Peer Advocate

At Step One, we're not just an organization; We're a tight-knit community that values collaboration, innovation, and each individual's unique contributions. We value our amazing staff's skills and experience, and we are confident that each employee's effort and warmth make our team a beautiful organization!

*Job Summary*

Provide community-based support with a rehabilitation and recovery focus using shared lived experiences in NYS OASAS regulated programs. Work as a fully integrated team member providing individual face to face services in the client’s home or community as specified in the service protocols.

*Duties*

· Provides in person individualized support to individuals who have been identified with a mental health diagnosis and/or substance use.

· Serves as a role model, mentor, and advocate in order to help prevent relapse and promote long-term recovery.

· Provides strength-based rehabilitative and recovery-oriented services individually and as part of a team.

· Establish a trusting relationship with client based in mutuality and unconditional positive regard during outreach and meetings in the community and in various program settings.

· Supports client in developing and implementing a person-centered recovery plan that is relevant to the current expressed needs of the client, consistent with the Plan of Care.

· Shares personal experiences to foster a sense of hope and recovery.

· Ensures coordination of services through collaboration and consultation with other staff, providers and identified family and/or friends of clients.

· Assists client with entitlements and concrete services; working together with client, advocates on client’s behalf via telephone and written correspondence.

· Attends and participates in weekly supervision, staff meetings and periodic in-service trainings.

· Documents time and effort and tasks during working hours as required for billing.

· Produces and maintains thorough, accurate and timely documentation, including documentation of interactions with client, services provided, important information and/or events, and contacts with other agencies and service providers, as required by agency policies, and relevant contracts and regulatory agencies.

· Increases client’s awareness of recovery services and supports in the community, identifying and supporting client in removing barriers to recovery, self-efficacy, and community inclusion.

· Assists client in developing personal skills toward community inclusion, personal development, and independent living.

· Provides companionship and accompaniment to client during community, court, and medical appointments, recovery-oriented activities, and during stressful transitions such as pre- and post-admission to emergency rooms, detox units, and discharges from hospitals and jails.

· Conducts direct outreach to courts, probation, parole, hospitals, and other community-based organizations with direct referral back to the organization and its programs.

· Assists client in identifying and engaging in activities that bring to attain or sustain meaningful, healthy and satisfying lifestyles.

· Assists client to connect or reconnect and link to natural supports that enhance the quality and security of life, including self-help groups.

· Represent the organization at various community events and forum.

Requirements

• Certified Recovery Peer Advocate-CRPA or CRPA-Provisional
• OR
• Certified Addiction Recovery Coach-CARC
• OR
• OASAS approved 30 Hour Recovery Coach and Peer Ethics Training
• High School Diploma or GED
• Lived or work or volunteer experience in a recovery-oriented setting.
• Knowledge of substance use disorder recovery process.
• Computer literacy including familiarity of Electronic Records for billing .
• Ability to travel throughout the required catchment area as needed.
• Commitment to recovery-oriented systems of care.
• Demonstrate ability to work independently.
• Excellent time management with ability to meet deadlines
• Ability to think logically, prioritize and follow procedures and instructions
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Experience with advocacy, outreach and engagement, self-help, recovery and transitional supports.
• Knowledge of Evidenced Based Practices (Motivational Interviewing, Contingency Management)

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00 - $25.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Ability to Relocate:

• Kingston, NY: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20 - $25