Supportive Living Peer Advocate
FLACRAMajor Responsibilities: The Peer Advocate is an active member in the FLACRA team and provides peer support services to clients with serious mental illness and or substance abuse. Under the supervision of the Director of Housing and Vocational Rehabilitation Services, the Peer Advocate will function as a role model to peers; exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills; serve as a consumer advocate, providing consumer information and peer support for clients in residential settings. The Peer Advocate performs a wide range of tasks to assist peers in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery process. Recovery resources such as booklets, tapes, pamphlets and other written materials will be utilized by the Peer Advocate in the provision of services. Engagement for those entering treatment and in early stages of change are key tasks as well as helping facilitate successful transition out of active treatment.
Must Have Qualifications:
- Highschool Diploma or GED equivalent
- Valid NYS Drivers’ License
- Lived experience – your own struggles or have supported / cared for someone facing mental health or substance recovery challenges
- Willing to participate in peer certification training, acquiring CRPA-P no later than 4 months after employment.
Nice to Have Qualifications :
- Certified Peer Support Specialist (NYCPS) trained by OMH or OASAS
- Certified Peer Advocate (CRPA)
Job Requirements:
Duties:
1. Serves as an active member of the client’s treatment team, including participation in team meetings and treatment planning meetings.
2. Assists clients in development of recovery plan, including crisis plan.
3. Provides psycho-education with focus on illness management and peer support through individual service provision.
4. Implements and coordinates recovery plans for individuals.
5. Serves as role model for clients by sharing own recovery process and teaching effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.
6. Provides case management, resourcing, service collaboration for individual clients as extension of case management services.
7. Maintains accurate, thorough records on all assigned cases and uses documentation to assist clients in evaluating progress.
8. Provides advocacy services on behalf of clients.
9. Informs supervisor, and other members of treatment team as indicated, of issues/concerns related to individual clients.
10. Anticipates in required trainings to maintain certification.
11. Knowledge of Crisis Intervention and Early Engagement
12. Helps facilitate outreach to clients struggling to engage in treatment
13. Tier 2 peers role model leadership and support of tier 1 peers in the agency
14. Other duties as assigned.
About Us:
Finger Lakes Area Counseling and Recovery Agency (FLACRA) is a growing, not-for-profit behavioral health and substance abuse treatment provider with decades of experience and multiple innovative program located throughout the Finger Lakes Region. Our services include outpatient, residential, crisis center, vocational, housing and youth services. We pride ourselves on being committed to the professional development of all our staff and if that is important to you, we invite you to choose FLACRA!
FLACRA is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse workplace. We are dedicated to creating an employee-centered work culture, where all individuals feel valued and respected. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply and join our team of professionals, who are dedicated to our community’s recovery & mental health care needs.