Peer Mentor, Justice Initiatives in Cardiff

Reports To: Senior Director of Justice Initiatives

Location: 56 Bay Street 3rd floor, Staten Island, NY 10301

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Pay & Benefits: The pay range for this role is generally $37,000-40,000 commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity. Additionally, we offer an excellent benefits package that includes generous paid time off (4 weeks of vacation plus paid holidays, personal, and sick time), medical, dental, vision, supplemental benefits including employer provided basic life insurance and employee assistance programs, tuition reimbursement and fitness reimbursement after 1 year of employment, a retirement plan that includes employer matching, and more!

Community Health Action of Staten Island (CHASI) drives dramatic improvements in the health of New Yorkers by feeding people who are hungry, healing families broken apart by violence, and bridging the gaps between people and the compassionate health care they deserve. CHASI provides outreach, education, prevention, and direct support services for populations most affected by health disparities – people with low or no income, low-income people with chronic illnesses, people with criminal justice involvement, people who use drugs, domestic violence survivors, people of color, and the LGBTQ community.

Position Summary: The Heroin Overdose Prevention Education (HOPE) program provides an opportunity for those who are involved with the criminal justice system, charged with an offense and exhibit substance use, to access care and treatment with the long-term goal of managing their lives in the community and preventing future arrests and returns to incarceration. The Senior Peer Mentor position was created using the research and belief that involving people who have their own lived experience with substance use, mental health conditions, and/or criminal justice involvement is invaluable in reaching and helping the population. The Senior Peer Mentor role will guide individuals using their experiences to support people in a way which shows that recovery is possible and does happen – a peer mentor becomes a role model. The Senior Peer Mentor provides services that are strength-based and trauma-informed. The Senior Peer Mentor provides outreach, engagement, and accompaniment to individuals enrolled in the program on-site and in the community.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Reply rapidly to activations from the Richmond County District Attorney (RCDA) to meet with referred individuals, either at the Richmond County Courthouse or one of Staten Island’s four NYPD precincts.
• Establish a regular presence in the courthouse to meet with newly referred individuals and be a liaison between legal parties and the HOPE program.
• Provide overview of program, department, and agency services through Orientation activities.
• Accompany participants to provider sites to give support and navigation assistance.
• Co-facilitate group activities that teach clients how to identify risky thoughts and slow down impulsive behaviour to change their thought patterns for prosocial behaviour.
• Assist with community outreach and program promotion to inform the public of available agency resources, as needed.
• Assist Recovery Counselor in the screening, assessment, and monitoring process.
• May participate in weekly conferences with court personnel, RCDA, and defence attorney.
• Conduct telephone and office-based follow up with individuals to identify and address barriers to care and treatment.
• Provide reminder phone calls to reinforce retention in care and services.
• Reach out to participants to follow up on referrals made and to engage them into programming.
• Outreach individuals who miss appointments to minimise program infractions.
• Complete after-care calls to clients post-completion to support in sustained recovery.
• Attend and participate in staff development trainings as required.
• Actively participate in regularly scheduled supervision and attend team meetings/huddles.
• Complete all program documentation in a timely manner.
• Align all activities with CHASI’s mission, core values, and culture.
• Perform all functions in alignment with CHASI’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values.

Requirements: The Senior Peer Mentor will be a Certified Recovery Peer Advocate, or HTH Peer Training Program graduate, with at least 1-year experience in a treatment, hospital, community-based organisation or recovery centre setting preferred. Candidates must be representative of the population to be served; history of criminal justice involvement highly preferred. High school diploma or high school equivalency required. Additional experience in working with people having a history of homelessness, mental health diagnoses, substance use or marginalised behaviours. Fluent in English. Bilingual in Spanish is highly desired. Willing to explore, be creative and be open to new ideas in the process of problem-solving. Possess an understanding of community level work and the importance of collaborating and coordinating with other organisations. Ability to identify issues, obstacles and opportunities and implement effective solutions. Effective communication skills, including ability to follow instructions, listen, communicate effectively in writing and verbally.

CHASI is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to hiring and supporting a diverse staff. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, disability or marital status.