Peer Specialist

PURPOSE:The Jewish Boards Community Behavioral Health treatment programs provide compassionate high quality evidence-based services to individuals and families in the communities we serve. Our staff use a culturally competent person centered approach to help individuals and their families develop skills and resources to improve overall functioning to instill hope and to strengthen resiliency. Our programs work closely with community partners to address health disparities in our neighborhoods while also celebrating the strengths and resiliency of our OVERVIEW:The Peer Specialist engages participants in peer-based services to identify and overcome barriers to engagement in treatment and community integration. The Peer Specialist supports client linkage and engagement with identified onsite providers and community providers and ensures that the clients support networks are sufficient to meet their needs. The Peer Specialist utilizes a peer relationship to foster connection trust understanding and ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:RESPONSIBILITIES include but are not limited to:Individual sessions with clients may include helping them deal with issues associated with (but not limited to) substance abuse mental health treatment family and social relationships; stress and symptom management; activities of daily living; medication management; and independent living or supported housingProvide emotional and practical support to clients as they engage in treatmentFoster and maintain cooperative and collaborative relationships with onsite multidisciplinary team as well as community providersAdvocate with and for program clients to achieve personal goals and address barriers such as fear stigma and communication disparities with providers and community supportsAttend and participate in weekly interdisciplinary team meetings and supervisory sessionsWork with client and multidisciplinary team to assist client toward achieving their treatment plan goalsMonitor and record clients progress and modify plan according to needs and preferenceComply with all required in-service training and staff developmentDocument and track resources and client progressMeets all deadlines for progress/informational notes in electronic health record fidelity reports and other documentation obligationsPerform other related duties as assignedCORE COMPETENCIES for the position include:Demonstrated ability to effectively use ones personal story and role model recovery in a way that promotes personal growth and empowermentKnowledge of behavioral health systems substance use disorders legislation and regulations and health conditionsAbility to manage multiple projects and ask for help when neededAbility to participate on a team to accomplish tasksServe as a role model to clients staff and stakeholdersAbility to work with all stakeholders: clients providers and families in a caring and respectful manner and with due understanding of and consideration for cultural differencesKnowledge of treatment rehabilitation and community support programs as they relate to clients and their familiesKnowledge of techniques for identifying risk for relapse risk of harm to self/others including crisis management techniquesEDUCATIONAL/TRAINING REQUIRED:High school diploma or equivalent. Certification as a Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) or Provisional Certification as a Recovery Peer Advocate required. Experience providing advocacy services to people who have substance use disorders. Past or current participant of substance use disorders REQUIRED/LANGUAGE PREFERENCE:Bi-lingual Spanish a plus but not experience with substance use work or volunteer experience with clients struggling with substance use issuesCOMPUTER SKILLS REQUIRED:Must be able to document notes in electronic health be able to be proficient in computer skills to use Outlook for reading and sending e-mails setting up appointments utilize Microsoft TEAMS for meetings AND MANUAL DEXIERITY:Must be able to travel throughout NYC on public transportation carry laptop and MIFI be able to type using a laptop and/or stationary ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL EFFORTMajority of the work is out in the community. Some of the work will be office based. Need to be able to travel throughout NYC via public transportation. Physical effort may include ascending or descending stairs for subways and to you join us youll have these great benefits:Generous paid time off in addition to agency holidays and 15 sick daysAffordable and high-quality medical/dental/vision plansTuition assistance and educational loan forgivenessFree continuing education opportunities403(b) retirement benefits and a pensionFlexible spending accounts for health and transportation24/7 Accessible Employee Assistance ProgramLife and disability insuranceDiversity equity and inclusion working groups that are available for you to join including Confronting Structural Racism (COR) Coalition Against Anti-Semitism (CAAS) and the LGBTQ Steering CommitteeWho we are:The Jewish Board delivers innovative high-quality and compassionate mental health and social services to over 45000 New Yorkers each year. We are unique in serving everyone from infants and their families to children teens and adults. We are proud to employ and serve people of all religions races cultural backgrounds gender expressions and sexual orientations. We are committed to building diverse equitable and inclusive teams to help support our mission and we strongly encourage candidates from historically marginalized backgrounds to apply to work with on Equal Opportunity: