Peer Counselor - Lvl II

NYC Health + Hospitals; New York (NY); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health benefits

Supportive work environment

Job summary

NYC Health + Hospitals seeks a compassionate Family Peer Advocate in New York City. The ideal candidate will support families navigating behavioral health systems using their lived experiences.

This role involves collaboration with care teams, providing advocacy, and implementing treatment plans. Strong communication and advocacy skills are essential, as is maintaining documentation. Join a team dedicated to providing high-quality care to all New Yorkers.

Qualifications

• Experience working with families and children in social, emotional, developmental, or behavioral contexts.
• Ability to document engagements and maintain required records.
• Strong advocacy and support skills for families.

Responsibilities

• Provide information and referrals to families.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to implement treatment plans.
• Engage families in mental health services and support.

Skills

Peer Specialist Certification

Communication skills

Advocacy

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Electronic medical record (Epic)

Job description

Provider Careers at NYC Health + Hospitals

Kings County Hospital Center has a rich legacy for its pioneering role in medicine. Today, with over 625 beds, our hospital remains on the cutting edge of technology and provides the most modern procedures with state-of-the-art equipment. Built in 1831 as a one room infirmary for publicly supported care of the sick, Kings County Hospital Center continues to be a leading healthcare facility whose mission is to provide care to everyone regardless of their ability to pay. The hospital provides a wide range of health services, and specialties are offered in all fields of modern medicine. More than 200 clinics provide a wide array of ambulatory care services.

At NYC Health + Hospitals, our mission is to deliver high quality care health services, without exception. Every employee takes a person-centered approach that exemplifies the ICARE values (Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence) through empathic communication and partnerships between all persons.

Work Shifts

9:00 A.M – 5:00 P.M

Responsibilities

1. Comprehensive Emergency Psychiatric Programs (CPEPs)
   1. Certification must be maintained for the assignment’s duration as a peer specialist (NYCPS) or peer specialist-provisional (NYCPS-P) issued by the New York Peer Specialist Certification Board (NYPSCB); or Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) or Recovery Peer Advocate-Provisional (CRPA-P) issued by the New York Certification Board (ASAP-NYCB); or Credentialed Family Peer Advocate (FPA-C), Credentialed Family Peer Advocate Provisional (FPA-P), Credentialed Youth Peer Advocate (YPA-C), or Credentialed Youth Peer Advocate Provisional (YPA-P) issued by Families Together in New York State.
   2. Satisfactory and documented completion of a formalized Peer Advocate/Counselor/Specialist Training Program or one‑year full‑time satisfactory experience working with consumers of CPEP services as a peer counselor/specialist, peer advocate or in related human services.
2. Substance Use Assignments
   1. Certification must be maintained for the assignment’s duration as a Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) or Recovery Peer Advocate-Provisional (CRPA-P) issued by the New York Certification Board (ASAP-NYCB).
   2. Satisfactory and documented completion of a formalized Peer Advocate/Counselor/Specialist Training Program or one‑year full‑time satisfactory experience working with consumers of substance use disorder services as a peer counselor/specialist, peer advocate or in related human services.
3. All Other Mental Health Assignments
   1. Certification must be maintained for the assignment’s duration as a Peer Specialist (NYCPS) or Peer Specialist-Provisional (NYCPS-P).
   2. Satisfactory and documented completion of a formalized Peer Advocate/Counselor/Specialist Training Program or one‑year full‑time satisfactory experience working with consumers of mental health services.
4. All Other Assignments (Including Breastfeeding Education Assignments)
   1. Satisfactory and documented completion of a formalized Peer Advocate/Counselor/Specialist Training Program or one‑year full‑time satisfactory experience working with consumers of peer services.
   2. A high school diploma or its educational equivalent.
5. Assignment Level II
   1. One additional year of experience beyond Peer Counselor Level I.

Duties & Responsibilities

SUMMARY OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Family Peer Advocate is an integral part of this interdisciplinary team. Under supervision, the candidate for the position uses their lived experience navigating one or more systems that serve children and families. They are parent or primary caregiver of a child or young person with significant social, emotional, developmental, medical substance use, behavioral health diagnoses.

The Family Peer Advocate works in close collaboration with staff, consumers and family in planning and implementing treatment plans, supporting and navigating the system of care.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

Parent support, advocacy, system linkage, access to care

GENERAL TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES WILL INCLUDE:

Provides information and referrals

Collaborating with interdisciplinary treatment and human services team members in determining and implementing a comprehensive plan of care.

Uses one's personal experience as a consumer of behavioral health services in role-modeling recovery and providing hope.

Leads or co-leads groups including, but not limited to, dual diagnoses issues, relapse and recovery, and socialization.

Engaging Families in services

Working with families to discern their strengths, needs, and priorities

Providing 1 :1 assistance to help families connect to and participate in services

Increasing parents'/guardians' feelings of self‑efficacy

Reducing stigma and feelings of isolation

Helping families identify goals and track progress

Supporting families to develop formal and informal networks of support

Empowering parents/guardians by increasing their knowledge and skills

Initiating and supporting parent support and skills groups

Helping families understand mental health diagnoses, medication, and treatment options

Helping families (earn about services and resources

Maintains required documentation/tracking in electronic medical record (Epic) and use other electronic systems in accordance with established policies and procedures.

Conducts community outreach in the field

Involves Travel to school sites to engage staff and families

Engages patients, parents and/or caretakers and/or community providers, as applicable, and provides resources and assistance needed to address issues preventing them from staying healthy

Assists in the preparation of information and educational materials

Report regularly to Supervisor for support and feedback; participate in program improvement efforts

Must be able to document engagements

ABOUT NYC Health + Hospitals

NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation, annually serving more than a million New Yorkers in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. Our mission is to care for all, without exception.