Peer Navigator - Certified Recovery Peer Advocate

Job Description

Job Description

Educational Alliance brings together and partners with diverse communities in Lower Manhattan, offering individuals and families high-quality, multi-generational programs and services that enhance their well-being and socioeconomic opportunities. We are a place where everyone is welcome and where progress is powered one relationship at a time. We are proud of our legacy as a Jewish organization, and we provide high-quality, transformational services and programs to all New Yorkers through our network of community centers on Manhattan’s Lower East Side and East Village. As we have for 130 years, we offer best-in-class programming–now across 15 sites—focusing on a mix of education, health and wellness, arts and culture, and civic engagement .

Center for Recovery and Wellness is part of Educational Alliance (EA), which brings together diverse communities in Lower Manhattan, offering individuals and families high-quality, multigenerational programs and services that enhance their well-being and socioeconomic opportunities. One of New York City’s original settlement houses, EA was founded in 1889 to offer educational, social, and cultural services to Jewish immigrants arriving to the Lower East Side. Today, EA partners with diverse communities throughout Lower Manhattan. Across our network of community centers, we empower people of all backgrounds to flourish, recognizing the intrinsic value within each individual and the importance of building community.

The Peer Navigator will work as a fully integrated team member providing peer recovery support to individuals in outpatient, residential, and community settings. The Peer Navigator will also serve as a role model, mentor, advocate, and motivator for individuals in recovery, their family members, friends, and allies to support long-term recovery.

Responsibilities

Direct Care of Recovery Services (70%)

• Provide orientation to individuals regarding the process of their treatment when they begin accessing services.
• Work with individuals and their case manager/social worker to create and execute a Recovery Wellness Plan (coach clients to transition from a professionally directed service plan to a self-directed Recovery plan) and evaluate progress.
• Assist recovering persons to identify their goals, strengths, and personal interests regarding recovery and develop long and short-term strategies for achieving these goals.
• Advice, guide, and train individuals through their recovery process as needed. 
• Escort individuals to appointments with agencies, self-help groups, and other community resources as needed.
• Actively identify and support linkages to community resources that support the recovering person’s goals and interests. 
• Promote self-advocacy by assisting individuals to have their voices fully heard; their needs, goals, and objectives established as a focal point of rehabilitation and clinical services.
• Participate with clinical staff in crisis intervention.
• Report problematic issues, obstacles, and accomplishments experienced by individuals working toward their respective recovery goals to their case manager/social worker.
• Promote and participate in outreach to inform community members about the Center’s services.
• Provide orientation of CRW services for community members.
• Assess the needs of people who come to the Center to match them with the appropriate services.
• Work with recovering individuals to create and execute a Recovery Wellness Plan (or support their existing plan).
• Actively identify and support linkages to community resources that support the recovering person’s goals and interests. 
• Identify barriers to accessing community resources and develop strategies to overcome them.

Administrative support (20%)

• Maintain information database pertaining to peer activities
• Accurately and efficiently document interactions with individuals inappropriate files and electronic databases 

General Responsibilities (10%)

• Participate in recovery programming at the CRW.
• Develop relationships with community groups/agencies in partnership with the Center.
• Adhere to agency and program-specific policies and procedures.
• Attend staff meetings, training, and other pertinent events as recommended by supervisors
• Perform any other duties as required.

Quallfications

• High School Diploma/GED and 1 yrs. work experience.
• NYS Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) or (CPRA-P)- required
• Knowledge of the addiction recovery process.
• Familiarity with 822 outpatient treatment systems
• Understanding of and respect for an individual’s unique pathway to recovery.
• Familiarity of HCBS Behavioral Health “peer service” model
• Skills in active listening, motivation, and awareness of self.
• Strong work ethic, particularly in a customer and team setting.
• Experience with culturally