First Steps to Recovery is a 30-year-old free-standing private substance abuse OASAS licensed outpatient with offices in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Currently under new management FSTRis a hybrid (Virtual, In-Person and Mobile) Outpatient that services 5 boroughs, Long Island and in total 17 counties of NY State (downstate and upstate). It's a unique, comprehensive outpatient program with a multi-disciplinary treatment team. Serving a wide range of clients from LTBGQ , Adults, Russian and Spanish speaking communities with substance use/abuse disorders. FSTR is a modern, fast-paced, fast growing and client centric. We offer many traditional services of an outpatient, like one on one and group therapies. However what makes us different from everyone else beside the flexibility of delivering our services virtually and in person we also offer Family therapy, Russian Speaking track (Russian therapists and Russian speaking recovery coaches) and a mobile unit staffed with CRPAs (recovery coaches) which meet our clients where they are at, in the field, connect them with the recovery self-help groups and community of their choice (AA, NA, Smart Recovery and others) and build recovery plans with them to make sure that they are on track in their recovery journey.

FSTR is looking for a motivated CRPA/ Recovery Coach to join our team of highly skilled and dedicated staff The candidate must be bi-lingual in English and Russian and should possess a thoughtful desire to help people who are struggling with addiction. This person is a team player, able to utilize this unique body of knowledge and skill base to inform, motivate, guide, and assist those people affected by problems related to the abuse of drugs and other substances.

CLINICIAN JOB DESCRIPTION:

POSITION TITLE: Certified Recovery Peer Advocate
LANGUAGE: English/Russian

INCUMBENT: CRPA, CRPA-P
DEPARTMENT: 822 Outpatient
DIRECT SUPERVISOR’S TITLE: CRPA Supervisor/Program Director

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Adhere to the regulatory operation standards of 822 outpatient at the state and federal levels. Assist with the maintenance of policies and procedures that will be utilized in the implementation of all regulatory standards. Assist with ensuring that standard of patient care is maintained; these standards are based on "best practice approaches". Adhere to standards of organizational values, vision, mission, and service to the recovery community. All core duties and responsibilities are subject to periodic revision.

JOB DEFINITION:

The Certified Recovery Peer Advocate functions as a member of an individual’s treatment team to assist with the outreach, support and coordination of care for eligible service recipients. The CRPA will serve as a role model and/or health/recovery coach for clients. The CRPA is also responsible for assisting with the promotion of the Agency and its programs to the community. Will work with existing agency personnel and a variety of outside agencies to provide education on the existence of drug and alcohol use prevention services. The candidate must be b-lingual in English and Russian and should possess a thoughtful desire to help people who are struggling with addiction. This person is a team player, able to utilize this unique body of knowledge and skill base to inform, motivate, guide, and assist those people affected by problems related to the abuse of drugs and other substances.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

· High School Diploma or GED

· Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) Certification (or provisional certification upon hire and receipt of full certification within one year) required or Mental Health Peer Certification.

· Knowledge of medication assisted treatment, opiate overdose prevention and substance use disorders treatment and recovery services is required.

· Relevant life experience required: personal experience living with a disability, history of substance use, or social/emotional challenge, and willingness to draw upon this experience to serve as a role model to support the recovery goals of individuals served.

· Knowledge of community resources and community outreach preferred.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Current New York State Driver's License (a plus)

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide outreach to clients in order to facilitate their engagement in services and offer additional support so they can successfully participate in Medication-Assisted Treatment and mobile services in the community.
• Provide recovery education to patients in all phases of recovery, including pre-recovery engagement, recovery initiation, recovery stabilization, and sustained recovery.
• Promote self- advocacy by assisting patients to speak with their recovery care team.
• Support connections to community-based supports and mutual self-help groups. Link individuals to appropriate professional resources. Attend court and other system meetings as a support.
• Provide health/recovery coaching and recovery support, especially on issues of self-advocacy, wellness self-management, medication adherence, smoking cessation, entitlements, and daily living activities.
• If possible, provide and/or arrange transportation for and accompany clients to medical and/or other appointments to facilitate their engagement and follow through as needed.
• Provide concrete service delivery to clients i.e. benefits/enrollments as per program needs.
• Maintains documents, records, statistics, and other related reports in an organized, timely and accurate manner as per policy and procedure.
• Coordinates care planning with other providers of services/ resources to ensure goal directed, collaborative care, including care transitions.
• Acts as a resource/consultant to all team members on issues related to substance abuse.
• Provides telephonic as well as face to face outreach, engagement and service planning in the field.
• Acts as a linkage to community services including medical, behavioral, residential, entitlement and any other needed services per interdisciplinary care plan.
• Monitors overall service delivery to clients to ensure coordination and continuity; advocates with service providers/resources as needed.
• Provides crisis intervention and follow-up.
• Work with the entire FSTR Team to improve the approach to address systemic, organizational challenges.
• Act as liaison between the Agency and the communities it serves.
• Represent the Agency in a professional and knowledgeable manner.
• Assist in the promotion of the Agency through information and education about its services to the communities, we serve.
• Provide direct outreach to courts, attorneys, hospitals, probation, parole, DSS, CPS, DDP, PCPs, schools and various other community groups with direct referral back to the Agency and its programs.
• Report and work under the direction of the director(s).
• Represent the Agency at various community events such as, but not limited, to NARCAN training, fairs, forums, etc.
• Document and report on contacts made in the community with the director(s). Documentation should include name of contact, agency (if applicable), address and telephone number.
• Other duties as assigned.

REPORTS TO: CRPA Supervisor/Program Director

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; use hands and fingers to feel, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

COMPETENCY DEMANDS:

• Working knowledge of computer software and electronic health record systems.
• Demonstrated competency in written, verbal and computational skills to present and document records in accordance with program standards.
• Knowledge of Medicaid, Social Security and other entitlements preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal skills required.
• Ability and willingness to regularly travel to many locations using various modes of reliable and safe transportation.
• Ability to maintain a clean and valid New York State driver’s license.
• Ability to safely operate a vehicle in a safe manner under all driving conditions.

COMMUNICATES WITH:

All Agency staff, staff of other agencies, community representatives, professionals, and any other designated employee or official as necessary to adequately perform all job responsibilities

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• CRPA Certified Peer Recovery Advocate with a working knowledge of the substance use disorder treatment systems, support services, and a demonstrated commitment to the Recovery Community.
• This position will have some flexible hours including some evening and weekend time. In addition, be available by phone.
• Comfortable escorting patients to offsite referrals, community services and sober support meetings.

Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Please submit your resume and cover letter detailing your qualifications for this position.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $18.00 - $23.00 per hour

Expected hours: 10 – 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance

Patient demographics:

• Adults

Schedule:

• 4 hour shift
• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Ability to Commute:

• Brooklyn, NY 11235 (Preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Brooklyn, NY 11235