Peer Advocate- Supportive Living

Major Duties and Responsibilities: The Peer Advocate is an active member in the FLACRA team and provides peer support services to clients with serious mental illness and or substance abuse. Under the supervision of the Director of Housing and Vocational Rehabilitation Services, the Peer Advocate will function as a role model to peers; exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills; serve as a consumer advocate, providing consumer information and peer support for clients in residential  settings. The Peer Advocate performs a wide range of tasks to assist peers in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery process. Recovery resources such as booklets, tapes, pamphlets and other written materials will be utilized by the Peer Advocate in the provision of services. Engagement for those entering treatment and in early stages of change are key tasks as well as helping facilitate successful transition out of active treatment.

Duties

1. Serves as an active member of the client’s treatment team, including participation in team meetings and treatment planning meetings.

2. Assists clients in development of recovery plan, including crisis plan.

3. Provides psycho-education with focus on illness management and peer support through individual service provision.

4. Implements and coordinates recovery plans for individuals.

5. Serves as role model for clients by sharing own recovery process and teaching effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.

6. Provides case management, resourcing, service collaboration for individual clients as extension of case management services.

7. Maintains accurate, thorough records on all assigned cases and uses documentation to assist clients in evaluating progress.

8. Provides advocacy services on behalf of clients.

9. Informs supervisor, and other members of treatment team as indicated, of issues/concerns related to individual clients.

10. Anticipates in required trainings to maintain certification.

11. Knowledge of Crisis Intervention and Early Engagement

12. Helps facilitate outreach to clients struggling to engage in treatment

13. Tier 2 peers role model leadership and support of tier 1 peers in the agency

14. Other duties as assigned.

About Us:

Finger Lakes Area Counseling and Recovery Agency (FLACRA) is a growing, not-for-profit provider of behavioral health and substance use treatment services throughout the Finger Lakes Region. Our comprehensive programs include outpatient services, residential care, crisis intervention, vocational support, housing, and youth services. We are committed to providing professional development opportunities for our staff and fostering a collaborative and inclusive workplace.

At FLACRA, we are dedicated to creating an employee-centered culture that values diversity, inclusion, and respect. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply and join our team of professionals committed to making a positive impact in the community.

Minimum Qualifications: Completion of NY state-certified peer support specialist training through OMH or OASAS. Peer Support Specialist Certification.

• Tier 1 – Participation in first offered peer certification training, acquiring CRPA-P no later than

4 months after employment.

• Tier 2 - Certification as a CRPA-P or CRPA

Other Skills/Knowledge and Experience

1. High School Diploma or GED.

2. Eighteen years of age or older.

3. Good interpersonal skills and written and oral communication skills.

4. Knowledge of applicable population group and principles/philosophy of recovery.

5. Ability to multi-task, have good problem solving and time management skills and the ability to remain calm in a crisis

*LIVED EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED