Certified Peer Support Specialist

We’re building a world of health around every individual — shaping a more connected, convenient and compassionate health experience. At CVS Health®, you’ll be surrounded by passionate colleagues who care deeply, innovate with purpose, hold ourselves accountable and prioritize safety and quality in everything we do. Join us and be part of something bigger – helping to simplify health care one person, one family and one community at a time.

Using lived experience associated with barriers experienced when navigating the mental health and substance use system of care and in achieving their own personalized recovery, Peer Support Specialists (PSS) guide, coach, and mentor assigned members who are seeking to achieve their individualized recovery goals. In this capacity, the employed PSS will utilize their personal experience of recovery to help the Aetna team understand best how to coordinate care for members. Share coping strategies, wellness tools and other resources with care managers and coordinators. Conduct field-based visits with member to support them in their personalized recovery journey.

• Regularly attend case rounds and assist the team with identifying members who might benefit from Peer Support Services and share information regarding how best to deliver services,
• Orient and educate the care management team as to how peer support services can help members in achieving member recovery goals, reinforcing the care plan, maintaining community tenure, adjusting tasks to fit with the member’s culture, language, and religion, improving access to care, identifying health care needs, and reducing unnecessary hospitalizations or emergency services.
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals and providers on the principles of recovery, and opportunities for improving and understanding the social determinants of health that may be impacting member’s health and treatment plan through various communication channels.
• Assist care managers and coordinators in helping members to identify socio-economic issues that affect their overall health and develop person-centered plans and goals.
• May attend medical, behavior health or community appointments with members, when appropriate, to support connections to community-based resources to support overall treatment goals and advocate for getting the best possible care.
• Conduct face-to-face and/or virtual visits with members for the purposes of engaging the member in strengths-based, person-centered goal setting.
• Assist members in setting and obtaining short and long-term strength-based goals.
• Suggest approaches that encourage members to participate in wellness and recovery activities at a pace that is comfortable for them.
• Support members in developing their personalized voice and choice in care processes.
• Ability to advocate for the needs of the member and ensure that their individualized goals are being met in accordance to their expressed needs.
• Partner with the member in their efforts to connect with community-based services and supports to ensure access and utilization of these services and support the member in remaining in the community setting of their choice.
• Possess strong communication skills to not only engage the member initially in peer services but also to develop a working relationship that supports the member in achieving their individualized recovery pathway.
• Possess strong collaboration skills internally with health plan staff and externally with members and community agencies for the purposes of developing a holistic plan for the member that is reflective of the member’s stated goals.
• Knowledge of and/or ability to research available community-based supports and services to support member’s whole health.
• Possess a strong knowledge of open-ended questions and how to utilize open-ended questions to engage the member in a mutually beneficial dialogue.
• Possess strong technological skills regarding the ability to navigate and utilize numerous web-based and computer applications including but not limited to Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, QuickBase and Electronic Health Records.
• Possess strong documentation skills regarding the entering of non-clinical person-centered notes related to member outreach.
• Ability to maintain focus on tasks at hand and manage schedule independently in accordance with standards established.
• Ability to manage multiple competing projects and demands.
• Maintain continuing education requirements in accordance with standards established for Peer Support Specialists in Louisiana.

Required Qualifications

• Must reside in Louisiana, specifically in Region 5 or 6. 5 - Beauregard, Allen, Calcasieu, Jefferson Davis, Cameron Parishes or Region 6 Winn, Grant, LaSalle, Catahoula, Concordia, Vernon, Rapides or Avoyelles Parishes.
• Ability to travel 50% of the time to multiple office and home locations with personal vehicle, reliable transportation, valid driver's license, and automobile insurance is required. CVS reimburses for mileage.
• Peer Support Specialist certification is required (RPSS) per the State of Louisiana guidelines.
• 1-2 years’ experience in community/outpatient setting working with members in a mental health or substance use setting is required.
• 1-2 years experience providing care to socially and medically complex patients effectively in a variety of non-traditional settings.
• 2-3 years of knowledge of formal and informal community agencies and resources. Working knowledge of multi-system outreach programs related to health care delivery, clinical education, and health-related services.
• Ability to educate health care providers as needed to adjust interventions based on member’s cultural, ethnic, or religious preferences.
• Experience using a computer and strong keyboard navigation skills including the use of MS Office Suite, Word, Teams and Excel applications.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team and manage multiple priorities, utilizes effective time management skills, and exercise sound judgment.
• Strong self-starter with a proven track record of identifying solutions and executing tasks independently.
• Exceptional communication, organizational and interpersonal skills, with attention to detail.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual skills desired.
• Experience in serving the Medicaid Populations in urban or rural environments with familiarity of local formal and informal resource networks preferred.
• Preferred skills: Mental Health First Aid, Trauma Informed Care, HIPPA, C.L.A.S. Standards, Motivational Interviewing, and specialized training in medical terminology and practices for designated health conditions.

Education

• High School Diploma or GED.

Anticipated Weekly Hours

40

Time Type

Full time

Pay Range

The typical pay range for this role is:

$18.50 - $31.72

This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls.  The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors.  This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short-term incentive program in addition to the base pay range listed above. 
 

Our people fuel our future. Our teams reflect the customers, patients, members and communities we serve and we are committed to fostering a workplace where every colleague feels valued and that they belong.

Great benefits for great people

We take pride in offering a comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits that reflects our commitment to our colleagues and their families.

This full‑time position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the physical, emotional, and financial well‑being of colleagues and their families. The benefits for this position include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, retirement savings options, wellness programs, and other resources, based on eligibility.

Additional details about available benefits are provided during the application process and on Benefits Moments.

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on: 08/31/2026

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state and local laws.