We are currently seeking a motivated Full Time Peer Specialist who would like to work both in the community and in our Cayuga Crisis Residence.

Our employees have passion around the services they provide and our corporate values of excellence and staff support. We pride ourselves on high quality, integrated, community-based services that meet the evolving needs of our communities. We’re committed to building a diverse workforce that values contributions of all team members and work to recognize cultural beliefs, values, traditions, language preferences, and health and wellness practices of the communities that we serve and how they apply to provision of positive health outcomes.

Jail Diversion Peer Specialist Position Summary:

The Peer Specialist will provide immediate Peer support at the time of initial engagement and throughout the participant’s time in this program. The primary goal of the Peer Specialist is to utilize their own lived experience with addiction, homelessness, justice system and/or mental health, their long-term sustained recovery expertise and Peer training to serve as a support and resource for the participant’s own recovery. The Peer Specialist will be trained in Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Informed Care, Cultural Competence/Health Literacy, Narcan, Person-Centered Practices, the Peer model of support and Co-Occurring Disorder Integrated Care.

Jail Diversion Peer Specialist Job Responsibilities:

• The Peer Specialist will provide information about recovery support services in the community and support linkage to the participant’s chosen supports.
• The Peer Support Specialist will connect with individuals in need through targeted intercept points that include community referral for behavioral issues, mobile crisis/LE calls, CIT referrals for concerning behaviors, ER presentations, LE referrals, arraignments, adjournments, pre-sentence investigations, sentencing and incarceration.
• The Peer Support Specialist will support individuals with court advocacy in order to assist the individual to engage in the recovery/treatment of their choice.
• The Peer Specialist coordinates services and develops relationships in the community to improve individuals' ability to access and/or maintain health care, insurance and housing.
• By using identified best practices, procedures and methods, the Peer Specialist provides Peer support, Motivational Interviewing and Trauma informed care as a means to facilitate access to health services and improve the health status of participants.
• The Peer Support Specialist will provide support guided by the values of the Peer Model. These values include; recovery-oriented, person-centered, relationship-focused, trauma-informed, instilling hope, appropriate self‐disclosure, mutuality, person‐first language, self‐determination, empowerment, many pathways and styles of recovery, fostering independence, utilizes strength‐based approach, addressing stigma & oppression, providing stage of change appropriate support, participant choice, and advocacy.
• Demonstrate effective communication with the entire team in order to support the collaborative approach.
• This position will start as a 50/50 split between community based services and working in an on-site respite program. Flexibility is required between programs and may change week to week.
• Completes all required documentation, in timelines in accordance with program standards.

Jail Diversion Peer Specialist Qualifications:

• HS Diploma required.
• Work experience in a behavioral health or related setting, preferably using the recovery model with one to two years of personal recovery experience, is preferred.
• Certified Peer Specialist through the Academy of Peer Services training program preferred. If the candidate is not certified as a CPS, they agree to complete the process to become a CPS.
• Certified Recovery Peer Advocate through CRPA training is preferred. If the candidate is not certified as a CRPA, they agree to complete the process to become a CRPA.
• Has respect and a high level of comfort around people experiencing a mental health, medical, and/or substance use related crisis.
• Candidate must identify self as a current or former recipient of mental health and/or substance use, experience within the justice system is preferred. The candidate also need to have a willingness to share personal experience appropriately and respectfully in order to support individual’s recovery.
• Valid NYS Driver's License required. Some client travel and accompaniment for community based activities is required.

Pay: $38, 000 per year (hourly rate at $18.27 per hour)

Liberty Resources is committed to creating a diverse inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Liberty Resources offers equal employment opportunities to all persons without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, parental status, housing status, source of income or military status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local EEO laws.