database, and basic computer skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, Canva,etc.).

Desired Qualifications

• Willingness to embrace a trauma-informed culture.

• Experience in customer/direct service with marginalized populations.

• Experience or willingness to learn about best-practices for reentry programming and carceral systems.

How to Apply

Please email a cover letter, resume, 2-3 professional or academic references, to Emily Westerholm at emily@releasedreentry.org 

Released is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants. People with lived-carceral experience, disabilities, people of color, indigenous people, and LGBTQ+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

These duties, wages, percentages, dates, and descriptions are subject to change.