Peer Specialist, Bronx HOPE

THE ORGANIZATION

The Center for Justice Innovation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing community safety and racial justice. Since 1996, we’ve worked alongside communities, courts, and those most directly affected by the justice system to build stronger, healthier, and more equitable neighborhoods. With a team of over 900 staff and an annual budget of $130 million, the Center carries out its mission through three core strategies:

• Operating Programs that pilot new ideas and address local challenges;
• Conducting original research to evaluate what works—and what doesn’t;
• Providing expert assistance and policy guidance to reformers across the country and beyond.

Backed by decades of on-the-ground experience and nationally recognized expertise, we bring innovative, practical, and lasting solutions to justice systems nationwide. Learn more about our work ovatingjustice.org.

The Center for Justice Innovation is offering a unique opportunity to support two initiatives. Bronx Community Solutions is seeking a Peer Specialist to provide extensive outreach to program participants and treatment providers, coordinate communication and program completion, offer Narcan training and education, and engage new participants to ensure successful case completion and recovery goals.

• Collaborate closely with NYPD to respond to precinct-level arrests and meet with potential HOPE participants at Bronx Precincts;
• Engage individuals arrested for controlled substances and motivate them to seek treatment, harm reduction, or recovery support;
• Coordinate and facilitate individualized education responsive to participants’ interests, focusing on treatment, harm reduction, and relapse prevention;
• Coordinate with the case management team to facilitate entry into harm reduction or substance abuse treatment based on level of care determination;
• Coordinate referrals and follow up with participants as needed;
• Provide crisis intervention and support to program participants as needed;
• Administer and provide training on the use of Narcan;
• Conduct street outreach in the Bronx and surrounding communities to engage individuals around substance use, harm reduction, and the HOPE program’s offerings;
• Facilitate harm reduction and Narcan workshops at Bronx Community Solutions’ office;
• Accurately and efficiently document client interactions;
• Send electronic assessments and reports to the HOPE team in a timely and accurate fashion;
• Operate company vehicle in the community for outreach and immediate client engagement, and drive participants to referred services when needed;
• Help with loading and replenishment of materials needed in the vehicle;
• Attend team meetings, supervision, trainings and perform other administrative duties as required;
• Complete additional relevant tasks as needed;
• Station in the Bronx Community Solutions office or Bronx County Criminal Court to meet with potential participants;
• Engage individuals in court after an arrest to offer support and connection to appropriate programming;
• Provide crisis intervention and support to program participants in collaboration with the case management team, service providers, and identified family and friends of the participant;
• Provide location support by traveling with participants to appointments and assisting with transportation to crisis services;
• Use lived experience and be comfortable serving as a role model of personal recovery to connect with members and support their goals;
• Communicate accurately, empathically and under time constraints;
• Comfortably work and collaborate with law enforcement and court staff;
• Additional tasks as necessary.

• A high school diploma and at least 2 years of relevant experience;
• Experience with integrated substance abuse assessment and treatment, motivational interviewing techniques, and stage‑wise treatment;
• Valid Driver’s License required;
• CRPA (Certified Recovery Peer Advocate) preferred;
• Experience using Microsoft Office programs, particularly Microsoft Word and Microsoft Outlook, for regular e‑mail correspondence;
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of harm reduction;
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

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