Community Health Worker (Court Navigator)

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Community Health Worker (Court Navigator)

Grade: 16

Salary Range: $59,228 - $70,547

The Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc. is seeking qualified candidates to fill the full-time position of Community Health Workers (Court Navigators) with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Bureau of Health Promotion for Justice Impacted Populations.

Bureau of Health Promotion of Justice Impacted Populations (BHPJIP) promotes community-based, health-led, cross-sector strategies that reduce criminal-justice involvement and improve the transition of individuals back to the community after incarceration and community supervision. BHPJIP seeks to improve the physical, mental, and behavioral health and well-being of marginalized populations, with specific emphasis on persons involved and impacted by the criminal legal system.

BHPJIP trains and employs peer-led Community and Court-based Health Workers who specialize in connecting justice involved persons to the healthcare and community resources that they need to succeed. The Health Department through court-based health workers can play in addressing the complex health and social needs of persons with criminal legal system involvement.  

This position sits within the New York City Health Justice Network (NYC HJN), an innovative program that aims to holistically improve the physical, behavioral, emotional health and wellbeing of persons impacted by the criminal legal system. The NYC HJN Court Navigator will support individuals who have court involvement or have been released from incarceration by providing voluntary connections to healthcare and community based social services, including employment, vital documents, behavioral health and mental health services.

Community Health Workers/Court Navigators play a vital role in working with identified participants who are interested in receiving voluntary services.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Engagement & Support: Build trust using peer engagement strategies like person-centered and trauma-informed approaches. Offer resiliency-based support and warm hand-offs to community services.
• Connecting to Services: Help individuals access mental health and treatment programs suited to their needs, including SPOA, FACT teams, INSET, case management, and SOS teams if available.
• Action Plans & Peer Support: Collaborate with participants to create individualized action plans that highlight their goals and steps forward while also providing peer support.
• Follow-Up & Encouragement: Ensure smooth transitions by checking in with individuals and providers to strengthen engagement in the program
• Record-Keeping & Reporting: Maintain accurate records of participant interactions, referrals, and outcomes, preparing reports as needed.
• Collaboration: Establish strong relationships within court-based settings, community organizations, and primary care clinics to enhance support networks.
• Community, Court, & Co-located Services: Work comfortably within court and legal settings while effectively managing time and responsibilities.
• Supervision & Training: Stay up to date on required in-house trainings including other trainings as required
• Cultural Competence: Ensure services are inclusive and respectful, acknowledging diverse backgrounds and needs.
• Able to travel to multiple locations as needed
• Able to work a flexible schedule (e.g., provide coverage for someone in the clinics, court, or community setting)
• Able to work independently and on a team

Minimum Requirements:

• Certification as a New York Certificate Peer Specialist (NYSPS) by the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board (NYPSCB)
• High school diploma or GED
• One-year demonstrated professional experience in the mental health, criminal justice or substance abuse field.

Preferred Skills:

• Bilingual (English and Spanish)
• Personal experience of recovery of mental health and/or substance use disorder
• Preference will be given to the candidate's lived experience navigating the criminal legal system, mental health, and substance use treatment.
• Knowledge of the concerns and challenges of persons living with SMI and/or SUD; AND/OR
• Knowledge of the Recovery process and the ability to facilitate recovery using established standardized mental health processes
• Able to work collaboratively and in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent time and work management skills
• Skilled in Microsoft Office and database applications

Remote Work Policy: DOHMH employees working through RFMH are allowed a Hybrid option post training and onboarding.

Sponsorship Policy: Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. Unfortunately, we are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

Location: 42-09 28th Street, Long Island City, NY 11101

To Apply: Submit a resume and cover letter on our website at https://rfmh.applicantpro.com/jobs/ . Only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

The Mission of the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc. (RFMH) is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a focus on providing hope and supporting recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. Applicants with lived mental health experience are encouraged to apply. RFMH is deeply committed to supporting underserved individuals, organizations, and communities. To this end, RFMH is focused on implementing activities and initiatives to reduce disparities in access, quality, and treatment outcomes for underserved populations. A critical component of these efforts is ensuring that RFMH is a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees' unique attributes and skills are valued and utilized to support the mission of the Agency. RFMH is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

The Research Foundation is a private not-for-profit corporation and is not an agency or instrumentality of the State of New York. Employees of the Research Foundation are not state employees, do not participate in any state retirement system, and do not receive state fringe benefits. Excellent Benefits Package. Employer/Minority/Women/Disabled/Veteran Employer. VEVRAA 41 CFR 60-300.5(a) compliant.

Salary : $59,228 - $70,547