Workforce Development Specialist in Cardiff

About CHASI 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 serves the most vulnerable individuals, families, and communities with critical services and programs. CHASI provides outreach, education, prevention, and direct support services for populations most affected by health disparities – the poor and working poor, low income people with chronic illnesses, persons with criminal justice involvement, substance users, domestic violence survivors, people of color, and the LGBTQ community.

Position Summary: CHASI’s Next Step Resource and Recovery Center is seeking a Workforce Development Specialist to support the training and job placement needs of peers in the Center. The Center hosts several peer-driven services, including individual and group recovery sessions, counseling and case management, overdose prevention, harm reduction, housing assistance, Recovery Coach training, and recovery-oriented community outreach. The Center is open 24 hours a day/7 days a week and provides opportunities for people in all stages and forms of recovery to both deliver and engage in activities to promote wellness, celebrate recovery, and reduce stigma associated with substance use.

The Workforce Development Specialist (WDS) is a multi-faceted role that works to support staff, clients and community members’ efforts to have meaningful careers in the substance use disorder profession. The WDS will support attainment of and performance in roles such as Certified Recovery Peer Advocate, SUD Counselor, or SUD Care Navigator through robust skill building and employment management workshops. Peers employed in the Center, clients enrolled in the Center’s Peer Training Institute and clients who are exploring career options will be encouraged to participate in programming. WDS will work collaboratively with the employment sector to make entry level positions in SUD available to Center clients.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Training Facilitation: Support facilitation of courses in the Peer Training Institute. Offer CHASI peer workforce ongoing client engagement training. Deliver group curriculum to support attainment of employment such as online job application; personal and professional references; job interviewing both general and SUD specific; resume building; cover letter building; difficult questions and employment gaps; ongoing job search efforts. Accept and process applications for employment and training initiatives.
• Job Placement Assistance/Coaching: Assisting clients with strategic planning for entry level and SUD sector employment opportunities. Collaborating with government and private workforce entities. Build and maintain relationships with employers looking to hire professionals in SUD industry. Collaborate with government funded or private employment training systems to facilitate client access. Aid in employer referral opportunities for clients. Maintain ongoing employer relationships where appropriate. Identify weekly sector specific job leads via employment search engines for referral to job seekers. Schedule and conduct weekly one on one job search coaching sessions as directed by client’s career development plan.
• Peer Training Institute Graduate Follow-up: Provide comprehensive graduate case management for a caseload of engaged participants which includes career coaching, professional portfolio development and employment referrals. Update and refer graduates to active graduate resource list to support retention outcomes related to employment and recovery. Act as point person for re-engagement with displaced graduates or graduate job seekers, connecting them to in-house housing support, temporary work contract opportunities and overall career development support. Support retention outcomes and the collection of retention information through monthly outreach to graduates.
• General Duties: Work collaboratively with members of the Next Step center to support peer employment retention. Document engagement with clients in electronic health record. Document staff training activity in agency online training system. Perform all functions in alignment with CHASI’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in related field (psychology, mental health counseling, or social work) preferred.
• Certified Peer Training Advocate (CRPA) certification required. CRPA can be completed during first 3 months of employment.
• At least 2 years of experience working in the field of addiction and substance use disorders.
• At least 1 year experience in workforce development.
• Experience facilitating skills-based training and support groups.
• Demonstrated ability and/or commitment to working effectively with clients from diverse backgrounds with sensitivity to ethnic, cultural, and sexual minorities.
• Knowledgeable of harm reduction and trauma-informed practices, philosophy, and interventions.
• Excellent oral/written communication skills and strong organizational and computer skills necessary.
• Computer literate in word processing, email, and ability to navigate the internet.

CHASI is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to hiring and supporting a diverse staff. People of color, LGBTQ, women, and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, disability or marital status.