Organization: People USA - Behavioral Mental Health, Recovery and Trauma Services  Job Title: Partial Hospital Embedded Peer Specialist  Job Location: Dutchess County - Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM = Total of 40 Hours Per Week  Payrate: $21.20 per hour / non-exempt    Job Summary:  The Peer Specialist will support the daily operations at partial hospital program and People USA. She/he will provide peer support for each participant they engage. The Peer is available to instill hope, support wellness and demonstrate that recovery is real and does happen. Peers model and utilize trauma-informed techniques and tools, help participants set goals and engage in community and social events.This position will provide peer support/advocacy at People USA’s main office, and partial hospital program located in Poughkeepsie, NY. The staff are available to offer support groups to participants, peer support and direct linkages to community providers and services. The staff aim to empower and instill hope to those working towards their recovery goals by sharing their own personal lived experiences with mental health, substance use or trauma. Our goal is to help participants to identify barriers to their recovery journeys or personal wellness, including issues related to access, quality of care, people’s rights, lack of basic needs, and stigma & discrimination.   Job Responsibilities: 

• Staff will assist in directly linking participants with mental health services, community resources, entitlements, and other services as needed.
• All People USA staff model and utilize Trauma Informed techniques and tools as outlined in Intentional Peer Support (IPS), Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), Mental Health First Aid, Emotional CPR (eCPR), Motivational Interviewing, Safe TALK, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
• Staff may need to transport participants in an agency vehicle to and from appointments on a limited basis
• Staff aims to educate participants on useful health & wellness topics. This position will be responsible for providing support groups in partial hospital program. The group will focus on community resources, peer support, and Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP)
• Builds peer-to-peer connections/relationships based on mutuality (shared lived experiences), empathy, and hope for recovery/wellness (peers-as-proof).
• Develops and maintains positive working relationships with other provider agencies and collaboration with the Rose House and Stabilization Center when needed.
• Documents all meaningful interactions in electronic records software and maintain hard copies in clients’ files (Foothold/Awards Technology)
• Consistently support People USA.’s mission to instill a sense of hope, empowerment, and self-determination in people living with mental illness that fosters recovery and a transition to wellness.

Education and Experience:

• High School degree or equivalency.
• Personal lived experience/s with mental illness or substance abuse, or trauma preferred.
• Complete all necessary Academy Peer Services (APS) OMH online learning and complete NY State Peer Specialist Certification Application within three months of hire (90 Days).
• Demonstrable experience in health and human services.
• Knowledgeable of community providers, resources, and wellness planning
• Staff must complete all NYS Justice Center Background checks and have a valid and clean driver's license.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred. 
• NYS Academy of Peer Services Certified or Recovery Coach Certified preferred. 
• Experience with Electronic Health Record Documentation

Reports to Director of Peer Navigation