Substance Use Navigator Jobs in Riverside, CA (NOW HIRING)

About RPYA:

The Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance (RPYA) is a non-profit service organization for LGBTQ+ youth and allies in the Inland Empire. Founded in the early 2000s, RPYA grew from a small Friday night youth gathering into a full-service nonprofit providing social services, leadership opportunities, and affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ youth.

Our mission is to provide a safe, healthy, and enriching environment for LGBTQ+ youth, their families, and allies. RPYA offers a welcoming community center, health and wellness programming, artistic expression opportunities, and gender-affirming resources. We are committed to fostering resilience, connection, and advocacy so youth can thrive authentically in all areas of their lives.

Role: Community Health Substance Use & Recovery Support Navigator

Department: Street Outreach & Wellness Services

Reports to: Director, Clinical Behavioral Health & Wellness Initiatives

Classification: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Location: Inland Empire / Field-Based / Wellness Drop-In Center

Schedule: Full-Time or Part-Time, including occasional evenings and weekends as needed

Salary Range:TBD based on RPYA compensation structure and grant funding parameters

Supervisory Responsibilities:None

Position Summary:

The Community Health Substance Use & Recovery Support Navigator provides trauma-informed outreach, prevention education, recovery support, and care navigation services for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults impacted by substance use, mental health challenges, housing instability, family rejection, and barriers to care.

Reporting to the Outreach Director and working closely with RPYAs Behavioral Health Department, this role supports youth connection to counseling, recovery services, wellness resources, crisis support, and community-based care. The Navigator builds trusted relationships with youth through street outreach, Wellness Center engagement, community events, and field-based support.

This position also provides education related to overdose prevention, harm reduction, relapse prevention, and wellness planning, while helping youth access supportive services including behavioral health care, housing resources, treatment programs, peer support, and other community resources.

RPYA is seeking someone with strong relationship-building skills, a commitment to LGBTQ+ affirming and culturally responsive care, and experience supporting youth and communities impacted by trauma, substance use, housing instability, or system barriers. Lived, professional, or community-based experience connected to recovery support and LGBTQ+ communities is highly valued.

This is a grant-funded position through September 2027, with continuation dependent on funding availability and organizational need.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Outreach & Youth Engagement

• Conduct street outreach, community engagement, and wellness check-ins with LGBTQ+ youth and young adults.
• Build trauma-informed, nonjudgmental relationships with youth experiencing substance use challenges, housing instability, family conflict, or other barriers to care.
• Participate in outreach activities at schools, parks, community events, resource fairs, shelters, and other community-based locations.
• Support youth engagement within RPYAs Wellness Drop-In Center through welcoming, affirming, and recovery-supportive practices.
• Assist with de-escalation and crisis support using restorative and youth-centered

Recovery Support & Prevention Education

• Provide education related to substance use prevention, overdose prevention, harm reduction, relapse prevention, and wellness planning.
• Support naloxone education and distribution in accordance with program guidelines and applicable laws.
• Help youth identify personal goals related to wellness, safety, recovery, and
• Provide recovery support that respects multiple recovery pathways and youth
• Assist youth with connection to counseling, treatment programs, peer support services, support groups, and community-based recovery resources.

Recovery Support & Prevention Education

• Provide education related to substance use prevention, overdose prevention, harm reduction, relapse prevention, and wellness planning.
• Support naloxone education and distribution in accordance with program guidelines and applicable laws.
• Help youth identify personal goals related to wellness, safety, recovery, and
• Provide recovery support that respects multiple recovery pathways and youth
• Assist youth with connection to counseling, treatment programs, peer support services, support groups, and community-based recovery resources.

