Peer Specialist

$46,350 - $51,000/Yr

Center For Alternative Sentencing & Employment Services

Full-time - Entry Level

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations

About the position

The Peer Specialist role is designed for individuals with lived experiences to provide support and services to clients within the Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) team. The primary goal is to enhance community stability, promote recovery, and assist in life skills development for individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI) and co-occurring substance use disorders. This position involves delivering comprehensive, evidence-based services through a mobile, multi-disciplinary team approach.

Responsibilities

• Attend and participate in daily team meetings to discuss clients' clinical and case management issues and needs.
• Complete documentation required by the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) and NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's (DOHMH) licensing guidelines, as well as NYS Medicaid billing guidelines and CASES ACT Policy and Procedures.
• Use motivational interviewing and trauma-informed approaches to deliver peer services addressing housing, income support, education, vocational training, social supports, employment, and primary care needs.
• Identify, coordinate, and connect participants with support networks to achieve service plan goals.
• Provide individual peer support, wellness, and harm reduction counseling using motivational interviewing and a person-centered approach.
• Provide 24-hour crisis intervention on-call services on a rotating basis.
• Deliver culturally competent services in accordance with CASES policies and practices.

Requirements

• High school diploma.
• At least 2 years of work experience providing peer support to individuals with serious mental illness and criminal justice involvement.
• Certified Peer Specialist or Certified Recovery Peer Advocate, or eligible to obtain certification within 6 months of hire.
• Lived experience using mental health treatment and/or substance use treatment services.
• Proficiency with computer and electronic health records.

Nice-to-haves

• Graduate of a recognized peer specialist training program such as the Howie the Harp Peer Advocacy and Training Center Peer Specialist Program.
• Fluency in Spanish.

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Vacation and Paid Time Off - starting at 25 days-off annually, plus an additional summer self-care day
• 12 Paid Holidays per year
• Retirement 403b Competitive matching up to 6%
• Employee Referral Program