Peer Case Manager (Peer Specialist)

Job Description

Job Description

Athena Mental Health is a New York State mental health-approved provider of community mental health services for children, adults, and families with behavioral and emotional challenges. We specialize in individual and group psychotherapy for clients with a focus on trauma-informed care. We are dedicated to improving the quality and accessibility of mental health care for all, especially individuals from underserved communities. 

Here at Athena, we pride ourselves on hiring a diverse group of mental health clinicians and staff who are passionate and dedicated to improving our clients’ overall emotional well-being. We provide both in-person and telehealth services for our clients and offer a competitive compensation plan and amazing benefits to our staff. 

Are You a Good Fit For Us?

The Peer Case Manager is responsible for managing client referrals, coordinating the intake and onboarding process, and providing ongoing case management support to clients throughout their transition into services. This role serves as a primary point of contact for clients from initial referral through connection with their assigned clinician and provides ongoing support to help clients remain engaged in treatment and access needed resources. The Peer Case Manager incorporates peer support and lived experience into their work to build trust, promote self-advocacy, and help clients navigate mental health services. The role works closely with clinicians, Case Managers, referral sources, and other members of the treatment team to ensure clients receive coordinated, recovery-oriented support.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage incoming client referrals, conduct outreach, determine eligibility, and coordinate next steps.
• Verify client insurance eligibility and maintain accurate client information in the EHR.
• Schedule and coordinate intake appointments and follow up with clients to support successful connection to services.
• Manage an assigned caseload and conduct regular follow-up to monitor engagement, identify barriers, and support continued participation in treatment.
• Assist clients with accessing community resources, benefits, and services that support their treatment and recovery goals.
• Incorporate peer support and lived experience to build trust, promote self-advocacy, and encourage client engagement.
• Communicate client needs, concerns, and barriers to the appropriate clinician, Case Manager, or supervisor.
• Collaborate with referral agencies, clinicians, and internal teams to coordinate services and ensure continuity of care.
• Provide peer support, assistance with coping strategies, and recovery-oriented guidance within the scope of the role and certification.
• Maintain timely and accurate documentation of referrals, outreach, client contacts, and services in the EHR.
• Maintain client confidentiality and comply with all organizational policies and documentation requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Supervisor.

Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED required
• Peer Specialist certification required
• 1-2 years of relevant experience in behavioral health, case management, peer services, care coordination, or a related field preferred.
• Commitment to recovery-oriented, person-centered care and supporting underserved communities.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish trust with clients and families.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with clinical and administrative teams.
• Strong organization, time management, follow-through, and documentation skills.
• Bilingual in English/Spanish.

Working Conditions

This position will be located at either the Manhattan office at 33 West 60th Street, New York, NY 10023, Suite 600, the Bronx office at 2825 Third Avenue, Suite 402, Bronx, NY 10455, the Rochester office at 1299 Portland Avenue, Suite1, Rochester, NY 14621 or Remote. This is a professional work environment where a computer, desk, chair and office supplies will be provided onsite at each of our offices.

Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee in order to successfully perform the essential functions of the role above.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to hear and speak on the phone or computer throughout the day, stand and sit for an extended period of time, and be able to write and answer emails in addition to carrying objects no greater than 25 pounds, when needed.

Direct Reports: This position has no direct reports.

Athena is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Note: We comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and consider reasonable accommodation measures that may be necessary for qualified applicants/employees to perform essential job functions.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.