Part-Time Peer Advocate: Peer Advocacy Leadership Program

The Goodwill Peer Advocacy Leadership (PAL) program provides peer supports to individuals diagnosed with a mental illness to become as independent and connected to the community as possible.

The Peer Advocate:

• Provides advocacy, support, and bridging services with a focus on wellness and resiliency to participants with mental illness to help improve their quality of life.
• Inspires individuals to become more hopeful about their recovery.
• Provides advocacy on behalf of the program participants in line with the choices of the individual being served.
• Explains the types of services and programs available to participants as it relates to their stated goals or interests.
• Serves as facilitators of self-help groups and wellness services to assist participants address their whole health needs, develop coping strategies and connect with critical resources such as housing, education and employment.
• Functions as a model, sharing his or her own stories to therapeutically support program participants and their families.
• Strengthens the individual by creating an atmosphere of understanding, assisting in skill development, broadening their awareness, opening up new opportunities, and increasing their sense of hope, personal power, and self-responsibility.
• Role models competency in recovery and ongoing coping skills.
• Serves as a bridge to connect to the community by helping individuals begin to move beyond strictly professional support to that of peer and community through
• Educates participants about self-help techniques and self-help group processes

Qualifications/Basic Job Requirements:

• Minimum HS diploma or GED
• Lived experience with mental illness and/or co-occurring disorders
• NYS Peer Certification/Certified with the Academy of Peer Services
• Familiarity with Microsoft software and documenting in an electronic health record required
• Excellent communication and written skills
• Preferred: Bilingual (Spanish)
• Preferred: One+ year of experience working in the human services field
• Some field visits are and work out in the community is required
• Requires ability to travel via public transportation.