INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Peer Recovery Coach Intern

CompanyBright Harbor Healthcare
LocationToms River
Work ModeOn Site
PostedJuly 24, 2026
Internship Information
Core Responsibilities
The Peer Recovery Coach Intern uses lived experience to support individuals in substance use recovery through street outreach and harm reduction. They are responsible for coordinating care, facilitating warm handoffs to treatment, and supporting emergency shelter protocols.
Internship Type
full time
Company Size
167
Visa Sponsorship
No
Language
English
Working Hours
40 hours
Apply Now →

You'll be redirected to
the company's application page

About The Company
A TRADITION OF COMMUNITY CARING: Since 1959, Bright Harbor Healthcare, formerly known as Ocean Mental Health Services, has been providing counseling to the residents of Ocean County. What was once a single office and two counselors has grown to an agency of over 300 staff, with four outpatient offices, a school, several partial day program locations and many outreach and community programs. Since our first expansion in 1961, into our office site on Lien Street, our growth has always been in response to the needs of the community. Our current programs are available to adults, children, and families. We provide counseling, group homes, partial day services, a private school for children with emotional and behavioral challenges and more. We work with family members to create an atmosphere of support and understanding. And above all we help each individual to live the life they envision for themselves. The community has always been great supporters of Bright Harbor Healthcare. Because of the community fundraisers that built and sustained Bright Harbor Health in the early years, the donations and gifts that are given to our agency and the people we serve, generous grants and continued support of the private sector, local and state government, and the volunteers that make what we do possible, Bright Harbor Healthcare has been able to continue to grow and change as our community needs have changed.
About the Role

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.
  • 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.
Key Skills
CommunicationConflict De-escalationBoundary-settingHarm ReductionCare CoordinationCrisis EngagementResource AdvocacyStreet Outreach
Categories
Social ServicesHealthcare