Peer Specialist

Description

The Center for Urban Community Services, a national leader in the development of effective housing and service initiative for homeless people, invites applications for 2 Peer Specialist positions with the Intensive Mobile Treatment Team. The Intensive Mobile Treatment Team works with individuals that move frequently across the behavioral health care system (outpatient and inpatient), the homeless services system (shelter, street, Safe Haven), and the criminal justice system (jail, probation, parole), and have barriers to engage in the services they need.


In January 2016, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) launched a demonstration project to achieve better outcomes for people with involvement with the homeless services, criminal justice, and the behavioral health service systems. Three Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT) teams were developed specifically to serve persons with complex cross-systems involvement. The initiative was expanded in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, and are expanding again in 2022.


IMT teams are hired, trained and funded to maximize flexibility and continuity of care for people who were poorly served by more traditional service models.

The mission of IMT is to improve an individual's quality of life through counseling, advocacy (both on an individual and systems level), support and assistance with meeting one's individual needs and goals, and most importantly, by providing an opportunity to connect with a diverse team of service providers. IMT teams work with individuals regardless of their current or past experience with substance use, mental health concerns, physical health concerns, involvement with the criminal justice system, and/or history of violence. IMT teams stay connected to individuals regardless of their location in shelter, on the street, in housing, hospital or jail.

Responsibilities :

• The Peer Specialist will have experience as a recipient of mental health services and ideally a history of homelessness and/or criminal justice systems with a willingness to share personal, practical experience, knowledge, and first-hand insight to benefit program enrollees.
• Experience with substance use services or the criminal justice system is also required.
• Peer Specialist will be responsible for building of relationships with program participants and their networks of support in order to support the person's recovery.
• The Peer Specialist will also assist consumers with navigating the service systems, including behavioral and medical health, criminal justice, shelter system, entitlements and transportation.
• Additionally, s/he will practice according to the principles of recovery oriented and trauma informed service delivery.
• The Peer Specialist will be expected to contribute to a program culture that is person-centered, outcome-oriented, and committed to continuous quality improvement.
• All Peer Specialist staff will become certified, with either a Provisional or Professional certification within 1 year of employment.

Requirements

• Provisional or Professional Peer Specialist certification preferred.
• Lived experience with and an ability to navigate service systems.
• Knowledge of the principles of recovery oriented and trauma informed service delivery.
• Ability to engage individuals around mental health, substance abuse, and/or criminal justice issues.
• This is a field based position. Must be able to travel throughout the 5 boroughs.
• This person must possess strong written and verbal communication skills, and have a familiarity with computers.
• Bilingual Spanish/English preferred