Peer Specialist

Center for Alternative • The Bronx, NY

8d • $55,600 • Hybrid

About The Position

CASES is a New York City agency focused on the intersection of behavioral health and the criminal justice system. Our mission is to enhance public safety by reducing crime and incarceration, improving behavioral health, promoting recovery, and fostering community success. The Behavioral Health division offers a range of services for justice-involved individuals with serious mental illness. The Nathaniel Clinic, an OMH-licensed Article 31 clinic, provides outpatient mental health services to adolescents and adults, with a focus on those involved in the criminal legal system. Peer Specialists are crucial to the recovery process, contributing to positive health and recovery outcomes. This role is part of a multidisciplinary team, collaborating with therapists, psychiatrists/PNPs, and nurses to support person-centered goal planning, identify immediate needs, and recommend treatment objectives. The Peer Specialist will also assist participants in navigating behavioral health, human services, and criminal legal systems, acting as advocates and liaisons.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Must have active Certified Recovery Peer Advocate status in good standing
• At least 18 months of work experience providing peer support to individuals with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder and criminal justice involvement
• Lived experience with mental health and/or substance use treatment services
• Individuals with previous criminal justice experience are encouraged to apply
• Proficiency with computer and electronic and health records

Nice To Haves

• Fluency in Spanish a plus

Responsibilities

• Assist with developing person-centered goal planning
• Collaborate with participant and care management team to identify services based on individual needs and recommend treatment objectives
• Assess and provide services to participants to address housing, income support, education and vocational training, social support, employment, and primary care needs
• Assist participants with linkages and navigating systems within the behavioral health, human services, and criminal justice systems as appropriate
• Act as an advocate and liaison for participants in accessing resources to support service plan goals
• Use motivational interviewing, recovery, and trauma-informed approaches when delivering peer services
• Provide individual peer support, wellness counseling, crisis intervention and harm reduction
• Complete Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP), safety plans, and relapse prevention plans
• Conduct mobile outreach to participants to offer support and re-engage them into services
• Connect with family, significant others and support system, as identified by the participant, to promote recovery goals
• Contribute to ongoing organizational commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracist practices in delivery of services and work
• Provide culturally competent services in accordance with CASES policies and practice
• Any other duties as required by senior clinical leadership

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Vacation and Paid Time Off – starting at 25 days-off annually
• 12 Paid Holidays per year
• Retirement 403b Competitive matching up to 6%
• Employee Referral Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED