Mutual Aid Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

Since 1896, Volunteers of America Oregon has been dedicated to meeting the needs of our community. Through our innovative programs in behavioral health, addiction treatment, reentry services, and support for children and families, we deliver life-changing services that promote safety, healing, and empowerment.

At VOA Oregon, each staff member is part of a compassionate, mission-driven team working collaboratively to create lasting, meaningful, positive change. Every role contributes to the clients we serve and the mission we advance together. This work matters.
Are you ready to join an organization committed to service, inclusion, and employee support?
Read on to learn more and apply today!

Benefits of Joining VOA Oregon
Benefits vary based on employment classification. Employees hired into a full-time position are eligible for the benefits outlined below, subject to plan terms and eligibility requirements.
Health & Insurance Coverage: Medical insurance options with employer-paid premiums covering 71%-89% of employee-only coverage, with employee costs starting at $66.23 per paycheck; Optional dental and vision coverage at employee cost.
Life & Disability Protection: Employer-provided life insurance, along with short- and long-term disability coverage.
Retirement & Financial Security: 403(b) retirement plan with an automatic 5.5% employer contribution after 18 months of employment, regardless of employee contribution.[LC2.1]
Paid Time Off & Work-Life Balance: A generous paid time off (PTO) plan, with accruals of 15 days in the first year, 23 days in the second year, and 26 days in the third year.
Sick Leave: 80 hours of frontloaded sick time (prorated in the first year), resetting annually on January 1.
Holidays and Personal Days: 10 paid holidays each year, plus 3 personal holidays (prorated in the first year) to allow employees time off for important holidays, events, or milestones.
Student Loan Forgiveness: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, VOA Oregon is a qualified employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which may help reduce or eliminate federal student loan debt for employees who meet eligibility requirements.
Additional Employee Benefits: Flexible spending accounts, employee assistance program (EAP), and access to other voluntary benefits and employee discounts.

Position close date: September 12, 2026

The Peer Mentor is responsible for delivering peer support services to clients in recovery by establishing supportive relationships, facilitating individualized goal setting, and linking individuals to appropriate treatment and essential resources. The role involves direct client engagement, crisis intervention, care coordination, and administrative responsibilities, utilizing traumainformed and personcentered practices to support recovery, stability, and selfdetermination.

Education & Experience

A high school diploma or GED is required for this position. In addition, candidates must have lived experience with substance use recovery and demonstrate the ability to apply that experience effectively in a professional peer support role.

Experience working with individuals with cooccurring substance use and mental health conditions is preferred. Experience supporting individuals involved in the criminal justice system and/or experiencing housing instability is also preferred. Familiarity with electronic health records (EHRs) or similar documentation systems is preferred, as is experience providing Medicaidbillable peer services or working in behavioral health settings.

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered in lieu of the stated requirements.

Certificates, Licenses, and/or Registrations

This position requires a current Certified Recovery Mentor (CRM) credential through MHACBO or the ability to obtain certification within six months of hire. Candidates pursuing the CRM credential must selfidentify as a person in recovery from a substance use disorder and meet MHACBO eligibility requirements for certification.

Additionally, applicants must meet all eligibility criteria for enrollment as a Medicaid provider in the state of Oregon.

