Regional Youth Advocacy Specialist (Advocacy Spec 1 OR 2)

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) is recruiting to fill an Advocacy Specialist 1, SG-14, OR an Advocacy Specialist 2, SG-18, position in the Office of Advocacy and Peer Support Services (OAPSS) to work as a Regional (Adult) Advocacy Specialist located at the Western New York Field Office. The salary grade to which the selected candidate is appointed will be dependent on the candidate’s qualifications. OAPSS works to ensure the inclusion of recipient perspectives into OMH policymaking, planning, program development, and evaluation. The incumbent will work to promote awareness of recovery, self-help, and empowerment, and the inclusion of adults who are current and former users of mental health services into all areas of the mental health system. The incumbent functions at a Statewide level, interacting and collaborating with the Field Office staff, Central Office staff, and local mental health providers to deliver technical assistance, oversight, and training to State and local adult mental health programs Statewide.

Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide feedback and recommendations to the supervisor concerning developing new consumer and family initiatives, policy implementation, and expanding agency initiatives as they relate to consumer and family services,
• Promote the inclusion of people who are current and former users of mental health services in planning, policy implementation, program development, evaluation, monitoring, and related activities.
• Participate in OMH workgroups (composed of consumers, providers, family members, county government staff, and the public) and in Statewide and regional initiatives to ensure that consumer and family interests are represented
• Work with psychiatric centers, OMH central office and OMH field office staff to continue incorporating the consumer and family perspective into Agency services.
• Provide a regional perspective, as well as technical assistance, in support of the provision of consultation and assistance to State facility staff, local government, and provider agency staff on methods for promoting consumer involvement in planning, implementing, and evaluating mental health services.
• Promote the development and implementation of consumer support programs, initiatives, and training within the public mental health system by developing and/or facilitating a training curriculum for staff and stakeholders at State facilities and community-based programs. Evaluate training effectiveness and make suggestions for improvements.
• Convene regional focus groups, town meetings, work groups, and dialogues to gather feedback and direction from people who use services, and their families, on mental health-related issues.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and technical assistance to OMH staff, OMH contract vendors, and key community stakeholders in implementing consumer support projects and initiatives. Develop and implement project proposals; develop outreach and engagement strategies to foster community buy-in; review and modify goals, timelines, strategic plans, or deliverables.
• Provide expert advice, assistance, and training to ensure mental health services are trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and culturally relevant.
• Promote awareness of recovery, self-help, and empowerment by disseminating evidence-based and best practices information to consumers, providers, family members, county government, and the public.