CCC - Peer Advocacy

Title: Peer Advocate

Reports To: Program Director

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Status: Full-time

Supervisory Responsibility: Not Applicable

About CHOICE:

CHOICE is a leading Care Management Agency serving Westchester County in New York. Our Vision is a world where all people have a foundation to meet the challenges of everyday life. We are a dynamic not-for-profit organization which operates in the fast changing environment of healthcare reform. Funded by Medicaid and government grants, we strive to maximize positive human outcomes as we deliver our services to our clients. CHOICE's core Mission is to help people restore and maintain their dignity and well-being regardless of their economic, mental, emotional, or physical conditions or limitations. We do this by providing Mental Health Advocacy and Peer Support, Homeless Outreach Programs and Services, and HCBS services, and Care Management to those in need.

Purpose of the Role:

Serving persons with mental health conditions, substance abuse issues and/or disabilities, responsible for day-to-day client interactions and care coordination of assigned cases. Address immediate and emerging needs, set goals, resolve issues, advocate and connect clients to the needed resources such that their lives become stable, recovery centric and interactive. Enhance coordination of medical and behavioral health care with the main focus on the needs of persons with multiple chronic illness.

Essential Functions of the Role:

For all assigned cases:

· Care Coordination/Educational Promotion: referral to community linkages and social support services

· Maintain compliance with all OMH documentation requirements

· Advocacy: • Assistance seeking and obtaining benefits and entitlements, food, shelter, permanent housing • Assisting recipients in participating in shared decision making• Linkage to and systems navigation within behavioral health and allied human services systems to access appropriate care (e.g. Peer Bridgers) • Benefits advisement and planning • Development of psychiatric advance directives (PAD) • Assistance advocating for self-directed services

· Outreach and Engagement: • Companionship and modeling of recovery lifestyle, including participation in recovery activities that might be beyond the scope of treatment providers (e.g., eating together at a restaurant, attending or participating in a sporting event, attending a social event such as a concert or recovery celebration event) • Raising the awareness of existing services, pathways to recovery and helping a person to remove barriers that exist for access to them • Interim visits with individuals after discharge from Hospital Emergency Rooms, Detox Units or Inpatient Psychiatric Units to facilitate community tenure and increased readiness while waiting for the first post-discharge visit with a community-based mental health provider, treatment provider or appropriate system of care

· Assist selecting and utilizing the things that bring a sense of passion, purpose and meaning into his/her life and coaching the person as they identify barriers to engaging in these activities • Assist individuals to help connect to natural supports that enhance the quality and security of life

· Recovery Supports: • Recovery education and coaching for individuals and their family members. • One to one peer support • Person centered goal planning that incorporates life areas such as community connectedness, physical wellness, spirituality, employment, self-help • Assisting with skills development that guides people towards a more independent life

· Transitional Supports: • Bridging from Jail or prison to a person’s home (note: that peer supports while in Jail are not Medicaid reimbursable) • Bridging from institutions to a person’s home (note: that peer supports while in an institution are not Medicaid reimbursable) • Bridging from general hospitals to a person’s home • Bridging from a person’s home to the community

· Pre-crisis and Crisis Supports: • Providing companionship when a person is in an emergency room or crisis unit or preparing to be admitted to detox, residential or other service to deal with crisis • Providing peer support in the person’s home or in the community to support them before (or in) a crisis or relapse • Developing crisis diversion plans or relapse prevention plans

· Monitor and document progress of goals, adjust care needs accordingly.

o Collect and enter data and notes accurately, thoroughly and timely, documenting activities and outcomes into case management system.

· Attend all trainings and meetings as assigned.

· Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications for this Role:

· Tenacity and passion for this work with the ability to balance objectivity with empathy.

· Computer literacy required.

· Valid NYS Driver’s License preferred and a driving record that will permit the use of an Agency vehicle to transport clients to appointments or other activities as needed.

· Bilingual English/Spanish a plus.

Compensation range: $38,000.00 - $42,000.00 / year