Essential Job Duties

• Build and maintain supportive peer relationships grounded in mutual respect, shared lived experience, and recovery principles to promote engagement, hope, and motivation.
• Supports clients in identifying and working toward individualized recovery goals across areas such as treatment engagement, housing, employment, education, and wellness to promote stability and selfdetermination.
• Provides peer mentorship and guidance using traumainformed, personcentered, and harmreduction approaches to build trust and reduce barriers to care.
• Facilitates peerled recovery groups and structured activities that support community building, skill development, and shared accountability.
• Introduces clients to a variety of recovery supports, including 12step, mutual aid, cultural, spiritual, and wellnessbased resources, to strengthen connection and support sustained recovery.
• Assists clients in navigating behavioral health, social service, and criminal justice systems (including courts, probation/parole, child welfare, and medicationassisted treatment) to improve access to services and continuity of care.
• Conducts outreach and maintains consistent client contact through scheduled sessions, field visits, and phone or text communication to promote engagement and service consistency.
• Supports clients with practical needs such as obtaining identification, applying for benefits, securing housing, and attending critical appointments.
• Safely transports clients to appointments, court hearings, and recoveryrelated activities using agency vehicles to ensure access to essential services.
• Monitors clients for signs of relapse, intoxication, withdrawal, or behavioral escalation and follows agency protocols to support client safety and program integrity.
• Responds to client crises using peerappropriate deescalation strategies and assists with emergency interventions (e.g., Narcan administration or CPR) when trained and appropriate.
• Maintains accurate, timely, and compliant documentation in the electronic health record to support continuity of care and meet regulatory requirements.
• Obtains and tracks Releases of Information (ROI) to facilitate coordination of care and appropriate information sharing with external partners.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary team members-including medical providers, counselors, and case managers-as well as community partners such as court staff, parole officers, and legal representatives to coordinate care, support problemsolving, and ensure consistent implementation of care plans.
• Incorporates client feedback and outcome monitoring tools (e.g., FeedbackInformed Treatment [FIT]) to support continuous improvement and clientcentered peer services.
• Models' recovery values and promotes a recoveryoriented culture through ethical conduct, emotional regulation, and appropriate professional boundaries.
• Participate in supervision, team meetings, and professional development activities to strengthen skills, maintain certification, and contribute to a collaborative work environment.
• Completes administrative responsibilities, including monitoring email, responding to phone calls, managing schedules, and ensuring timely documentation.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Knowledge of the recovery process, including multiple recovery pathways and stages of change.
• Knowledge of peer ethics and scope of practice, including the MHACBO Code of Conduct, professional boundaries, mandated reporting requirements, and confidentiality standards such as 42 CFR Part 2.
• Knowledge of traumainformed care principles and the impact of trauma on substance use, mental health, and recovery.
• Knowledge of recovery supports, harmreduction strategies, and community resources related to housing, employment, and wellness.
• Knowledge of behavioral health, criminal justice, and social service systems to assist clients with treatment engagement, legal requirements, and access to services.
• Skill in facilitating peerled groups and activities that promote engagement, shared learning, and recoveryoriented skill building.
• Skill in appropriately using lived recovery experience to model hope, selfdetermination, and recovery in alignment with peer role expectations.
• Skill in utilizing peerbased interventions, deescalation techniques, and safety planning to support client wellbeing.
• Skill in maintaining accurate, timely documentation and communicating effectively with interdisciplinary team members.
• Ability to provide compassionate, respectful, and nonjudgmental support to individuals at all stages of recovery.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining consistent followup, documentation, and communication.
• Ability to recognize signs of relapse, emotional distress, or safety concerns and respond appropriately.
• Ability to model emotional regulation, professional boundaries, and recoveryoriented behavior.
• Ability to participate in supervision and ongoing professional development to maintain certification and improve service quality.
• Ability to safely transport clients and maintain driving eligibility in accordance with agency policies.
• Ability to incorporate client feedback and selfreflection to strengthen peer relationships and improve outcomes.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and/or comparable computer applications.

Other Eligibility Requirements

• Must successfully complete a criminal history background check and receive approval from the State of Oregon Background Check Unit.
• Must not be excluded from participation in federal healthcare programs, including but not limited to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) List of Excluded Individuals/Entities and the System for Award Management (SAM) exclusion list.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.
• If driving is required for the position, candidates must possess a valid driver's license, maintain current auto insurance, have reliable transportation, and meet VOA Oregon and insurer driving standards.

Travel Requirement

36% or more of work time requires travel.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no supervisory responsibilities but may provide guidance to interns.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described below are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this position.

• Frequently moves throughout the workday in a variety of settings, including outpatient treatment clinics, supportive housing sites, and communitybased environments such as shelters, service centers, encampments, and other public locations.
• Regularly alternates between prolonged periods of sitting and standing in both structured office settings and unpredictable field environments, including exposure to varying weather conditions.
• Must be able to occasionally lift, carry, push, and/or pull objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Communicates frequently throughout the day via phone, inperson interactions, and written documentation with clients, staff, and community partners.
• Performs repetitive physical activities such as walking, climbing stairs, using hands and fingers to handle or control objects, reaching with hands and arms, balancing, stooping, crouching, and kneeling.
• Must be able to respond to occasional crisis situations and support personal and client safety in environments where behavior may be unpredictable, disruptive, or escalated.
• Requires flexibility to work in nontraditional field environments, including locations where clients may be unhoused and/or accompanied by pets.
• Requires the ability to see, hear, and speak clearly to communicate effectively and monitor safety across diverse settings.
• Typical noise levels are moderate.

Individuals in this role must be able to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat to the health or safety of themselves or others. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily.

This is a full-time 40-hour per week position. We have a shift available for a female-identified candidate Tuesday-Saturday.

The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for this position. A reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. These statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities or activities associated with the position.