Peer Specialist

Peer Specialist

Join our new Nathaniel Community Success (NCS) team at The Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES). NCS is an at‑risk alternatives‑to‑detention/incarceration (ATD/ATI) program that serves individuals of all genders, aged 16 and older, with mental illness (including substance use problems). The program directly helps reduce the utilization of jails and prisons.

We’re seeking a peer specialist for our Manhattan NCS team who will work alongside a multidisciplinary team. The peer specialist will use their lived experience to provide peer support to participants, facilitate their engagement in community treatment services, and support them in pursuing housing, benefits, employment, and vocational services.

• Engage participants enrolled in ATI services.
• Conduct outreach to engage client participation and reduce recidivism, including an immediate needs assessment and identifying appropriate services.
• Collaborate with team members for case management program planning.
• Provide linkage to income support and health insurance (Medicaid).
• Deliver gender‑specific services.
• Plan and deliver case management and peer support services that address strength and risk factors for criminal recidivism.
• Offer culturally competent services and use self‑disclosure intentionally to support engagement.
• Intervene during a crisis.
• Advocate for participants to access housing, income support, treatment, medical care, civil legal services, self‑help, and other community services.
• Empower participants to know their rights and responsibilities and utilize procedures to protect those rights.
• Employ motivational interviewing techniques when providing services.
• Address risk factors for criminal recidivism to help participants achieve recovery goals.
• Understand the legal framework of ATI and related community supervision compliance issues.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and provide case reviews.
• Assist with Outreach and Diligent Search to reduce recidivism.
• Document proceedings in an electronic record accurately and promptly.
• Complete participant admission into CASES’ database and produce letters and progress reports for defense attorneys, judges, and prosecutors.
• Perform related duties as assigned by the Team Leader, Director, or Senior Director.

• High school degree with related work experience.
• Participant or graduate of a recognized peer specialist training program (e.g., Howie the Harp Peer Advocacy and Training Center Forensic Peer Specialist Program).
• Peer Certification.
• History of involvement in the criminal legal system as a mental health consumer in recovery from substance use.
• Strong knowledge of wellness, recovery, and self‑help.
• Effective communication and written skills.
• Proficiency with computers and databases.

• Fluency in Spanish.

Salary: $53,045 per year.

Shift hours:
Monday – Friday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (35 hours per week).

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Vacation and Paid Time Off – starting at 25 days off annually
• 12 paid holidays per year
• Retirement 403(b) with competitive matching up to 6%
• Employee Referral Program

People – Hold people’s stories with dignity.
Unity – Commit to a shared mission.
Respect – Celebrate the diversity of strength.
Progress – Work to improve continuously.
Optimize – Make the best use of resources.
Solutions – Solve problems together.
Empathy – Seek to understand others.

CASES is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment is based solely on qualifications and competence without regard to race, color, ethnic or national origin, age, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital, military, or citizenship status. We actively recruit individuals with prior involvement in the criminal legal system.

Location:

2090 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard, New York, NY 10027—easily accessible by public transportation.

Workplace Flexibility:
Flexible – staff can complete their workday from home or another suitable space after reporting to the office and/or engaging in community‑based work.