Certified Recovery Peer Advocate
About the job
- A high school diploma or GED is required.
- Completion of a 30-hour Peer Recovery Training course is required.
- Completion of a Peer Ethics Training course is required.
- For a provisional Certified Recovery Peer Advocate, complete 500 hours of work experience, including 25 hours of supervision, within six months; schedule and pass the IC&RC exam after completing the work experience; and maintain current certification status.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with patients, their families, community organizations, and staff at all levels.
- Responsibility for ongoing personal development, professional growth, and continuing education.
- Ability to work in a self-directed manner with minimal supervision or direction.
- Ability to create and maintain detailed, accurate, and timely documentation.
- Appreciation of population differences, including cultural, ethnic, orientation, and religious differences.
- Ability to work and/or be on call during evenings or weekends.
- Ability to comply with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and hospital policies.
- Ability to protect confidential patient and hospital information from unauthorized or inappropriate disclosure in accordance with HIPAA regulations and hospital policies, and to report privacy issues through the chain of command, to the compliance officer, or the hotline.
- Ability to sit and work at a computer keyboard for extended periods; communicate effectively orally and in writing; occasionally stoop, bend, reach, lift, and push up to 20 pounds; maintain close visual acuity for reading charts and materials, analyzing and preparing data, transcribing, and viewing screens and equipment; and manipulate equipment settings and a computer keyboard.
- Regular and on-time attendance.
- Work with women and their families to teach and reinforce skills necessary to remain in recovery.
- Meet regularly with patients one-on-one to provide direct coaching, education, and advocacy in linking, engaging, and retaining patients in services identified in the Recovery Plan.
- Serve as a role model, mentor, advocate, and motivator to recovering patients to promote long-term recovery.
- Share personal recovery experiences and develop authentic peer-to-peer relationships while maintaining healthy boundaries and ethical standards.
- Serve as a point of contact when patients are at risk for relapse.
- Participate in on-call services as needed.
- Maintain a working knowledge of patients’ recovery plans and help patients and their families follow the treatment plans.
- Assist patients in identifying personal interests, goals, and strengths to increase successful treatment outcomes.
- Assist patients in identifying barriers that may interfere with recovery progress and develop strategies with them to overcome those barriers.
- Help patients remember doctor’s or service organization appointments, and follow up with and engage patients who experience barriers to attending appointments.
- Help patients understand how services will assist them in remaining in recovery.
- Attend and participate in treatment team meetings.
- Advocate for patients in team meetings and provide information about their ability to follow treatment plans in day-to-day life.
- Travel among several St. Lawrence Health System sites and to the community or patients’ homes.
- Provide peer support in substance use, mental health, primary care, and emergency care as needed.
- Perform other duties as assigned or required, including duties that may change to meet business needs.
- Preference is given to applicants who are fully licensed or provisional OASAS peer advocates.
- Some experience or education related to working with populations with substance use disorder is preferred.
- Training or education in trauma-informed service is preferred.
About the company
Rochester Regional Health operates a regional, integrated health system delivering primary, specialty, hospital, rehabilitation, behavioral health, senior services and clinical trials across Western New York and nearby areas. Patients access care via a network of more than 500 locations, including 8 hospitals and 300+ practices, with teams coordinating prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and ongoing support across settings. Its breadth and unity enable seamless transitions within one system, differentiating it from smaller providers or single-hospital networks. Its goal is to help the community stay healthy and live fulfilling lives through accessible, comprehensive, patient-centered care at every life stage.
Company Size
10,001+
Company Stage
Grant
Total Funding
$600K
Headquarters
Rochester, New York
Founded
N/A
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- RRH doubled Unity infusion capacity and added a dedicated oncology pharmacy in 2026.
- RRH reduced contingent nursing labor 37% and logged 14.5% RN turnover in 2025.
- Four RRH hospitals earned 2026 U.S. News recognition, supporting referrals and recruitment.
What critics are saying
- Jennifer Eslinger leaves September 21, 2026, forcing an executive search during expansion.
- NLRB cases filed in May 2026 accuse RRH of coercive statements and retaliation.
- September 2026 coding layoffs signal cost pressure and possible revenue-cycle disruption.
What makes Rochester Regional Health unique
- RRH is building Canandaigua's 39,590-square-foot specialty campus, opening early 2027.
- RRH opened a $2 million electrophysiology lab at Rochester General Hospital in 2026.
- RRH acquired Victor dermatology, adding Mohs surgery and cosmetic injectables locally.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
7%1 year growth
7%2 year growth
7%New physician joins emergency medicine team at Canton-Potsdam Hospital. Rochester Regional Health's St. Lawrence Region has added Charles Kolkin, DO, to the emergency medicine team serving Canton-Potsdam Hospital. Syracuse · Community · Sep 23, 2026, 11:18 AM · Updated Sep 24, 2026, 5:00 AM Rochester Regional Health's St. Lawrence Region has added Charles Kolkin, DO, to the emergency medicine team serving patients at Canton-Potsdam Hospital in Potsdam. Kolkin completed an emergency medicine residency at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse and earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine. Before becoming a physician, he spent nearly a decade as a firefighter and paramedic in Maryland. This story was written from a community submission and reviewed by a ClickNNY editor before publication.
