Peer Engagement Coordinator (The Bronx)

Position Summary

The primary function of the Peer Engagement Coordinator is to facilitate engagement with individuals currently in a program, considering treatment, or seeking harm reduction supports. Using their lived expertise in mental health, substance use, and/or criminal legal systems, peers take a harm reduction approach to boosting individuals' program engagement, commitment to recovery, and awareness of available services. This includes assisting participants in reaching self-identified goals related to recovery, health and well-being, sense of self-efficacy or empowerment, and success and satisfaction in the community (e.g., work, home, and school). The Peer Engagement Coordinator also connects participants to community-based recovery supports consistent with personalized goals and supports navigation of barriers related to readiness for change, stigma, and access.

The incumbent will work with participants on-site and with potential participants during street-based outreach in the community. They will leverage their lived expertise to promote engagement from initial outreach, to enrollment, and through care planning, treatment and discharge.

Essential Functions

• Conduct community-based field work focused on people who use drugs, people with serious mental illness, and/or experiencing homelessness, with the goal of connecting people to START or other health-related services.
• Work collaboratively with participants and interdisciplinary treatment team to develop care plans, including identification of goals, strengths, and useful psychoeducation.
• Develop personalized Relapse Prevention/Recovery Harm Reduction plans with their patients.
• Provide non-clinical crisis support, especially after periods of hospitalization or incarceration.
• Engage and educate community members and program participants about mental health, substance use, stigma, harm reduction, addiction, and recovery.
• Raise awareness of existing behavioral health, social and other health-related services, and provide referrals/connections.
• Support delivery of community-based harm reduction training, including overdose prevention response (naloxone).
• Assist participants with (and accompany them to) medical, court, and social service/benefits appointments as necessary.
• Employ evidence-based strategies, such as motivational interviewing, to conduct listed activities
• Performs other duties as assigned, both at program locations and in the community.
• REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) or CRPA-Provisional (CRPA-P) with CRPA obtained within 24 months of hire
• High School GED or Diploma
• Ability to work in a variety of settings including the general community and OASAS regulated outpatient programs under the general supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and general office electronic resources.
• PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Associate degree
• Bi/Multi-lingual
• ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
• Able to travel within the community and clinics around NYC
• Able to work outside the traditional hours of 7:00 am to 3:00 pm.
  
  

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position has no supervisory responsibilities.
• PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
  
  

These physical demands are representative of the physical requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of the position which are reviewed in each individual case.

While performing the responsibilities of the role, the employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is often required to sit and use his or her hands and fingers, to handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach with arms and hands, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee may be required to lift an object weighing up to 50 lbs., with or without assistance. The vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

LIMITATIONS & DISCLAIMER

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

START provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.