Outreach Specialist (CRPA)

Housing Works’ East Harlem and East New York OASAS Clinics provide specialized Substance Use Treatment Services for multiple underserved populations, including persons with mental illness who suffer from ongoing mood and/or perceptual disorders; persons with Acquired/Traumatic Brain Injury who suffer permanent neurological damage that affects motor skills and/or cognition; persons with Intellectual Disabilities who suffer from cognitive impairments; LGBTQIA+ individuals; the unstably housed; persons with chronic health concerns; and persons involved in the criminal justice system.  Housing Works’ OASAS Clinics use a trauma-informed, harm reduction approach (including abstinence-based treatment in accordance with legal mandates) as its foundation for the treatment of substance use disorders. At our East Harlem Clinic, we also provide specialized interventions for persons with Developmental Disabilities (Adaptive Recovery Model) and Persons with Acquired/Traumatic Brain Injury (Modified Cognitive Rehabilitation Model).

The Outreach Specialist will be a self-starter, able to use lived experience working with persons in or seeking recovery from substance use issues. The candidate must be a Certified Recovery Peer Advocate and will work as a fully integrated team member providing peer recovery support to individuals in the outpatient clinic setting and in the community. The Outreach Specialist reports to the Director and/or Assistant Director and is responsible for supporting the clinical team to ensure consistent engagement and support in multiple aspects of clinical services.

Responsibilities

• Assist peer participants in the development of a personal self-directed recovery plan
• Work with clients to identify strengths
• Link clients to formal recovery supports
• Assist with the review and discussion of the client’s treatment plan
• Provide clients with information on existing community supports and services
• Model coping skills
• Assist client with applying for benefits
• Accompany clients to medical appointments and other identified high-need appointments
• Provide non-clinical crisis support, especially after periods of hospitalization or incarceration
• Educate program participants about various pathways to recovery
• Provide travel training to use public transportation independently
• Identify and support linkages to community resources that support the client’s goals and interests
• Support clinical staff with outreach calls and visits to help facilitate consistent engagement
• Document in Electronic Health Records (EHR) services provided to clients
• Remains aware of all clinical documentation policies that ensure comprehensive client care in order to meet the regulatory agencies’ guidelines.
• Completes tasks related to GPRA
• Participates in all programmatic meetings and trainings.
• Participates in agency wide continuous quality improvement activities aimed at improving health outcomes for program participants
• Maintains HIPAA confidentiality standards
• Performs other duties as assigned by Director and/or Assistant Director.
• Supports and participates in advocacy efforts to end the twin crises of homelessness and AIDS.

• Education/Skills Requirements
• High School Diploma/GED and 2 years of work or volunteer experience in a recovery-oriented setting
• NYS Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA)
• Computer skills MS Word proficiency
• Able to navigate New York City public transportation system
• Knowledge of benefits/entitlements for people with disabilities
• Ability to speak Spanish preferred, but not required