Peer Specialist

Samaritan Daytop Village; Blauvelt (NY); On-site; USD 45,000 - 53,045; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

25 days paid time off

Retirement account with employer match

Tuition reimbursement

Option for daily pay

Job summary

Samaritan Daytop Village is seeking a full-time Peer Specialist in Blauvelt, NY, offering a supportive role for individuals facing mental health or substance use challenges. The candidate should have lived experience, hold a required NYS peer certification, and be skilled in navigating community resources. The position offers an hourly wage between $24.72 and $29.14, totaling an annualized salary of $45,000 to $53,045 along with comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and paid time off.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• NYS Peer Specialist (NYCPS) or CRPA certification required.
• Lived experience with mental health or substance use recovery.
• Previous experience in peer support is preferred.
• Strong understanding of the recovery process.
• Ability to share personal recovery story while maintaining boundaries.
• Basic computer skills for documenting services.
• Deep empathy and a non-judgmental approach.
• Commitment to treating clients with dignity and respect.

Responsibilities

• Engages clients with empathy and a recovery-oriented presence.
• Shares recovery experience to instill hope.
• Supports clients in identifying strengths and goals.
• Assists with benefits navigation and housing referrals.
• Facilitates warm hand-offs to outpatient providers.
• Advocates for client voice during treatment.
• Provides overdose prevention education.
• Documents services accurately in health records.
• Participates in multidisciplinary rounds.
• Partners with clinical team for client safety plans.

Skills

Peer support experience

Empathy

Understanding of recovery process

Basic computer literacy

Cultural sensitivity

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

New York State Peer Specialist (NYCPS) or certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA)

Job description

Overview

Peer Specialist

SamaritanDaytopVillage is a leading human services organization in New York State serving over 38,000 New Yorkers annually across more than 60 locations through Transitional Housing, Community Based Services, and Residential and Outpatient programs. First Steps Intensive Crisis Stabilization Center (ICSC), operatedby SamaritanDaytopVillage in Rockland County, is a 24/7 program dually licensed by OMH and OASAS to provide rapid, short-term supportfor children ages 5+ and adultsin mental health or substance use crisis. Our multidisciplinary teamutilizesa trauma-informed, harm-reduction framework to stabilize individuals and connect them with long-term care while avoiding unnecessary emergency room visits.

We are seeking a Peer Specialist to join our team and support individuals navigating mental health or substance use challenges. This role uses personal lived experience to build genuine connections, offer hope, and advocate for clients during and after a crisis. You will help peopleidentifytheir goals, navigate community resources like housing or benefits, and ensure their voice is heard throughout the treatment process. This position is a great fit for someone with a background in peer support who wants to use their own recovery journey to provide practical help in a trauma-informed environment. Candidates must hold a New York State peer certification, such as a CRPA or NYCPS.

Responsibilities

• Engages clients from point of arrival with empathy, respect, and a recovery-oriented presence

• Shares personal recovery experience purposefully to instill hope and model the recovery process

• Supports clients in identifying their individual strengths, goals, and recovery capital

• Assists with practical navigation of benefits, housing referrals, and transportation

• Facilitates warm hand-offs to outpatient providers, recovery organizations, and support groups

• Advocates for the client’s voice during treatment and discharge planning

• Provides overdose prevention education and naloxone training to clients and family members

• Documents all services accurately in the electronic health record system

• Participates in multidisciplinary rounds and case conferences to support integrated care

• Partners with the clinical team to support client completion of safety plans

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required

• One of the following is required: NYS Peer Specialist (NYCPS), Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) certification or Family Peer Advocate (FPA) credential; candidates with provisional status (NYCPS-P or CRPA-P) will also be considered

• Lived experience with mental health or substance use recovery

• Previous experience in peer support, behavioral health, or crisis settings preferred

• Strong understanding of the recovery process, harm reduction, and community resources

• Ability to share a recovery story purposefully while maintaining professional boundaries

• Basic computer literacy for documenting in electronic health records

• Deep empathy and a non-judgmental approach toward individuals in crisis

• Commitment to treating all clients with dignity, respect, and cultural sensitivity

Additional Information

This is a full-time non-exempt role with an hourly rate of $24.72-$29.14 (annualized at 35 hours a week to $45,000-$53,045) with a full benefits package. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, 25 days of paid time off, access to a retirement account with an employer to match, an option for daily pay, and tuition reimbursement.

This role is located in Blauvelt, NY.