# Peer Recovery Coach Intern

> Bright Harbor Healthcare · Toms River, United States · — · Posted 2026-07-24

**Workplace:** on_site

## Description

The Peer Recovery Coach/Peer Intern uses their lived experience with substance use recovery to engage, support, and advocate for individuals in active use or early recovery. This role operates within a low-threshold framework, meeting participants where they are without demanding abstinence. A core component of this internship position is completing the required 500 hours of supervised work experience and attending mandatory clinical and administrative supervision to qualify for official state peer certification.

**Position Title:** Peer Recovery Coach/Peer Intern  
**Position Type:** Per Diem  
**Benefits Eligible:** No  
**Location:** Ocean County, NJ  
**Department:** Young Adult Services

1\. Certification Tracking & Supervision (Core Requirement)

-   Attend Supervision: Actively participate in mandatory individual and group supervision sessions to complete the required 500 experiential hours.
-   Log Hours: Maintain meticulous, accurate documentation of all direct and indirect service hours for certification board submission.
-   Skill Development: Apply feedback from supervisors regarding ethics, boundaries, and evidence-based peer support strategies.

2\. Low-Threshold Substance Use Outreach Unit

-   Street Outreach: Conduct mobile and foot-based outreach in encampments, public spaces, and known community hot-spots.
-   Harm Reduction: Distribute life-saving supplies, including naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and safer-use kits.
-   Engagement: Build trust and rapport with highly vulnerable individuals who are actively using substances, utilizing a non-judgmental approach.

3\. Targeted Outreach & Care Coordination

-   Community Partnerships: Collaborate with local emergency rooms, syringe service programs, and social services to locate and engage disconnected individuals.
-   Care Coordination: Guide participants through complex healthcare and social service systems.
-   Warm Handoffs: Facilitate direct connections to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), detox, inpatient care, primary medicine, and housing resources.
-   Resource Advocacy: Help participants obtain identification, insurance, and food assistance to stabilize their lives.

4\. Code Red & Code Blue Shelter Protocols

-   Emergency Response: Provide critical staff support at emergency shelters during extreme weather activations (Code Red for extreme heat, Code Blue for extreme cold).
-   Crisis Engagement: De-escalate tense situations, provide emotional support, and monitor the safety of unhoused individuals seeking refuge.
-   Resource Connection: Use shelter stays as an opportunity to introduce participants to long-term outreach services and care coordination.

## Requirements

-   Lived Experience: Personal, self-identified lived experience with substance use and a sustained period of stable recovery (typically 1–2 years preferred).
-   Education: High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
-   Certification Pathway: Completion of the foundational Peer Recovery Coach training hours (or willingness to complete them immediately upon hire) to begin tracking the 500-hour supervision requirement.
-   Skills: Strong communication, conflict de-escalation, and boundary-setting skills. Knowledge of harm reduction philosophy is essential.
-   Physical Demands: Ability to walk for extended periods during outdoor street outreach and work in varying weather conditions.

## Apply

[Apply at Bright Harbor Healthcare](https://apply.workable.com/brightharbor/j/71FD2CA6CD/apply)

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