Peer Specialist

Center for Alternative•New York, NY

71d•Hybrid

About The Position

Are you someone with lived experience in mental health and/or criminal legal systems who is passionate about helping others navigate these systems? If so, we need your help on our new Nathaniel Community Success (NCS) team at CASES! NCS is a new alternatives-to-detention/incarceration (ATD/ATI) program that serves individuals of all genders, aged 16 and older, with mental illness (including substance use problems); this program will directly help reduce the utilization of jails and prisons. Come join our team’s efforts to reduce the City's reliance on correctional institutions, promote justice, and help NYC achieve its goal to close Rikers Island in 2026. At CASES, we offer a comprehensive training curriculum available to all employees, as well as an ongoing organization-wide support group for Peer Specialists in all departments. We are a diverse team at CASES, and we welcome candidates of all genders, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disabilities to apply. We are seeking a Peer Specialist for our Manhattan NCS team, who will join a multidisciplinary team comprised of a Team Leader, Forensic Clinical Case Coordinator, Forensic Case Coordinator, Substance Use Specialist, Clinical Criminal Legal Specialist, and Program Assistant. The NCS team provides clinical case management and linkage to services for mental health and medical treatment. The Peer Specialist will use their unique perspective to provide peer support to participants within the framework of the core principles of recovery and self-determination. They will facilitate participants’ utilization of community treatment services and will provide support for participants in pursuing housing, benefits, employment, and vocational services. The Peer Specialist works individually with participants and may also facilitate groups using standard curriculum.

Requirements

High school degree with related work experience.
Participant or graduate of a recognized peer specialist training program, such as the Howie the Harp Peer Advocacy and Training Center Forensic Peer Specialist Program.
Must have Peer Certification.
Must be a mental health consumer with a history of involvement in the criminal legal system. As an individual in recovery from mental illness and substance use, the Peer must be willing to utilize their recovery experience to engage and support ATI participants.
Strong knowledge of wellness, recovery, and self-help.
Effective communication and written skills are essential.
Proficiency with computers and databases.

Nice To Haves

Fluency in Spanish.

Responsibilities

Engagement of participants enrolled in ATI services.
Conduct outreach activities to engage client participation and reduce recidivism.
Conduct an immediate needs assessment and identify appropriate services (mental health substance use, education, employment self-help).
Collaborate with team members for case management program planning.
Provide linkage to income support and health insurance (Medicaid).
Delivery of gender-specific services.
Plan and deliver case management and peer support services that address strength and risk factors for criminal recidivism.
Understand and deliver culturally competent services.
Knowledge of how and when to use self-disclosure as an intentional strategy to support participant engagement and recovery.
Knowledge of how to intervene during a crisis.
Advocacy skills – supporting participants to navigate and access housing, income support, treatment, medical care, civil legal services, self-help, and other community services and support.
Knowledge of how to empower participants to know their rights and responsibilities and to utilize procedures to ensure their rights are protected.
Knowledge of motivational interviewing techniques when providing services.
Learn how to address risk factors for criminal recidivism to support participants to achieve recovery goals.
Understand the legal framework of ATI and the compliance issues related to community supervision.
Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and deliver case reviews.
Assist with Outreach and Diligent Search to help reduce recidivism.
Documentation in electronic record that is timely, accurate, and appropriate.
Complete participant admission into CASES’ database and complete letters and progress reports to ensure information is received by defense attorneys, judges, and prosecutors.
Perform other related duties as assigned by the Team Leader, Director, or Senior Director.