Peer Specialist

Services For The Underserved, Inc.•New York, NY

11d•$17 - $19•Onsite

About The Position

The Peer Specialist role involves facilitating engagement with tenants, undertaking outreach activities to promote community awareness of S:US services, encouraging help-seeking, and advocating for the population served to maximize their full potential. This role requires understanding and discussing multiple frameworks for life experiences, such as psychosis, with participants and the S:US team. Peer Specialists intentionally use language to understand and make space for personal stories of recovery and resilience. They advocate with and for program participants in the community and within the team. Collaboration with participants to clarify their visions and develop wellness toolkits is key. Peer Specialists support participants in strengthening self-awareness, building life skills, and connecting to resources and the community. They also influence team culture by advocating for clients, promoting a friendly approach, and encouraging recovery-oriented language, while helping to build an environment that believes in human potential and diversity. Maintaining open communication with the team, reporting concerns, and keeping notes on participant visits are essential. Co-collaboration on reporting with participants is encouraged.

Requirements

High school diploma
One-Two years of active participation in mental health self-help activities, peer support or peer advocacy programs, or participant run organizations or similar experiences or programs required.
Must possess the ability/ willingness to disclose their recovery story (where appropriate) for the purposes of empowerment.
Excellent judgment/ ability to understand boundaries when working with participants of mental health services is required.

Nice To Haves

Lived experience of mental health challenges includes experience with psychosis.
Peer Certification preferred.
Lived experience of mental health challenges includes experience with psychosis during youth.
Relates well to all ages, culture, and all backgrounds.
Understanding of the community in which the team is based with an awareness of available community resources.
Has made positive and productive progress toward his or her own recovery.
Good interpersonal communications skills and the ability to empathize with, relate to and effectively work with participants of mental health services.
Basic computer skills (e.g. MS Office suite and Windows).

Responsibilities

Facilitate engagement with tenants and undertake outreach activities.
Promote community awareness of S:US services and encourage help-seeking.
Advocate for program participants within the team and the larger community.
Collaborate with participants to clarify visions and develop wellness toolkits.
Support participants in strengthening self-awareness, building life skills, and connecting to resources.
Positively influence team culture by advocating for clients and promoting recovery-oriented language.
Maintain open and frequent communication with the team, reporting safety and other concerns.
Keep notes on visits with program participants as required.
Adhere to on-call cell phone system for crisis intervention and emergencies.
Complete any additional assigned duties.