Harm Reduction Specialist, IMT

Community Access • Bronx, NY

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The IMT Harm Reduction Specialist is an integral member of a multidisciplinary team of mental health clinicians. The Specialist engages participants through harm reduction strategies, including motivational interviewing and stage-wise interventions that address an individual’s readiness for change. The role helps the team remain grounded in harm reduction philosophy and practices, including radical acceptance, person-centered engagement, self-determination, low-threshold services, maximizing options, peer-informed and trauma-informed approaches, and human rights. The Specialist brings a social justice lens to the work and serves as a resource to team members on mental health and co-occurring substance use. The role applies harm reduction approaches when supporting participants who may engage in potentially risky behaviors related to drug use, sex work, psychiatric medications, diabetes, homelessness, or carceral systems.

Intensive Mobile Treatment provides treatment, rehabilitation, and support to people whose needs have not been met by traditional services. Teams serve people who are street homeless or moving between institutional settings and housing, using assertive engagement and delivering services in participants’ natural settings. The multidisciplinary team shares responsibility for helping participants pursue housing and personal, health, social, work, education, and safety goals. Services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Specialist is expected to complete assigned assessments and evaluations on a rotating schedule and on time; complete progress notes for contacts, collaterals, and engagement attempts within two business days; maintain the harm reduction toolbox inventory; submit OOPP reports on time; and regularly attend agency Harm Reduction Committee meetings.

Requirements

• Minimum bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health Counseling, Criminal Justice, or another Health and Human Services-related field.
• Minimum of two years’ experience working with individuals with a mental health condition and co-occurring substance use disorder.
• Understanding, appreciation, and commitment to Community Access’s philosophy and mission.
• Commitment to person-centered treatment strategies, participants’ rights, and self-determination in service provision.
• Availability to work a flexible schedule, including mornings, evenings, and weekends, in response to participant needs.
• Ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines.
• Creativity and flexibility.
• Ability to show initiative and follow through responsibly.
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Conflict mediation and negotiation skills, with an assertive approach to problem solving.
• Ability to work in the community, including using public transportation across the boroughs.
• Computer proficiency with Windows and programs such as MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and comfort 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.

Responsibilities

• Engage participants using harm reduction strategies, including motivational interviewing and stage-wise interventions.
• Help the team apply harm reduction principles, including radical acceptance, person-centered engagement, self-determination, low-threshold services, maximizing options, peer-informed and trauma-informed approaches, and human rights.
• Bring a social justice lens to participant services.
• Serve as a resource to team members on mental health and co-occurring substance use.
• Apply a harm reduction approach when supporting participants engaging in potentially risky behaviors related to drug use, sex work, psychiatric medications, diabetes, homelessness, or carceral systems.
• Complete assigned assessments and evaluations on a rotating schedule and on time.
• Complete progress notes for all contacts, collaterals, and engagement attempts within two business days.
• Maintain the harm reduction toolbox inventory.
• Submit OOPP reports on time.
• Regularly attend agency Harm Reduction Committee meetings.
• Work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team and provide services in the community.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time