Care Navigation & Coordination

• Assist with screenings, intake support, referrals, and service navigation
• Coordinate warm handoffs to behavioral health providers, housing resources, medical providers, benefits programs, and community partners.
• Support youth in addressing barriers including transportation, technology access, scheduling, identification documents, and system navigation.
• Follow up with youth after referrals to encourage continued engagement and connection to
• Collaborate with RPYA staff and community providers to support continuity of care and youth

Documentation, Collaboration & Program Support

• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential documentation of outreach activities, referrals, services, and follow-up efforts.
• Enter required information into approved case management, outreach tracking, or funder-required systems.
• Participate in supervision, staff meetings, trainings, case conferencing, and program evaluation
• Support Wellness Center groups, workshops, prevention activities, and community events as
• Maintain compliance with organizational policies, confidentiality standards, mandated reporting obligations, and documentation requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Experience working with youth, young adults, LGBTQ+ communities, or individuals impacted by substance use, behavioral health challenges, housing instability, trauma, or other barriers to
• Knowledge of substance use prevention, overdose prevention, recovery support, behavioral health resources, peer support, or community health navigation.
• Ability to build trust and maintain professional relationships with youth and community members from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.
• Strong commitment to LGBTQ+ affirming, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and nonjudgmental care.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
• Strong communication, organization, documentation, and follow-up
• Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries, confidentiality, and professional
• Ability to work in field-based and community settings, including occasional evenings or weekends as needed.
• Valid California drivers license, reliable transportation, and proof of insurance may be required depending on assignment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Training, certification, or coursework in substance use counseling, prevention, recovery coaching, peer support, community health work, social work, psychology, public health, or a related field.
• Certified Peer Support Specialist, Community Health Worker, Substance Use Disorder Counselor, Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician, or willingness to pursue certification.
• Lived, professional, or community-based experience connected to LGBTQ+ communities and/or substance use recovery.
• Experience providing outreach, prevention education, recovery support, or care navigation
• Experience supporting youth or communities impacted by housing instability, trauma, family rejection, community violence, foster care involvement, justice-system involvement, or other significant barriers to care.
• Familiarity with harm reduction approaches, naloxone education/distribution, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, or crisis de-escalation.
• Familiarity with Inland Empire behavioral health, housing, recovery, or youth-serving
• Experience using case management systems, HMIS, EHR platforms, or outreach tracking

Core Competencies

• Trauma-informed and youth-centered engagement
• LGBTQ+ affirming and culturally responsive practice
• Substance use prevention and recovery support
• Community outreach and relationship-building
• Care coordination and service navigation
• Crisis de-escalation and conflict resolution
• Professional communication and documentation
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Ethical practice and confidentiality
• Adaptability and problem-solving

Physical & Work Environment Requirements

This position requires regular work in community-based and field settings, including street outreach, community events, schools, shelters, and RPYA Wellness Center locations. Responsibilities may include walking, standing for extended periods, driving, transporting supplies, and working outdoors in varying weather conditions.

This role may involve engagement with individuals experiencing crisis, trauma, behavioral health challenges, or substance use-related concerns. The ability to remain calm, professional, flexible, and trauma-informed in emotionally intense situations is essential.

Occasional evening and weekend work may be required based on program and outreach needs.

Grant-Funded Position Statement

This position is funded through grant resources currently anticipated through September 2027. Continued employment is contingent upon ongoing funding availability, program needs, and organizational sustainability.

Why RPYA?

At Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance, we believe LGBTQ+ youth deserve affirming spaces, compassionate support, and opportunities to thrive authentically. RPYA team members play an active role in strengthening community wellness, expanding access to care, supporting youth leadership, and advancing equity across the Inland Empire.

Our work is grounded in:

• Advocacy and community connection
• Youth wellness and affirming care
• Education and prevention
• Creativity, leadership, and empowerment
• Trauma-informed and culturally responsive support

Equal Opportunity Employer

Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance (RPYA) is an equal opportunity employer. RPYA considers all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

RPYA is committed to maintaining a workplace grounded in dignity, inclusion, respect, accountability, and service to the youth and communities we support.

rainbowprideyouthalliance.org/jobs