Senior Peer Mentor

Community Health Action of Staten Island•New York, NY

11d•$37,000 - $41,000

About The Position

The Senior Peer Mentor (SPM) for our Harm Reduction Services conducts outreach to drug using populations to engage persons in services, provides individual education to reduce health-related harm from injection and other drug use, facilitates enrollment in Opioid Use Disorder Medicated Assisted Treatment programs when desired, conducts sterile syringe exchange, trains on opioid overdose reversal, and facilitates HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV) counseling and testing. The SPM works in the community, on CHASI’s mobile health unit, and in office-based settings to reach long-term and newer substance users, to partner with them as they set their own goals for improving their health and well-being, and to help them navigate service systems to achieve those goals.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalency required.
Recovery Coach Certification or Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) required; consideration may be available to obtain within 90 days of hire. Individuals currently holding a Certified Alcohol and Addiction Counselor (CASAC) or CASAC-Trainee may be considered but must complete Recovery Coach or CRPA programs within 90 days of hire.
Experience working with substance using persons and diverse populations.
Conversant with harm reduction practices, philosophy, and interventions.
Demonstrated proficiency in the use of office computer applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Responsibilities

Conduct street outreach and community presentations to engage and inform drug using individuals about harm reduction interventions.
Conduct harm reduction-oriented individual and group education encounters with drug users to reduce the transmission of blood-borne diseases, other infections, and drug overdose.
Enroll individuals in State-authorized syringe exchange program and provide exchanges that promote the consistent use of sterile syringes and safe collection of used syringes.
Distribute naloxone kits to reverse opioid overdose and provide group and individual trainings on their correct use.
Provide HIV, HCV, and STI testing and facilitate linkage to care, in accordance with standards set by NYS Department of Health/AIDS Institute and CHASI (in-house tester training provided).
Provide information, referral, navigation, and coordination assistance that links individuals to health and human services responsive to their individually expressed needs and interests. Clear focus on referrals to CHASI’s Medication Assisted Treatment Program when indicated.
Collaborate with harm reduction staff and other CHASI staff on the identification of new venues for outreach and service provision, trends in local drug use, and service providers that are drug user friendly.
Facilitate or co-facilitate harm reduction education or support groups for substance using individuals.
Accurately and completely document service provision using hard copy tools and electronic data systems.
Provide administrative and/or front-desk support on a periodic basis.
Complete internal and external training to maintain certifications, knowledge, and skills related to harm reduction, culturally competent service delivery, and other job-relevant topics.
Actively participate in staff meetings and other agency activities.
Encourage a sense of commitment, camaraderie, and accountability among team members by modeling these qualities.
Perform all functions in alignment with CHASI’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values.
Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

generous paid time off (4 weeks of vacation plus paid holidays, personal, and sick time)
medical, dental, vision
supplemental benefits including employer provided basic life insurance and employee assistance programs
tuition reimbursement and fitness reimbursement after 1 year of employment
a retirement plan that includes employer matching

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