Photo:  This panel of local peer support specialists spoke about their jobs and training at a job fair.

By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office

September 23, 2024 (San Diego) -- San Diego County recently teamed up with the San Diego Workforce Partnership to hold a job fair for people who have a history of incarceration.

Serving time in jail, drug or alcohol use or mental health challenges may not sound like something that a job applicant would highlight. But in the peer support field, that background is called lived experience and is considered an asset, when paired with specialized training to help people who struggle with similar challenges.