Education Case Manager​/Retention Specialist

Overview

The Mental Health Peer Specialist training program is an eight-month workforce program that prepares participants with lived experience with mental health and recovery or experience with trauma to work in the peer support sector. Participants will learn the fundamentals of peer support, develop key digital skills, receive support earning their NYS peer specialist certification, participate in internships with employer partners, and receive job placement assistance.

Participants receive career development support and connections to the health industry and employment opportunities throughout the program.

• Participate in the recruitment and assessment of program applicants via information sessions and in-person interviews.
• Communicate information to applicants regarding the assessment and intake process.
• Support applicants complete human resources requirements such as physicals, drug tests, and others in preparation for internships.
• Provide support to participants to aid retention in the program and transition via in-person, phone, email, and Slack communications.
• Observe classes to identify barriers to learning, provide feedback to program staff and participants on overcoming these barriers.
• Work with participants to troubleshoot barriers to successful retention, transition and completion and connect them to resources at the college and beyond.
• Coach participants through challenges and motivate them to develop creative strategies to overcome barriers.
• Provide weekly professional development group check‑in during the program training.
• Provide weekly support during the internship component through the internship seminar.
• Work collaboratively with the CTEA Office to coordinate or provide workshops in resume writing, interview preparation, job retention assistance and other job readiness skills.
• Coordinate with the CTEA Office to offer a sequence of job search, resume, and interview workshops throughout the program to best prepare participants for employment after program completion.
• Work collaboratively with other departments and partners to ensure retention goals are met.
• Collect required data from participants and work with them to complete administrative requirements such as signing contracts, signing photo‑release forms, registering for classes in the student information system, and completing Day 1 surveys.
• Track, analyze, and report on participants’ outcomes and performance metrics.
• Meet regularly with the project team to reflect on progress to date and identify strategies for retention and completion improvement.
• Perform other duties as needed and as assigned by the Program Manager.

• Experience in the social work or psychology fields; experience working with individuals with lived experience with mental health challenges.
• Understanding of peer services and familiarity with the field of peer services a plus.
• Knowledge of recruitment and assessment for workforce training programs.
• Knowledge of resources available to low‑income students.
• Ability to motivate others to remain engaged, be retained and complete what they started.
• Team player who is flexible and takes initiative to solve problems.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Invested in participants’ retention, transition and completion to ensure success throughout all aspects of the program.
• Strong technology skills, with a high level of proficiency in Microsoft Office including MS Word and MS Excel.
• Demonstrated interest in working with diverse communities and supporting the retention and success of underserved populations.
• Ability to travel to Long Island City for in‑person class support.

• Bachelor’s Degree required;
  Bachelor’s degree preferred in social work, psychology or human services.
• Master’s Degree preferred.
• Two (2) years’ experience working with unemployed or underemployed New Yorkers in a training, education, or workforce development program.
• One (1) year experience providing counseling, coaching, or case management services.

This is a grant‑funded…