Rochester Regional Health has acquired Rochester Dermatologic Surgery in Victor, expanding the health system's general dermatology and Mohs surgery services in the Finger Lakes. The practice became Rochester Regional Health Dermatology & Mohs Surgery — Victor on Wednesday.
RRH acquires Victor dermatology practice, expands Mohs surgery services. * September 2, 2026 6:06 PM * Staff Report Rochester Regional Health has acquired Rochester Dermatologic Surgery in Victor, expanding the health system's general dermatology and Mohs surgery services in the Finger Lakes. Finger Lakes Travel The practice became Rochester Regional Health Dermatology & Mohs Surgery - Victor on Wednesday. It will continue operating at 7400 Pittsford Victor Road and will also offer cosmetic injectables. RRH said the acquisition brings an established team of dermatology specialists into the health system while adding resources and surgical capacity. The expansion is intended to help meet growing regional demand for dermatologic care closer to where patients live and work. Current providers Sherrif F. Ibrahim, a physician and Ph.D.; William Sipprell, a physician; and nurse practitioner Kelly Demchuk will remain at the Victor office. Physician Gian Vinelli will also provide care as RRH works to expand the practice's clinical resources and appointment access. Vinelli said joining the practice with a larger health system will build on the care already available in Victor and connect patients and providers with additional resources. He said the move strengthens RRH's ability to provide dermatology and Mohs surgery across the region. Ibrahim said patients will continue receiving care from the team they know while gaining the support of Rochester Regional Health. RRH described the acquisition as part of a broader effort to expand specialty care in Finger Lakes communities. The health system includes nine hospitals as well as primary and specialty practices, rehabilitation centers, ambulatory campuses, urgent care facilities, senior services, behavioral health programs and laboratories. Its service area includes Western New York, the Finger Lakes and St. Lawrence County. Mohs surgery is among the specialized services that will remain available at the Victor site. RRH said the acquisition adds surgical capacity without requiring existing patients to move to a different location or provider team. FingerLakes1.com is the region's leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].
Virtual panel discussions. The new EP lab is aimed at expanding access to specialized treatment for patients with heart rhythm disorders. (Photo provided by RRH) RRH invests $2M to boost specialized cardiac care. Rochester Regional Health has opened a new Electrophysiology (EP) Lab at Rochester General Hospital, a roughly $2 million investment aimed at expanding access to specialized treatment for patients with heart rhythm disorders. The new lab at the Sands-Constellation Heart & Vascular Institute will increase capacity for highly specialized procedures, including cardiac ablations and cardiac device implants. The additional capacity is expected to help reduce wait times for consultations and procedures while allowing more patients to receive advanced cardiovascular care closer to home. Demand for electrophysiology services is rising nationally as the population ages and atrial fibrillation (AFib) and other heart rhythm disorders become more prevalent. At Rochester General, demand has also increased with the growth of Rochester Regional Health's AFib Center, which connects patients with specialized treatment options. "Investing in this new Electrophysiology Lab ensures our patients can receive the advanced cardiac care they need, close to home," said Richard "Chip" Davis, RRH CEO. "This investment strengthens our program and positions us to meet the growing need for specialized heart rhythm care in our community for years to come." Electrophysiology procedures can treat a range of heart rhythm disorders and may help reduce symptoms such as palpitations, fatigue, dizziness and shortness of breath. For appropriate patients, treatment also can reduce emergency department visits and hospitalizations related to arrhythmias and lower the risk of long-term complications associated with untreated AFib and other rhythm disorders. The new lab is being paired with the addition of electrophysiology physicians to Rochester Regional Health's team. "Expanding our electrophysiology program means more patients can access potentially life-changing care close to home," said G. Randall Green, MD, president of Rochester General Hospital. "This new lab and expanded physician team will increase capacity, reduce wait times and ensure our community can continue to access innovative, highly specialized cardiac care close to home."
RRH exec announces departure. Rochester Regional Health will launch a search for a new president and chief operating officer after one of its top executives announced plans to leave the organization for a chief executive role at an Ohio health system. Jennifer Eslinger, who has served as president and chief operating officer of RRH for the past four years, has been named president and CEO of Summa Health in Akron, Ohio. She will assume the role on Sept. 21 following a national executive search. Her departure marks a significant leadership transition for the local health system, which has annual revenue of roughly $4.2 billion and is one of the region's largest employers. The health system said in a statement, "We are grateful for Jennifer Eslinger's leadership and the many contributions she has made to Rochester Regional Health. Our immediate focus is on ensuring a smooth transition and maintaining continuity for our team members, patients and the communities we serve." Before joining RRH, Eslinger held senior leadership positions with Henry Ford Health, Mobile Infirmary Health System, HCA Healthcare and Tenet Healthcare. In announcing her appointment, Summa Health officials highlighted Eslinger's track record of operational leadership and innovation. "Jennifer is an accomplished healthcare leader with deep experience driving operational and clinical excellence, embracing innovation and creating a culture of curiosity and continuous improvement," Kate Walsh, chair of Summa Health's board of directors, said in a statement. "She has both the judgment and values to build on Summa Health's strong foundation while accelerating our impact in the communities we serve and helping shape the future of healthcare." Summa Health, which employs more than 8,500 people, was acquired last year by General Catalyst's Health Assurance Transformation Company in a $515 million deal which transitioned the non-profit system to a for-profit entity. The transaction marked the first time a venture capital firm has wholly owned a major hospital system.