Harm Reduction Specialist, IMT

Community Access•Bronx, NY

23h•Hybrid

About The Position

Community Access is a pioneer in supportive housing and social services in NYC for people with mental health concerns, advocating for human rights, social justice, and economic opportunities. The Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT) program is an innovative, trauma-informed model providing services to individuals whose needs are not met by traditional services. IMT teams work collaboratively with participants who interact with homeless services, criminal justice, and behavioral health systems, often being street homeless or transitioning between institutions and housing. The teams are multi-disciplinary, offering expertise in housing, substance use, harm reduction, criminal justice, peer support, and behavioral health recovery. Services are delivered in natural settings, 24/7, with a low staff-to-participant ratio. The IMT Harm Reduction Specialist is a key member of this team, responsible for engaging participants using harm reduction strategies like motivational interviewing and stage-wise interventions. This role ensures the team remains grounded in harm reduction philosophy, emphasizing radical acceptance, person-centered engagement, self-determination, low-threshold services, and human rights, with a specific social justice lens. The Specialist also serves as a resource to the team on mental health and co-occurring substance use issues, applying a harm reduction approach to participants engaging in risky behaviors.

Requirements

Have an understanding, appreciation, and commitment to the philosophy and mission of Community Access.
Commitment to person-centered treatment strategies, upholding participants’ rights, and self-determination in service provision.
Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health Counseling, Criminal Justice or other Health and Human Services related field.
Minimum of two (2) years’ experience working with individuals with a mental health condition with co-occurring substance use disorder.
Available to work a flexible schedule, mornings, evenings and weekends in response to participant needs.
Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
Be creative and flexible.
Able to show initiative and be responsible for follow-through.
Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Be skilled in conflict mediation/negotiation and have an assertive approach to problem solving.
Must be able to work in the community, including use of public transportation across the boroughs.
Computer proficiency in Windows operating systems and programs, such as MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, as well as comfort with learning new electronic systems.
Must be fingerprinted and cleared by the New York State Justice Center.

Nice To Haves

LMSW preferred
Bilingual Spanish-speaking, preferred.
Bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Engage participants through harm reduction strategies including motivational interviewing and stage-wise interventions.
Help the team stay grounded in harm reduction philosophy and strategies such as radical acceptance, person-centered engagement, uplifting self-determination, offering low-threshold services, maximizing options, using both Peer-informed and trauma-informed approaches, and uplifting human rights.
Bring a specific social justice lens to this work.
Serve as a resource to other team members in issues related to mental health and co-occurring substance use.
Use and share a harm reduction lens and approach when working with participants who may be engaging in potentially risky behaviors related to drug use, sex work, psychiatric medications, Diabetes, homelessness, carceral systems, etc.
Complete required assessments and evaluations as needed on a rotating schedule, ensuring assigned assessments are completed on time.
Complete progress notes for all contacts, collaterals, and engagement attempts within 2 business days.
Maintain harm reduction toolbox inventory.
Submit OOPP reports on time.
Regularly attend agency Harm Reduction Committee meetings.