Field-Based Recovery Peer Specialist

ACCES Employment; City of Newburgh (NY); On-site; USD 34,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Access, Inc. in Newburgh, NY is seeking an Outreach Certified Peer Specialist to engage individuals in community settings and guide them toward recovery through trust, compassion, and empowerment.

The role requires lived experience with mental health or substance use recovery, NYS Peer Certification (Provisional or Full), strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to work flexible hours in field-based environments across evenings or weekends as needed.

Qualifications

• Lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery.
• Experience navigating behavioral health systems or overcoming life challenges related to mental health or addiction.
• Strong interpersonal, active listening, and communication skills.
• Flexibility to work non-traditional hours (evenings, weekends, or early mornings as needed).
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work within multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Engage individuals in community settings with empathy and belief in recovery.
• Foster empowerment by helping individuals define goals and identify strengths.
• Model recovery by sharing your own recovery story.
• Initiate and sustain trust through consistency and nonjudgmental support.
• Reduce barriers to care and navigate systems for access to services.
• Facilitate linkage to clinical care, housing, benefits, and supports.
• Support community integration through meaningful activities and networks.

Skills

Empathy

Active listening

Communication

Field independence

Flexibility

Education

New York State Peer Certification (Provisional or Full)

Job description

Location: Newburgh, NY

Hours:M-F Flexible schedule based on program needs - hours typically failing between 9:30 am - 6:00 pm

Rate of Pay: $25 Provisional and $28 Full Certification

Pay to Stay Bonus: $5,000

OVERVIEW OF PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITES:

As an Outreach Certified Peer within a CCBHC (Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic) model, you will play a critical role in engaging individuals who are disconnected from services or at risk of falling through the cracks. Drawing from your lived experience, you will meet people where they are — physically, emotionally, and spiritually — to offer support, connection, and the belief that recovery is possible. Your efforts will help bring individuals into care and guide them along their recovery journey through trust, compassion, and empowerment.

PRIMARY FUNCTIONS:

Key Responsibilities:
As an Outreach Certified Peer, you will:
• Engage and Inspire Hope: Proactively connect with individuals in community settings (e.g., streets, shelters, homes, hospitals) with empathy and belief in their potential for recovery.
• Foster Empowerment and Trust: Encourage individuals to define their goals, identify strengths, and take steps toward self-determined wellness.
• Model Recovery: Use your own recovery story to show that healing and progress are achievable.
• Initiate and Sustain Connection: Build trust through consistency, nonjudgmental support, and authentic presence in the field.
• Reduce Barriers to Care: Help individuals navigate systems and overcome obstacles that prevent access to behavioral health and social services.
• Facilitate Linkage to Services: Guide individuals toward clinical care, housing, benefits, and community-based supports.
• Support Community Integration: Encourage participation in meaningful activities, social networks, and recovery-oriented resources.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONAL / ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT:

• Field-Based Resource Navigator: Deliver information and connect individuals to services during outreach encounters.
• Trusted Guide & Supportive Listener: Offer emotional support grounded in empathy and shared experience.
• Recovery Ally: Serve as a mentor and motivator, walking alongside individuals through initial and ongoing stages of recovery.
• Flexible Problem Solver: Identify and troubleshoot challenges that interfere with engagement or stability.
• Cultural Broker: Bridge gaps in understanding between individuals and systems using language and lived perspective.

QUALIFICATIONS AND ATTRIBUTES:

•Lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery, and willingness to share your journey to inspire others.

• Experience navigating behavioral health systems or overcoming life challenges related to mental health or addiction.
• Valid New York State Peer Certification (Provisional or Full) such as CP, YPA, FPA, CRPA or other.
• Strong interpersonal, active listening, and communication skills.
• Comfort working independently in field-based or community environments.
• Flexibility to work non-traditional hours (evenings, weekends, or early mornings as needed).
• Collaborative mindset and ability to work within multidisciplinary teams.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience providing peer support in outreach, street-based, or community settings strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of harm reduction, trauma-informed care, and recovery-oriented practices.
• Understanding of local systems (e.g., shelters, clinics, hospitals, crisis services).
• Basic proficiency in documentation and mobile communication tools.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

These physical demands reflect what is necessary to perform the role effectively. Reasonable accommodations may be made to support individuals with disabilities:

• Able to navigate various outdoor and indoor environments (streets, homes, multi-level buildings).
• Comfort with prolonged periods of walking or standing in the field.
• Ability to work in diverse and unpredictable community settings.
• Occasional lifting or transporting of supplies (25+ lbs).