Shelter in Reach Program - Peer Specialist

Shelter- Fort Washington, 651 West 168th St, New York, New York, United States of America

Req #1210

Friday, August 30, 2024

Title: Certified Peer Recovery Advocate, CRPA or CRPA-P

Program: SAPT-Substance Abuse Prevention Treatment (Shelter in Reach)

Salary Range: $52,000- $55,000 + Benefits

Duration: 12 months (possibility of contract renewal)

Schedule: Mon.-Friday, weekends, optional, willingness to travel

Program Overview:

OASAS has collaborated with PRI and DHS to deliver outreach and engagement services to our shelter residents with an existing 822 clinic. The goal of this project is to provide shelters with additional resources to build their capacity to improve behavioral health outcomes of residents and prevent overdose. Peers will work in our shelters located in the Bronx, Manhattan and Brooklyn where harm reduction and outreach services would be beneficial in addressing substance use among residents.

Position Overview:

Work exclusively in shelter programs whose clients who are struggling with substance use, experienced trauma, or mat be in mental health or substance use recovery. Provide advocacy, outreach, recovery and crisis support. Assist participants to regain independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery process. Assist participants to identify their own individual warning signs of relapse and identifying and developing individual coping strategies and crisis prevention tools. Provide supportive peer counseling with respect to mental health, substance abuse, rehabilitation strategies and self-help opportunities.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

The essential duties of the Certified Peer Specialist include but are not limited to the following activities:

• Escort clients to appointments and programs as needed

• Meet regularly with participants in the shelter providing peer service

• Provide harm reduction counseling services including teaching coping skills, relapse prevention strategies, wellness management and social skills to help participants become more independent and achieve their goals.

• Connect participants to community resources and on-site support services.

• Communicate/collaborate with participants’ treatment providers.

• Participate in staff meetings, case conferences, shelter high risk meetings, and relevant trainings.

• Conduct NARCAN Trainings for both staff and clients

• Conduct groups on a weekly basis at assigned shelter site

• Collaborate with participants assigned case managers to discuss clients needs/progress

• Collaborate with PRI Healthcare Programs and PRI Harm Reduction Services (The Recovery Program/Detox/2ndChance)

  Qualifications

• High School Diploma or Equivalent

• Certified Recovery Peer Advocate or Provisional Through OASAS

• Adequate writing and computer skills for completion of reports, case notes, and other documentation as needed in electronic health reporting system.

• Personal lived experience with mental illness or substance use.

• Willingness to share personal experience with others.

  Preferred skills:

• Teamwork: Ability to work cooperatively with peers and other staff in order to serve the needs of clients as effectively as possible

• Communication: Ability to effectively communicate with all levels of staff and with clients

• Computer: Proficiency in Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, and Outlook, DHS CARES System,

• Language : Bilingual or multilingual a plus

Other details

• Pay Type Hourly

• Employment Indicator Regular

• Min Hiring Rate $28.57

• Max Hiring Rate $30.22

• Shelter- Fort Washington, 651 West 168th St, New York, New York, United States of America

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