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Description
Job Summary
OARS (Older Adult Recovery Supports) which will offer enriched mental health engagement, treatment and recovery services for low/moderate income older adults age 55+ with mental illness, including serious mental illness (SMI) or Co-occurring Conditions. Within this population, we will further prioritize residents of Hispanic/ Latinx background (many of whom are monolingual in Spanish). The geographic catchment area is comprised of three Brooklyn, NY neighborhoods that have been most severely impacted by COVID-19, including Community District (CD) 3 (Bedford-Stuyvesant), CD5 (East New York/Starrett City/Cypress Hills), and CD16 (Ocean Hill/ Brownsville). These three CDs are home to a combined 420,000 residents, with a majority from communities of color: 61% are Black, 27% are Latinx; 29% are foreign-born, and 13% have limited English Proficiency. Approximately 25% of residents are age 55+, and 14% are age 65+, according to US Census data.[i] The NYC Department for the Aging reports that poverty among the 65+ age group ranged from 22% in Cypress Hill to 42% in Starrett City, with an average of 29% across CDs and above the rates for Brooklyn (18%) and NYC (16%) (2019).
These neighborhoods are among the most at-risk, high-need areas in NYC in terms of social determinants of health (SDOH) and disproportionately poor health outcomes – East New York and Bedford-Stuyvesant are Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) as designated by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).38 Detrimental conditions were reflected in the devastation caused by COVID-19, as these neighborhoods had case and death rates significantly above the NYC averages: Between them, these neighborhoods recorded 10,588 cases per 100,000 residents (NYC: 9,149) and a death rate of 530/100,000 (NYC: 328); East New York, in particular, was hit hard, with a death rate of 945/100,000, the highest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the city. As elsewhere, older New Yorkers were most at risk, with poverty and/or being of Latinx or African-American background compounding the likelihood of becoming infected, hospitalized, or succumbing to COVID-19.
The Peer Specialist is responsible for assisting individuals to develop personal and meaningful life goals, and to access resources, services, and/or natural supports to enhance recovery. Using lived experience, the Peer Specialist will build positive relationships with individuals and provide outreach, advocacy, and recovery support services.
Essential Job Functions
- Builds relationships with individuals leading to the development of life goals and enhanced engagement in recovery
- Links individuals to resources, services and natural supports internally at ICL and in the external community to support attainment of recovery goals
- Works with individuals to increase positive social connections and develop stronger family connections, improve life skills including obtaining necessary resources, and empower the individual to increase wellness self-management
- Documents all interactions in confidential records
- Collaborates with providers in developing service plans with individuals
- Teaches effective wellness self-management skills through the lens of lived experience
- Promotes linkage to services by assisting individuals with the coordination of appointments, providing appointment reminders and escorting and/or driving to appointments based on the individual’s needs and preferences
- Collaborates with other ICL programs to implement social and community activities
- Models skills that may assist person in reaching their recovery goals
- Facilitate or co-facilitate psychoeducational or health education groups
- Provides guidance to staff on providing culturally responsive services to individuals in recovery
- Participates in program staff meetings to promote efficient communication
- Participates in case conferences to promote service coordination
- Participates in monthly support/training meetings
- Meets weekly for supervision
- Ability to report to work regularly as scheduled and on time
Minimum Qualifications
- Education: High School Diploma or GED
- Experience: Lived experience receiving services for mental health and/or substance use, and a commitment to assist others in attaining recovery and wellness goals.
- Peer Certification or Completion of Peer Training programs preferred
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Good written and verbal communication skills; computer proficiency required.
- Sensitivity to issues involved in working in a diverse organization is essential
- Ability to work independently and also collaboratively with other team members
- Ability to interact appropriately and respectfully with clients, staff and community members
- Cultural responsiveness; Spanish-speaking preferred
How To Apply
Apply on here or our website: iclinc.org